stollwerck - Stollwerck's Chocolate and Cocoa, recognized as excellent. - Enamel sign - Enamel

Here are the historical details about the year of manufacture and the current collector's value of this particular sign:

The year of manufacture (decade)

This sign dates from the period around 1900.

The evidence: The opulent, curved script “Stollwerck” in a cursive font and the word “Chocolade” with a “Ch” (instead of the later “Sch”) are typical for the late German Empire and the early Art Nouveau.

Where did it belong?

This is the sign of a historic Stollwerck vending machine. Stollwerck was a worldwide pioneer of vending machines. These so-called “silent sellers” stood at train stations and public squares. On the sides or fronts of the cast-iron vending machine housings, exactly such enamel signs were mounted to tout the quality of the chocolate (“recognized as excellent”).

The current collector's value

• Condition of this piece: The sign shows surrounding enamel damage and rust corrosion at the edges. The motif and the lettering in the center are still legible and have a nice vintage patina.
• Value as an original: guaranteed original sign from around 1900; in this condition its value is estimated at 150 to 300 euros. (For comparison: flawless Stollwerck original signs or rare large formats can fetch four- to five-figure sums at auctions; damaged vending machine signs stay in the three-digit range).