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rare all original and unrestored interior or exterior wall mount general electric "national mazda" illuminated trade sign with intact reverse painted glass panels

rare all original and unrestored interior or exterior wall mount general electric "national mazda" illuminated trade sign with intact reverse painted glass panels

SKU: UR-26247-17
unique museum quality exterior four-sided exterior or interior hardware store illuminated trade sign designed and fabricated for general electric, national lamp works, schenectady, n.y., u.s.a. the single light illuminated store fixture is comprised of an arched top "lantern" containing the original reverse-painted glass panels (four vertical panels and a single bottom panel). amazingly, the baked-on enameled paint finish remains in great condition with very little wear and/or discoloration. reverse painting on glass is an art form consisting of applying paint to a piece of glass and then viewing the image by turning the glass over and looking through the glass at the image. contrary to painting on a canvas or similar support, the reverse painting technique requires an artist to paint in reverse, or "back to front." the lantern frame is made of bronze, with a heavy oxidized patinated surface from decades of exposure to the elements. the bracket arm is comprised of both bronze and cast iron components. the interior housing contains a single porcelain socket. the fixture was salvaged from an electric supply hardware establishment located in upper michigan. the national "mazda" brand light bulb was the result of general electric seeking to promote a new, metal-filament lamp of unparalleled efficiency. the name mazda is based on the persian (zoroastrian) god of light, ahura mazdah. the mazda name first appeared in 1909 on tantalum-filament lamps, and then on first generation tungsten lamps made under license from europe. ge also licensed the name to their subsidiary national electric lamp companies, to westinghouse and to british thomson-houston. ge continued using the mazda name until 1949, when it was dropped during the settlement of an antitrust suit against the company. measures 20 by 26 by 14 inches.

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