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A hand-carved wooden sign, advertising the services of an undertaker. It features a distinctive scrolling profile, painted in black with contrasting gold and white hand-lettered text. The sign clearly states "UNDERTAKER" in bold gold, with the name "R.P. TAYOR" and a telephone number, "ASHFORD 7810", in white below.
This is an early 20th century piece, typical of rural or small-town craft. The painted surface shows considerable wear, with much of the black background paint having chipped away to reveal the grain of the wood beneath. The gold lettering has softened with age, creating a gentle contrast against the exposed timber and remnants of the original finish. Its edges are worn smooth from decades of exposure to the elements, testament to its long working life.
The distinctive scrolled shape is a characteristic of roadside vernacular advertising from the period, likely crafted locally rather than mass-produced. The inclusion of a simple four-digit telephone number, paired with the town name, firmly anchors it in an era before modern dialling codes.
