Enamelled sign, "Blanc Fixe" pigment, circa 1900

Old enameled plate with the inscription "BLANC FIXE", from a set of enameled plates that equipped the drawers of an old paint merchant's cabinet. Blanc Fixe referred to an artificial barium sulfate, also known as barium white, used as a white pigment and especially as a filler in paints and various preparations. This name is attested in 19th-century treatises on coloring materials. Paint merchants supplied pigments, colors, and various raw materials to painters, decorators, and artisans; their drawer cabinets allowed these numerous powders and preparations to be stored separately, each compartment being identified by a plate like this one.

✦ Estimated period: Circa 1900-1920
✦ Provenance: France, former paint merchant
✦ Dimensions: approx. 13 × 3 cm
✦ Material: Enameled plate
✦ Condition: Very good used condition, with small enamel chips on the edges, slight traces of oxidation, scratches and wear due to age.

Authentic old enameled plate "Blanc Fixe", an interesting professional object related to white pigments and old paint and color businesses.