{"product_id":"rare-19thc-french-relief-enamel-street-sign-rue-recolet-nimes-canton-system","title":"Rare 19thC French Relief Enamel Street Sign - Rue Récolet, Nîmes - Canton System","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Rare Piece of 19th-Century French Municipal History\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis is an authentic, heavy-gauge vitreous enamel street sign for\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRue Récolet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(now\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eRue des Récollets\u003c\/i\u003e) from the historic city of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eNîmes, France\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eUnlike standard modern replacements, this plaque features the rare and highly sought-after\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eadministrative grid markings\u003c\/b\u003e, identifying it as part of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e9th Section\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e3rd Canton\u003c\/b\u003e. This specific numbering system was used by 19th-century French municipal authorities for judicial and police administration before urban signage was simplified in the early 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFeatures \u0026amp; Provenance:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eConstruction:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eGenuine cobalt blue vitreous enamel on a heavy steel plate with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eraised (relief) white lettering\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSourced directly from a dealer with provenance linked to the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eMairie (Mayor’s office)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eof Nîmes during a period of urban signage modernization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistorical Significance:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eNamed after the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eOrder of Friars Minor Recollect\u003c\/i\u003e, whose historic convent was a landmark in central Nîmes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition \u0026amp; Professional Conservation:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe sign retains its original \"street-worn\" character, with authentic chips to the enamel and oxidation to the base metal that attest to its decades of exposure to the Mediterranean elements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIt has been\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003esympathetically stabilized and conserved\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eusing museum-grade materials:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eDeep cleaned with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eVulpex soap\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e(a non-acidic potassium oleate soap used by conservators).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe reverse has been treated with\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eboiled linseed oil\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto provide a moisture-resistant barrier to the exposed steel.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe entire piece has been finished with a micro-crystalline\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eRenaissance Wax\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecoating to seal the surface and provide a beautiful, soft luster while preventing further oxidation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ePlease see pictures for dimensions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA fantastic, tactile piece of architectural salvage, ready for display in a gallery, study, or as a statement interior design piece.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"A Nice Old Thing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":61388957876554,"sku":null,"price":250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1010\/9317\/9722\/files\/IMG_0676.jpg?v=1774025443","url":"https:\/\/aniceoldthing.com\/products\/rare-19thc-french-relief-enamel-street-sign-rue-recolet-nimes-canton-system","provider":"A Nice Old Thing","version":"1.0","type":"link"}