The Jolly Caulkers Signboard, Dover, UK, 20th Century

Large hand-painted (on both sides!) signboard, purchased from an antique dealer in Bern, Swiss, who bought it in England in the 1970s-1980s. Great piece to have.

The sign comes from a pub in Dover.
76 cm wide x 96 cm high.
Heavy piece, around 10 kilo.
Hand-painted on wood.
with strong iron hanginghooks on the frame.

Caulking is the process of making joints and seals watertight. The name given to a person doing this is a caulker.
In the days of wooden ships and the sailing navy wood caulkers were an important trade and they were also one of the highest paid because they kept the ship afloat.