Value:$400 - $900 (auction, as-is condition; if determined to be a later reproduction: $80 - $200)
Maker's Marks / Writing:Visible: 'TEXACO' within the star, 'REG. T.M.' and 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY' along the bottom arc. No specific porcelain maker’s stamp visible in the provided image.
Date:2025-10-31 15:40:42.447581
Description:
Large round porcelain enamel on steel service-station sign for Texaco (The Texas Company), bearing the classic red star with green 'T' and the outer red ring reading 'GASOLINE • MOTOR OIL'. Likely the standard 42-inch format used at forecourts; appears single panel, probably double-sided originally. Exhibits heavy chipping, rusting, and extra non-factory holes.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
Classic Texaco round porcelain sign used at stations in the 1930s–40s. The graphics, fonts, 'REG. T.M.' and 'MADE BY THE TEXAS COMPANY' legend are correct for period examples. Surface shows porcelain loss with exposed rusted steel, edge chipping, and significant field damage, including multiple non-factory holes through the center—consistent either with long outdoor exposure and abuse or with artificially aged repros. Without backside and edge-profile photos, grommet details, and exact diameter, I cannot fully confirm period manufacture. A word about fakes.. petroliana signage—especially Texaco 42-inch rounds—is heavily reproduced; many modern porcelain copies show contrived rust and added bullet holes. Fakery check: positives—layered porcelain with halo chipping at holes, period-correct typography and layout, and the 'Texas Company' wording. Cautions—no visible maker’s stamp, grommets absent, clustering of field holes, and we lack a back-side view to assess glaze, flange, and ring-hole wear. Tentatively treated as potentially period but with reservations; value estimate reflects this uncertainty and the rough condition.
Distinct Texaco red star/green T round porcelain 'Gasoline • Motor Oil' station sign is a well-documented design; text and layout unmistakably identify the piece.
Authenticity Score: 60%
Period-correct graphics and porcelain failure patterns suggest age, but lack of reverse-side photos, missing maker stamp, and suspicious concentration of extra holes keep confidence moderate. Assume reproduction until proven otherwise.
Image Memory Note
None
None
Keywords
Texaco, The Texas Company, petroliana, American vintage advertising, porcelain sign, gas station sign, 42-inch round, United States
The report was edited after initial Artmink draft. Original AI draft preserved in Artmink audit history.
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