ABSTRACT
Enamels have been unrivalled in adding unlading, bright colours to metal badges to highlight the emblems and mottoes. There was a very long tradition of making enamelled badges in Western Europe from the late 13th century. The period of greatest output was from the 1880s up to the mid-20th century when a minor industry existed in this production. Badges, medals and insignia were made in quantity for Masonic and other orders, for military and civic ranks and many lay organizations. Commercial businesses and car manufacturers displayed badges to advertise their brands and many clubs and specialist societies issued badges for their members and officers.
