Enamel Signs at a Flea Market

Blank enamel plaques lean against a row of old lanterns on a weathered market table. Their red, blue, green, yellow and cream surfaces are chipped at the edges, with rust showing around the mounting holes. Small clocks, metal boxes, a watering can and a tarnished mirror fill the spaces behind them.

The plaques are the easiest place to begin because their flat colors and clear outlines stand apart from the clutter. Lantern glass introduces pale reflections and thin wire frames, while the clocks add round faces without any readable lettering. Look for hinges, handles and worn corners on the boxes. The table's peeling paint and the soft awnings in the background tie the smaller objects together once the main color blocks are finished.