Gebrüder Reichert und Söhne was a Swiss firm based in Zürich that specialized in the production of enamel signs (Emailschilder), illuminated advertising (Lichtreklame) and other advertising materials.[1] The company operated at least as early as the 1920s, as evidenced by a set of three enamel signs attributed to the firm and dated to circa 1920.[1]
Design and History
Documentation of the company’s visual identity is limited. A surviving set of three enamel signs produced by Reichert & Söhne in Zürich around 1920 includes the wordmarks “Sprechzimmer” (consulting room), “Laboratorium” (laboratory) and “Bettel und Hausiren verboten” (begging and peddling prohibited).[1] These signs, measuring roughly 8 by 24 to 25 centimeters and 4 by 20 centimeters respectively, were functional typographic pieces rather than promotional branding.[1]
The firm was also referenced as “Gebrüder / Söhne Reichert” in connection with a Kurt Reichert, who was reportedly the owner of the company in Zürich.[2] A separate reference to “Rudolf Reichert & Söhne” appears in a 1915 Swiss textile trade publication, which mentions a color card (Farbenkarte) issued by that firm, suggesting the company may have also been active in the textile or color trade.[3]
No verifiable evidence has been found confirming that the Swiss graphic designer Pierre Gauchat (1902-1956) designed a logo for Gebrüder Reichert und Söhne. Gauchat was a prolific designer who created numerous posters, book jackets, advertising brochures and logos, and was a co-founder of the Swiss Graphic Designers Association.[4] However, no source connects him specifically to this firm.
Meaning and Symbolism
Given the limited surviving documentation, no official symbolism or color meaning for the company’s identity has been verified. The surviving enamel signs suggest a straightforward, functional typographic approach consistent with the firm’s trade as a manufacturer of enamel signs and advertising materials.[1]
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