Painted signs and mosaics: Oils and colors, Willesden

Willesden still has a large number of ghost signs promoting a wide range of businesses and products including, opposite Saint Paul's Pianos, one for a shop that once sold white lead paints.

First employed around 400 BC, man-made white lead pigment remained widely used by artists and decorators until the 20th century, when its usage became restricted because of its toxicity.