Collections record Beta
Collection Record Detail
Object Name
Insurance Marker
Object Number
1915-02-7
Description
Pressed metal fire insurance marker. Oval marker with text, "West of England," impressed around edges. At the center is a male figure dressed in classical garb (toga, cape or mantle, crown, scepter, sword, and shield with red dragon), likely a representation of King Arthur. Some remaining red and gold paint on surface. English origin.
Provenance
Likely created for the West of England Fire and Life Insurance Company of Exeter in Devon, England.
Comment
Metal insurance markers were placed on homes as proof of fire insurance and as advertising for the insurance company. In England, the markers were more closely tied to fighting fires, as insurance companies created their own fire companies to respond to fires at the properties they insured.
Category
Date Made
19th century
Dimensions
10" x 8"
Materials
Social Tags (experimental)
