Early 20th Century Figural Pawnbroker Trade Sign steekote When cranked

When cranked

seeing as no surviving instruments have a number below 500

JM - 020223 - 301155

litho printed branding on the backrest

Tool holder: 1⅛" dia

Early 20th Century Figural Pawnbroker Trade Sign steekote When crankedAntique wood and wrought iron figural trade sign for a pawnbroker. This piece takes the form of the classic "three ball symbol" used by pawnbrokers. The design can be directly attributed to the Medici Family in Florence, an Italian banking family and political dynasty under the House of Medici, founded in 1230. The three ball symbol, associated with pawn shops, traces back to Lombardy, Italy, where pawn banking began as "Lombard banking." The golden