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Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.15  Photograph by Da…
Sign for the Chesebro Hotel
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.15 Photograph by David Stansbury © 2009 The Connecticut Historical Society.

Sign for the Chesebro Hotel

Date1821
MediumPaint on ring-porous hardwood, possible traces of gold leaf, iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including hardware): 50 3/4 x 25 1/2in. (128.9 x 64.8cm)
Other (height x width of sign only): 45 1/8 x 25 3/16in. (114.6 x 64cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineCollection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard
DescriptionImages: on side 1: eagle with upraised head; on side 2: eagle with downturned head; possibly an earlier image layer, now indecipherable
Text: on both sides: around perimeter of board, "A. CHESEBRO / HOTEL." [over an earlier name, largly indecipherable [P. Pi_____]; on bottom rail, "1821,"
Construction: Single board, grain oriented vertically, cut to oval shape; single, flat horizontal rails; turned, columnar posts. Projecting tenons at top and bottom attach board to horizontal rails. The rails extend up and down to form pediment and skirt, cut at top and bottom to create decorative profiles. Rails are joined to posts with through-tenons and double pinned.
Object number1961.63.15
NotesTechnique Note: The Chesebro name and eagle decoration are later repainting campaigns over another image that is no longer decipherable. The lettering is yellow and more skillfully executed than the image, which is sloppily painted, in yellow, black, red, blue, and white on a black background. The 1821 date is raised above surface, from weathering, possibly carving, or a combination of the two, and most likely records the year the sign was originally made. Underlying letters [P. Pi___] are painted in large script lettering along scribed guidelines.
On View
On view
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.31  Photograph by Wi…
Amos Hinman
about 1795-1815
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.48  © 2011 The Conne…
Benjamin Williams
1803-1826
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.30  Photograph by Da…
Obadiah Hayes Jr.
1828
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.7 © 2008 The Connect…
Captain Aaron Bissell Sr.
Gift of Miss Susan M. Loomis, 1896.7.0  Photograph by Williamstown Art Conservation Center  © 2…
Uriah Hayden
1762
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.51  © 2011 The Conne…
Asa Wightman
1815-1824
Sign for Blatchly's Inn
Moses Blatchly Jr.
1788
Side Chair
State of Connecticut
1800-1815