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Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard.  1961.63.32  © 2011 The Conn…
Sign for Lawrence's Inn
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard. 1961.63.32 © 2011 The Connecticut Historical Society.

Sign for Lawrence's Inn

Original Owner (American, born 1743)
Dateabout 1797
MediumPaint on pine board, smalt (used as a colorant, not for texture), gold leaf, iron hardware
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including hardware): 27 1/2 x 50in. (69.9 x 127cm)
Other (height x width of sign only): 20 x 50in. (50.8 x 127cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineCollection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard.
DescriptionImages: On both sides, a similar array of Masonic iconography. No underlying imagery.
Construction: Thick, single, rectangular board, oriented horizontally. Applied moldings, mitered at the corners, are nailed to the faces of both sides. The top molding strips overlay hanging straps that extend nearly the full height of the board and are painted the same blue as the background.
Surface: This sign displays only a sign paint layer on each side. Background is blue, with smalt (a blue glass additive) is used to establish the color. Letters are in gold leaf and the symbols are white, with gold used in the sun's rays.

Object number1961.63.32
NotesHistorical Note: Original location. Lawrence's house remains extant, on the northwest corner of Route 44 and Mill Street in Norfolk. The house became Norfolk's first post office in 1804 and was subsequently operated as a tavern by James Shepard (active 1821-46). Photographs of the house were made in the late 1930s for the Federal Writer's Project, "Census of Old or Distinctive Buildings in the State of Connecticut" (CHS Library).
On View
On view
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard., 1961.63.47  Photograph by D…
Unknown
about 1826-1842
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.39 Photograph by Wil…
Shapley Morgan
probably about 1800-1820
Museum purchase, 1966.122.2  © 2011 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Edwin Hannah
about 1836
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.41  Photograph by Da…
Captain Joseph Porter
1820-1825
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.34  Photograph by Wi…
Daniel Loomis Jr.
about 1820
Gift of Newton C. Brainard, 1957.59.1  Photograph by David Stansbury  © 2009 The Connecticut Hi…
Unknown
1840-1850
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.33 Photograph by Dav…
Unknown
about 1805-1820