Skip to main content
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.35  Photograph by Da…
Sign for Marsh's Inn
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.35 Photograph by David Stansbury © 2009 The Connecticut Historical Society.

Sign for Marsh's Inn

Original Owner (American, about 1738 - 1807)
Dateabout 1785-1810
MediumPaint on pine board, oak frame and iron hardware (both replaced)
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including hardware): 77 1/4 x 30 3/4in. (196.2 x 78.1cm)
Other (height x width of sign only): 64 x 27 5/8in. (162.6 x 70.2cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineCollection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard
DescriptionImages: on side 1, the Connecticut state seal (a shield containing three grape vines), over vestiges of an earlier image layer can be just glimpsed but not deciphered; on side 2, a decanter and glasses within a vertical oval.
Construction: Single, rectangular board, oriented vertically. The remainder of the sign is evidently a late 19th century construction, made to hold the old signboard. Paired, horizontal rails hold the old signboard as well as separate pediment and skirt boards. The pediment and skirt boards are horizontally-oriented boards, sawn to create decorative profiles and secured with nails. The plinth for the central finial is cut to fit over the pediment.
Surface: Side 2 is largely repainted, although thick, aged paint layers exist in the central element of the decanter itself. The bright green field surrounding the state seal on side 1 has also been repainted. Faint evidence of a lower layer shows through-a guilloche- or ribbon-like arc at the top of the seal, suggestive of borders on some versions of the state seal.
Object number1961.63.35
On View
On view
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard, Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.34  Photograph by Wi…
Daniel Loomis Jr.
about 1820
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.33 Photograph by Dav…
Unknown
about 1805-1820
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, 1961.63.40  Photograph by Da…
Jonathan Pettibone Jr.
1816-1824
Gift of Frederick K. and Margaret R. Barbour, 1969.44.1  Photograph by David Stansbury  © 2008 …
Eli Terry
1795-1800
Collection of Morgan B. Brainard. Gift of Mrs. Morgan B. Brainard, 1961.63.39 Photograph by Wil…
Shapley Morgan
probably about 1800-1820