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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

These Mark The Spot

here are certain collectibles everyone fairly common and fire responses were a bit fire insurance marks in their collections. For
knows and loves, such as coins, teacups, more organized. However, as fire insurance example, the National Museum of American
Tor books. However, other collectibles became more popular, so did the use of fire History has a Mutual Insurance Company fire
are a bit less mainstream, but certainly no less marks. American insurance companies used mark in its collection. The Fireman’s Hall
interesting to collect. Fire marks certainly fall in them more as advertising than as direction for Museum in Philadelphia has marks from
the latter category. What is a fire mark? How specific fire brigades. companies like Eagle Insurance of Cincinnati,
many are there? What are they worth? Those Ohio and Lumbermen’s Insurance Company
are all good questions. Let’s take a peek into the of Philadelphia
history of fire marks to get the answers.
Fire Mark Availability Outside Museums
What is a Fire Mark? If you want to collect fire marks, don’t
A fire mark, also known as a fire insurance worry. You do not have to operate a museum
mark, is almost exactly what it sounds like. It to do so. There are plenty of fire marks
is a sign or emblem that was historically available for you to collect. One of the big
placed on a structure to indicate it was insured reasons for that is that most early fire marks
against fires. Those signs came in the form of were made of metal. Therefore, many of them
various metal plaques, often with elaborate have survived into the modern day. Websites
designs. In modern times, fire marks are no like eBay are excellent sources for fire marks.
longer required, but they are still highly prized In fact, an 18th century English Sun Fire Co.
by collectors. They have a rich history, and mark recently sold on eBay for over $175.
the variety of fire marks produced in both
Great Britain and the United States in the Fire Mark Conditions and Composition
past makes them particularly appealing. If you want to collect fire marks, the first
thing you need to know is that not all of them
The British History of Fire Marks are authentic. Much like many other antiques,
In September a lot of fire marks have been reproduced over
of 1666 a large the years. Obviously, those reproductions
portion of Early mark from the Ben Franklin founded are less valuable than the originals. When
London, England “Philadelphia Contributionship,” late 18th/early 19th trying to identify reproductions, look for
was destroyed by a century, gray-green painted shield-shaped wooden painted reverse sides, rust that flakes off easily.
plaque with beveled edges, mounted with four
massive fire. That cast lead joined hands with thumb at the top, with Also, fire marks made of aluminum or iron
prompted the traces of earlier gilding, the back inscribed that is black in color are reproductions.
establish-ment of “McAllister 211 Green St. Phila./Penna/Hand-in- Additionally, most early fire marks were
various fire insur- Hand,” sold at Skinner Auctions for $1,007 against emblems like eagles or handshakes only. They
ance companies, an estimate of $300-$500 in 2011 did not include the names of companies or
beginning with any identifying numbers.
The Hand-in-Hand Fire one that was sim- Interesting Quick Facts About American
Office of London, England ply called the Fire Fire Marks
issued this lead fire mark Office. Within 25 American fire marks are also sometimes
around 1832. The Hand-in- years, one tenth of called house plates. They can sometimes be
Hand Fire Office operated the houses in the referred to as badges, also. The fire marks
from 1696 until 1905, when city had insurance themselves were almost always metal.
it was acquired by the through one of
Commercial Union. However, the type of metal varied. Popular
those companies. types were iron, zinc, and copper. Sometimes
Over time, the new fire insurance compa- the metal marks were mounted on plaques
nies created company-specific fire brigades made of wood.
focusing solely on putting out fires in homes One of the most iconic fire marks was the
holding policies from their companies. one created by a company headed by
However, they needed a visible means of Benjamin Franklin. It was called the
keeping track of which homes held which com- Philadelphia Contributorship. The company
panies’ policies. Thus, the metal fire mark had one odd stipulation for insuring homes: A refurbished fire mark from Virginia
plaque was invented. Each plaque design was they could not have trees in front of them. In Considerations When Buying Fire Marks
unique. They often featured elaborate designs reaction to that somewhat odd rule, another Before collecting any fire marks, consider a
like crowns and eagles. Philadelphia insurance company made their few final things, such as your area of focus.
fire mark an image of a tree. That company, You might want to collect fire marks from
The American History of Fire Marks the Mutual Insurance Company, used four Great Britain, the United States, or even
The history of fire insurance marks in the different tree designs on their fire marks over Australia. You could also opt to collect fire
United States was a bit different. They didn’t the course of several years. marks from a specific state, or even a city like
begin to pop up here until the 1700s. The first Philadelphia. No matter which fire marks you
fire marks on U.S. soil appeared in Philadelphia, Marks in Museum Collections choose to collect, you also need to make a
Pennsylvania. Some of them can still be found Fire insurance marks are so historic that point to read up on them, first. You can find
on the outsides of homes there today. they are prized by not just private collectors, plenty of guides for how to tell authentic fire
As Philadelphia grew into a major city but also museums. There are museums all marks from fakes using more guidelines than
in the 1700s, volunteer fire departments were over the United States that showcase popular just those listed above.

28 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles