Eagle Insurance Company Fire Mark

Description (Brief):

Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.

Description (Brief)

The Eagle Insurance Company of Cincinnati, Ohio produced this fire mark in 1850. The oval mark is made of tinned sheet iron and features an image of a flying eagle carrying arrows and olive branches in its talons, with a footer text that reads “INSURANCE CO.” The Eagle Insurance Company operated in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1850 until 1894.

Date Made: 1850

Maker: unknown

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Ohio, Cincinnati

Subject: Insurance

Subject:

See more items in: Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement, Cultures & Communities, Advertising, Work, Firefighting Collection, Fire Marks

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 2005.0233.0455Accession Number: 2005.0233Catalog Number: 2005.0233.0455

Object Name: fire mark

Physical Description: tinned sheet iron (overall material)Measurements: overall: 6 1/2 in x 9 1/2 in; 16.51 cm x 24.13 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-57e2-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1342173

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