Home Mutual Fire and Marine 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 Home Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company of St. Louis, Missouri issued this fire mark around 1848. The rectangular mark has inversely rounded edges, with the image of two clasped hands shaking in the center, and raised text on the top and bottom that reads “HOME/MUTUAL.” The Home Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company operated from 1845 until 1880.

Date Made: ca 1848

Maker: unknown

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Missouri

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: 2005.0233.0530Accession Number: 2005.0233Catalog Number: 2005.0233.0530

Object Name: fire mark

Physical Description: zinc (overall material)Measurements: overall: 4 9/16 in x 6 3/8 in; 11.58875 cm x 16.1925 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-6cb3-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1342761

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