United States Insurance Company Fire Mark

United States Insurance Company Fire Mark

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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.
The United States Insurance Company of Baltimore, Maryland issued this cast iron fire mark in 1834.The mark is embossed with the simple text: “INSURED/U.S.I.Co.” The United States Insurance Company operated from 1833 until 1845.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
fire mark
date made
1834
maker
unknown
Physical Description
cast iron (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 9 5/8 in x 11 3/4 in; 24.4475 cm x 29.845 cm
ID Number
2005.0233.0474
accession number
2005.0233
catalog number
2005.0233.0474
Credit Line
Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection
subject
Fire Fighting
Insurance
See more items in
Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement
Cultures & Communities
Advertising
Work
Firefighting Collection
Fire Marks
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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