Philadelphia Contributionship Fire Mark

Object Details

unknown

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 Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire issued this fire mark for policy number 413 to William Bromwich of 102 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1758. The fire mark consists of the company’s symbol cast in lead showing four hands clasped at the wrist, attached to a varnished shield-shaped wooden backing. The Philadelphia Contributionship was established in 1752, becoming the first successful fire insurance company in America. Benjamin Franklin was one of its founding members. The Contributionship began as a mutual insurance company and this concept is represented by its “Hand in Hand” fire mark. The Philadelphia Contributionship is still in operation.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Gift of CIGNA Museum and Art Collection

1758

ID Number

2005.0233.0345

accession number

2005.0233

catalog number

2005.0233.0345

Object Name

fire mark

Physical Description

wood (overall material)

lead (overall material)

Measurements

board: 16 3/8 in x 11 13/16 in x 1 in; 41.5925 cm x 30.00375 cm x 2.54 cm

hands: 10 in x 9 in x 1 5/8 in; 25.4 cm x 22.86 cm x 4.1275 cm

overall: wt 93 oz

place made

United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

See more items in

Home and Community Life: Fire Fighting and Law Enforcement

Cultures & Communities

Advertising

Work

Firefighting Collection

Fire Marks

National Museum of American History

Subject

Insurance

Record ID

nmah_1341446

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-a376-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa