A place for show-and-tell, wondering aloud, and wandering the trails of curiosity . . . Comments, corrrections, additional information, fresh insights, other interpretations, more images, or related observations will be welcomed!
This was the era of symbolic "signs" identifying businesses, such as the brass teakettle of the Oriental Tea Company in Boston,
the three-balls insignia of a pawn shop, etc. This Portsmouth, NH hotel was marked by the "sign of the golden ball". (undated, probably pre-1800)