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Lot Essay
This rare example of an early American double-sided tavern sign is believed to be from the Asa Taft tavern in Franklin County, Massachusetts. Asa Taft was born May 20, 1805 in Warwick, Massachusetts, the son of Luke Taft. He married Nancy Burnap of Nelson, New Hampshire in 1828 and was still living in Warwick in 1840, when in appears in the Federal Census (his occupation is not given). Sometime between 1840 and 1850, he and his family moved to his wife's hometown. Taft appears on the Nelson Federal Census in 1850 and 1860, where he is listed as a shoemaker. He died in Nelson in 1863.
Eagles were one of the most frequently depicted subjects from 1782 onwards, most taking on some variation of the imagery seen on the Great Seal of the United States. The manner in which the eagle was depicted evolved over time with the eagle gradually becoming more naturalistic; the stylized rendering of the eagle in this sign is typical of birds painted in the 1820s-1830s. Signs done in an oval format appeared as early as 1800 and reached their height of popularity by the 1820s-1830s; this form remained in use until the mid-19th century, when rectangular forms became more popular.
For further discussion of early American tavern and inn signs, see Susan Schoelwer, ed., Lions, Eagles and Bulls: Early American Tavern and Inn Signs from the Connecticut Historical Society (Hartford, Connecticut, 2000).
Eagles were one of the most frequently depicted subjects from 1782 onwards, most taking on some variation of the imagery seen on the Great Seal of the United States. The manner in which the eagle was depicted evolved over time with the eagle gradually becoming more naturalistic; the stylized rendering of the eagle in this sign is typical of birds painted in the 1820s-1830s. Signs done in an oval format appeared as early as 1800 and reached their height of popularity by the 1820s-1830s; this form remained in use until the mid-19th century, when rectangular forms became more popular.
For further discussion of early American tavern and inn signs, see Susan Schoelwer, ed., Lions, Eagles and Bulls: Early American Tavern and Inn Signs from the Connecticut Historical Society (Hartford, Connecticut, 2000).