1891-92-] 3^9 



As a lingering relic of the old custom of exhibiting trade 

 symbols, we still meet the barber's pole and brass chafing-dish 

 dangling from it, the striped and twisted colours representing 

 the bandaged limb, telling of the days when barbers were also 

 surgeons. In the East, even in far-away Japan, at the present 

 day we find the well-known sign of " the bush" outside a sake 

 shop the same as that used in England in the old times, which 

 gave rise to the proverb " Good wine needs no bush." The 

 " bush" was a tavern sign in ancient Rome, which gave rise to 

 the proverb vino vendibile suspensa hedera non opus est, and 

 from which our sign of the " bush " is derived. The Greeks 

 and Romans appeared to have used symbolic signboards. Thus 

 Aristotle says (Problematum x. 14) — "As with things drawn 

 above the shops, which, though they are small, appear to have 

 breadth and depth." And Athenseus, " He hung the well- 

 known sign in the front of his house." From the many similar 

 references it would seem that the custom was very prevalent. 

 The incorporated companies and trade guilds of London and 

 many of the provincial towns had each their coat-of-arms and 

 trade devices, which their members exhibited as signs of their 

 trade and profession. 



Are we in want and possess valuables ? The well-known 

 sign of " Mine uncle," the three golden balls of the pawnbroker, 

 invite us to be relieved of our distresses. It is interesting to 

 know that this famous sign is derived from the shield of the 

 Medici family, and was the arms of Lombardy, which nation 

 introduced over Europe the system of lending money on the 

 security of articles of value. 



IN CONCLUSION 



Let me hope that the slight introductory sketch of some of the 

 main features of the symbolic art may induce at least some of 

 those present to continue its study as expressed in the language, 

 the literature, and the art of all the ages past. 



