Vintage Pawnbroker / Pawn Shop Sign Copper Spheres or Balls with Brass Assembly

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Vintage Pawnbroker / Pawn Shop Sign Copper Spheres or Balls with Brass Assembly:
$350.00

Three spheres, typically suspended from a metal bar overhanging the entrance to a Pawnshop, are the historic symbol of that trade dating to the famous Medici Banking Family in 14th century Italy. The symbol was also a part of the Medici family coat of arms. Pawning has an earlier history, but the Medici Family made it most memorable.The three spheres for sale are made of a heavy gauge of copper and have a varying copper-aging discoloration. Each one has two to four minor dents, but they are shallow, given the thickness of the sphere material and they are not distracting. Rather, they give the sign additional character. Sphere #1 has a very small dent in addition to the larger dent pictured. Sphere #2 has 3 very small dents in addition to the 2 larger ones pictured. Sphere #3 has a small dent, as pictured, and has a little solder at the collar mounting area and a small solder spot at the bottom/center.The depth of the larger dents in the pictures is difficult to measure. They all measure approximately 2 inches in length.Nothing is known of the earlier history of the sign elements except that they were purchased from a St. Louis MO antique shop in the old Soulard District in 1975. At the time, they were not assembled in the traditional shape as pictured here, and now have a contemporary threaded brass linkage assembly. The spheres, physically assembled in the traditional style are rare because of their imposing physical nature. They have a much greater historic, authentic appeal than the symbol when simply painted or otherwise reflected on a flat pawnshop sign.The assembly measures approximately 25 inches vertically and 26 inches horizontally, weighing approximately 10 lbs. . Each sphere is approximately 26 inches in circumference and 8 inches in diameter. The last picture shows the threaded end used to hang the sign.