Trade Sign - Barber Pole

Periodca. 1900 - 1920

MediumTurned wood with a metal socket for a light bulb and metal mounting brackets

Dimensions39 × 6.25 in. (99.1 × 15.9 cm)

ClassificationsAdvertising, Business & Ornamental Artifacts

Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. William C. RIker, 1963

Object number1983.409

DescriptionA cylindrical barber pole with an ornamental turned base. The top of the pole has a large turned base for a an electric light socket and bulb formerly contained in a glass globe. Painted bands of red and white spiral around the pole. Black and gold bands appear at the top and foot of the pole. Two iron brackets attached the pole to the front of the shop.
NotesA barber's pole is a type of trade sign used by barbers to signify the place or shop where they perform their craft. The sign is, by a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, a staff or pole with a helix of colored stripes, often red and white in many countries, but usually red, blue, and white in the United States. After the formation of the United Barber Surgeon's Company in England in 1540, a statute required the barber to use a blue and white pole and the surgeon to use a red pole. In France, surgeons used a red pole with a basin attached to identify their offices. The blue that often appears on poles in the United States possibly represents homage to our national colors. Another more fanciful interpretation of these barber pole colors is that red represents arterial blood, blue is symbolic of venous blood, and white depicts the bandage.

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