Shield Decoration on Instrumetns

[Joel Hooks]

Not that this implies banjos or is a indication of proof,  but...

 

The topic of shield brackets on banjos being post war tends to be commonly claimed.  Often they seem to have been added much later.  We've all read the accounts of how they would add half a dozen brackets etc. to update a banjo.

 

On my recent vacation, we went to the Boston MFA.  While I was hypnotized by W. S. Mont's "The Bones Player," something caught my eye.

 

On the violin case laying in the background, the key lock is shield shaped and looks brass in color.  So here is shield imagery on a instrument case panted in 1856.  

Now, it is a panting, but William Sidney Mont is know for his realistic detail, and this one looks life-size, at least the man looks like the size of a man in front of me.

What other instruments have we seen the american shield on early, besides drum rims?

 

 

[John Masciale]

If I am not mistaken,  I have seen a tin whistle with a shield on it (maybe it was Ian's?).

[Rob Morrison]

Joel--

Thanks for the photos.  I've never seen "The Bones Player" before.  It's terrific.  I like the decoration on the bones, too.--Rob Morrison

[John Masciale]

Ian's whistle had an eagle on it, but not a shield.  I had forgotten that he posted pictures here.