Money Lender's Sign

A small replica of a Money Lender or Pawnbroker's store sign. Painted wood. The large size usually can be found hanging outside the establishment. The ideogram for "large" (dai) appears on one side, that for "small" (sho) on the other. The "large" or "small" sign indicated whether the current rate of interest was being computed on the basis of a long or a short year. Red paint on black background, some paint chipping on the edges, mounted on a contemporary metal stand.

Japanese, Edo period, 19th c.

$250