Silkie McDonough Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I have been researching tavern signs. Often the signs did not have writing but pictures and symbols. The tavern called "The Cross Keys" would have a sign of two keys crossed. "The Kings Head" would have a painting of the kings head on the sign. Well, I am gong about this backwards ...I gave the place a name before researching. I like the name it is now known. With that said I now need something like this drying seal hide, not a harp seal but a seal from the seas north of Scotland, the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and the common, or harbour, seal (Phoca vitulina). Now we all know I wouldn't want to kill a seal just for a sign. That is where all your creative minds come in. Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks, Silkie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mission Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Weren't the signs wooden? If you want to make a faux seal skin, you might buy a piece of leather in the appropriate color and stipple it with paint to give it a pebbly appearance. (Stippling is dipping the paint brush into the paint and then holding the brush perpendicular to the surface jamming it down repeatedly with a little bit of force.) If not overdone, it creates a nice textured finish like that picture appears to me to have. Well, that's my suggestion, anyhow. Mycroft: "My brother has the brain of a scientist or a philosopher, yet he elects to be a detective. What might we deduce about his heart?" John: "I don't know." Mycroft: "Neither do I. But initially he wanted to be a pirate." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bos'n Cross Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Missions correctt, they were wooden. Strangly enough i once meet a man who collected olde tavern signs......... are you sure you want to use an actuall seal "hide" look, i think its more traditional to at least paint on what ever emblem you want...though i admit that may take some thinking....i kind of like the idea of a seal head with a knife and fork on either side....though that might imply that the dish you serve is........... -Israel Cross- - Boatswain of the Archangel - . Colonial Seaport Foundation Crew of the Archangel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 (edited) -- deleted -- Edited November 9, 2009 by hurricane -- Hurricane ______________________________________________________________________ http://piratesofthecoast.com/images/pyracy-logo1.jpg Captain of The Pyrates of the Coast Author of "Memoirs of a Buccaneer: 30 Year Before the Mast" (Published in Fall 2011) Scurrilous Rogue Stirrer of Pots Fomenter of Mutiny Bon Vivant & Roustabout Part-time Carnival Barker Certified Ex-Wife Collector Experienced Drinking Companion "I was screwed. I readied my confession and the sobbing pleas not to tell my wife. But as I turned, no one was in the bed. The room was empty. The naked girl was gone, like magic." "Memoirs of a Buccaneer: 30 Years Before the Mast" - Amazon.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silkie McDonough Posted November 8, 2009 Author Share Posted November 8, 2009 The actual signs were wooden and I do have a wooden sign. I don't have time to do this now but I will share the links of my research. It isn't a necessity but I just thought it would add interest to the "story" of the hide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Handed Jill Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 If memory serves, weren't a lot of pub names meant to be a sly play on words? What about painting a sign with seals peeking around rocks, as if they were hiding? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mission Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 If memory serves, weren't a lot of pub names meant to be a sly play on words? What about painting a sign with seals peeking around rocks, as if they were hiding? That would be SOOO cool! You should do that Silkie! Mycroft: "My brother has the brain of a scientist or a philosopher, yet he elects to be a detective. What might we deduce about his heart?" John: "I don't know." Mycroft: "Neither do I. But initially he wanted to be a pirate." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silkie McDonough Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 I have a wooden sign. It has a picture of food & drink on it because the illiterate need a picture to know that we serve food. Maybe I don't need the seal hide, I am just thinking about it, looking for options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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