Black Bear - Market Place, Devizes, Wiltshire, UK.
N 51° 21.138 W 001° 59.752
30U E 569923 N 5689481
This rather grand bear appears to be vegetarian.
Waymark Code: WMAM59
Location: South West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 01/28/2011
Views: 5
Not only is this particular Black Bear chained and collared to a post, it has two bunches of grapes mixing two traditional images,.
The grapes or vine, is clearly a reference to the basic ingredient of wine.
There are many reasons why the bear may be used on a pub sign but few certainties.
Where a bear is depicted, brown or black, it will often be a reflection of the "sport" of bear baiting indicating that this was something that could be seen in the vicinity. A bear was chained to a post and dogs set on it. For this reason where a bear is seen in the picture chained to a post there can be some certainty that this is the origin of the sign. UNLESS there is a heraldic connection to a local landowner or other dignitary of the day. The bear or bear and ragged staff was often a feature of coats of arms. The colour of the bear may have been significant. Or may have been simply a random choice.
This one appears to be particularly illustrative of baiting.
As pub signs are re-painted, where the sign simply refers to a bear the colour may change at the whim of the publican or the sign painter.
Name of Artist: Not known.
Date of current sign: Not known.
Date of first pub on site: Not known.
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