Tavern Sign by Steven Lalioff

This is my favorite tavern sign I made for Williamsburg in the last century. Originally, this hung inside the Williamsburg Inn but it wasn't long before I got a call from the museum's interior decorator. They received a complaint from a guest who objected to the nudity. I offered to buy the sign back, or better, paint them a different one. (I wanted to exchange it for a mermaid that was fish on top and nude on the bottom.) But, I would not paint clam shells over the breasts as suggested unless I could paint her nose blue....the guest, not the mermaid.

The inset shows the back of the sign. This was a common "joke" heard at taverns in the period.

Copy and photos supplied by Steven Lalioff.