Rare Parisian Maison Close Sign / Lantern - 19th Century

Extremely rare zinc Parisian brothel sign/lantern. This type of sign was attached to the facade of brothels and equipped with red colored windows lit by gas. The law prohibiting all pubs, signs and girls on the doorstep, the lit red lamp made it possible to signal that the place was open. The use of a red light in the world of prostitution goes back a long way, without us knowing precisely when and how it became its symbol. One theory says that the prostitutes of Amsterdam, in the 17th century, wandered the streets lighting themselves with a red lantern, because this color had two advantages: it made them easily identifiable by freshly arrived sailors looking for money. 'a little company for the night... but above all, it allowed them to camouflage the imperfections on their faces, in other words: the traces of syphilis... Visible gaps in the photos. Width of the lantern 73cm x 55cm height Cast iron base from a Parisian floor lamp reported and supplied with, total height 2M30