Pawn Collection

Hogarth, Gin Lane. A political print supporting a ministerial measure against the unlimited sale of gin (which later became the Gin Act)

Drinking / Intemperance
Political print of Gin Lane supporting a ministerial measure against the unlimited sale of gin. The pawnbrokers, gin cellar and distillery are now flourishing

Chess pieces on a chessboard

Pawnbrokers Shop
A pawnbroker considers how much he will lend on some clothes

Bermuda, Rosewood Bermuda Hotel, Palm Court, Large chess game

Mr Uncle the pawnbroker. 8th November 1935

Window of Los Angeles pawn shop with neon

Exterior of the Quest House and pawn shops in Cripplegate, London, 1903. These buildings, which dated from at least 1564, were demolished in 1903. Date: 1903

Chess set, c. 1795 (ivory & walnut)
2648449 Chess set, c.1795 (ivory & walnut) by Indian School, (18th century); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Chess set, c. 1795 (ivory & walnut)
2648448 Chess set, c.1795 (ivory & walnut) by Indian School, (18th century); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Chess set, c. 1795 (ivory & walnut)
2648446 Chess set, c.1795 (ivory & walnut) by Indian School, (18th century); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

Pawn brokers (engraving)
3245530 Pawn brokers (engraving) by British School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures; British, out of copyright

Impostor Syndrome
Victoria Glinka

An Indian woman seated on a rich carpet attended by servants
An Indian woman at a gala seated on a rich carpet with containers of betelnut and perfume, attended by an ayah or servants with punya (fan), pawn and snake hookah pipe

A Victorian New Year card of two kittens playing chess, c. 1880 (colour litho)
3603532 A Victorian New Year card of two kittens playing chess, c.1880 (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; Photo eDavid Pearson; English, out of copyright

The Philosophers Game (litho)
3632214 The Philosophers Game (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Philosophers Game)

The wrong shop (litho)
5993543 The wrong shop (litho) by May, Phil (1864-1903); Private Collection; (add.info.: The wrong shop. Illustration for the Phil May Album, collected by Augustus M Moore (Methuen)

The Bottle (engraving)
1594499 The Bottle (engraving) by Cruikshank, George (1792-1878) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Bottle. Illustration for The Pictorial Times, 4 September 1847)

We all start the same (colour litho)
3642853 We all start the same (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: We all start the same. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Behind a pawnbrokers counter (litho)
726893 Behind a pawnbrokers counter (litho) by Renouard, Charles Paul (1845-1924) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: The seamy side of life: behind a pawnbrokers counter)

The king defended by a pawn (chromolitho)
974554 The king defended by a pawn (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The king defended by a pawn)

White pawn piece from a chess set, made in Berhampur, India, c. 1820 (ivory)
3037312 White pawn piece from a chess set, made in Berhampur, India, c.1820 (ivory) by Indian School, (19th century); National Army Museum

Yes Sire
Kenneth Nielsen

The megalomania 2
Victoria Glinka

Street Scene, Glasgow, Scotland, 6th March 1971. Face of Britain 1971 Feature

Chess Piece, Pawn, Iran, 9th-12th century. Creator: Unknown
Chess Piece, Pawn, Iran, 9th-12th century

Some of the Principal Inhabitants of the Moon, as They Were Perfectly Discovered by a Telescope... May 1, 1788. After William Hogarth

The Pawn Shop II, 1859 (oil on canvas)
3087281 The Pawn Shop II, 1859 (oil on canvas) by Unker, Carl-Hendrik d (1828-66); 85 x 113 cm; Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Sweden; Swedish, out of copyright

Bone chessmen of Scandinavian design, 12th or 13th century, (1892). Found on the Isle of Lewis, now in the British Museum

The Lewis Chessmen, (Norwegian?), c1150-c1200. King and Queen pieces from a collection of ninety-three found at Uig on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Chess Being Played With Little People

Science Jottings by Dr W. Heath Robinson II
II Testing gold with the uncle magnet at the mint. Typically ridiculous invention by Heath Robinson showing men at the Royal Mint testing gold by holding a pawn brokers sign nearby. Date: 1909

London Trade Card - John Flude, Pawnbroker and Silversmith, 2 Gracechurch Street. 18th century

Pawnbroker and customer on a postcard -- Trying to pass the time. Date: circa 1900s

Chess board with pieces on a greetings card. Date: circa 1890s

Spain. 19th century. Pawnshop. Pawn jewelry. Madrid. Colored
Spain. 19th century. Pawnshop and Savings Bank, an institution created with a social and religious assistance to the most needy. Pawn jewelry. Madrid

The last pawning. 18th century. Colored engraving. The Artistic Illustration, 1886

Two kittens on a New Year card, playing with chess pieces. circa 1890s

The Chess Players, illustration from Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
KW232584 The Chess Players, illustration from Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll (1832-98) first published 1871 (litho) by Tenniel

Three schoolboys run away from school in nautical disguise
Three errant schoolboys run away from school and disguise themselves as little sailors Date: 1898

Carved stone chess pieces from India
INDIAN CHESS PIECES. Carved stone chess pieces from India

CARROLL: LOOKING GLASS. White Pawn (Alice) to play, and win in eleven moves. Wood engraving after Sir John Tenniel for the first edition of Lewis Carrolls Through the Looking Glass, 1872

Distress in Paris 1874
The war with Prussia, followed by the Commune, leave France in an impoverished condition : in Paris the poor are forced to pawn household possessions such as bedding, Date: 1874

London Pub / The Castle
The Castle public house, Cowcross Street, Clerkenwell, London, where a penniless King George IV once pawned his watch and later granted the pub pawnbrokerage forever! Date: 19th century

Chess computer. Conceptual computer artwork representing a chess-playing artificial intelligence. Computers such as IBMs Deep Blue can now beat human grandmasters

Pawnbroker Sign / 1940S
Symbol of the pawn shop, the Three Golden Balls was adapted from the arms of the Medici financiers who came to this country from Italy in 1282 to lend money to English Kings

Egan / Pawning Costumes
Pawning theatre costumes in a pawn shop

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"Pawn: A Symbol of Society's Intemperance and Desperation" In the intricate tapestry of human existence, one can find profound symbolism in the most unexpected places. Take for instance William Hogarth's famous painting, "Gin Lane, " a haunting depiction of London's drinking culture in the 18th century. Amidst this chaotic scene, a pawnbroker's shop stands as a testament to society's intemperance. Just like chess pieces on a board they can often sacrificed in the game of life. They represent those who bear the weight of desperation and make difficult choices to survive. The window of a Los Angeles pawn shop adorned with neon lights serves as an alluring yet melancholic reminder that sometimes we must part with our possessions to navigate through challenging times. Traveling back in time to Cripplegate, London, in 1903 reveals an era where buildings dating back centuries were demolished without hesitation. Among them stood Quest House and various pawn shops - structures that witnessed countless stories unfold within their walls. A chess set from 1795 crafted meticulously from ivory and walnut captures both elegance and strategy; it mirrors how individuals maneuver through life’s challenges while trying not to be mere pawns themselves. This juxtaposition is further emphasized by Dr W. Heath Robinson II’s Science Jottings – reminding us that even amidst scientific progress, societal struggles persist. London Trade Card featuring John Flude, Pawnbroker and Silversmith showcases how these establishments played vital roles within communities throughout history. Their presence offered hope or solace during times when financial security seemed out of reach. Lastly, Mr Uncle the pawnbroker immortalized on November 8th, 1935 reminds us that behind every business lies someone who witnesses humanity at its most vulnerable moments – offering temporary relief but also bearing witness to personal hardships etched into their memories forever. In essence, "pawn" transcends its literal meaning.