The Jester Plaque
A nickel-plated "Pause" sign in the style of the great carousel makers
This plaque shows a court jester in a belled cap, blowing a herald's trumpet over a ribbon that reads "Pause," all surrounded by a ring of stars and fancy scrollwork. It was cast in metal and plated in bright nickel to give it a silver shine, the same finish used on fairground rides and theater fixtures a century ago.
"Pause" is the German word for intermission. Signs like this hung in theaters, cinemas, and fairgrounds around 1900 to tell the crowd the show was taking a break.
The jester was a favorite symbol of the golden age of carousels. The famous Dentzel company of Philadelphia decorated the tops of its carousels with jester faces, and this piece captures that same playful spirit. Its exact maker is still a mystery, which is part of the fun.
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