Arm-and-hammer Symbol

The arm and hammer is a symbol consisting of a muscular arm holding a hammer. Used in ancient times as a symbol of the god Vulcan, it came to be known as a symbol of industry, for example blacksmithing and gold-beating. It has been used as a symbol by many different kinds of organizations, including banks, local government, and socialist political parties.

It has been used in heraldry, appearing in the Coat of arms of Birmingham and Seal of Wisconsin.

The similarity to the name of the industrialist Armand Hammer is not a coincidence: he was named after the symbol, as his father Julius Hammer was a supporter of socialist causes, including the Socialist Labor Party of America, with its arm-and-hammer logo.

The Arm & Hammer brand is a registered trademark of Church & Dwight, an American manufacturer of household products. According to the company, the logo originally represented Vulcan. Armand Hammer made an offer to outright purchase this company having this brand with the similarity to his name, and while this offer was refused, he eventually acquired enough stock to have a controlling interest and join the board of directors. He remained an owner until his death in 1990.

An arm-and-hammer sign can be seen in Manette Street, Soho, symbolizing the trade of gold-beating carried on there in the nineteenth century. It is referred to by Charles Dickens in ''A Tale of Two Cities''."In a building at the back, attainable by a courtyard where a plane tree rustled its green leaves, church organs claimed to be made, and likewise gold to be beaten by some mysterious giant who had a golden arm starting out of the wall... as if he had beaten himself precious." – ''A Tale of Two Cities'', Charles Dickens As of 2016, the sign there is a replica, with the original being held in the Dickens Museum.

One of the oldest visualizations of arm and hammer can be found on Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. It was completed in 1029 by the medieval Georgian architect Arsukidze, although the site itself dates back to the early fourth century.

Gallery

File:Church & Co trademark.jpg, The logo of Arm & Hammer
File:Coat of arms of Wisconsin.svg, Coat of arms of Wisconsin
File:Coat of arms of Birmingham.svg, Coat of arms of Birmingham
File:Coat of arms of Luigi Maglione.svg, Coat of arms of Luigi Maglione
File:Escudo de Villada (Palencia).svg, Coat of arms of Villada
File:Eskilstuna vapen.svg, Coat of arms of the Eskilstuna Municipality
File:Hory KV CZ CoA.jpg, Coat of arms of Hory (Karlovy Vary District)
File:Coa Hungary Family Várallyay (1599).svg, Coat of arms of the Hungarian Várallyay family
File:Flag of Donetsk.svg, Flag of Donetsk
File:Svetitskhoveli Cathedral The Hand of the Architect.jpg, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral - The Hand of the Architect

See also

* Hammer and pick
*Hammer and sickle
*Fist and rose
*Armand Hammer
*We Can Do It!

References

External links

* {{commons cat inline, Arms with hammer in heraldry

Symbols
Heraldic charges
Symbols of communism
Visual motifs