Thursday, August 25, 2011

House Insignia of the Day Revealed - At the Golden Horseshow (U zlaté podkovy)

Way overdue with this one!

At the Golden Horseshoe (U zlaté podkovy)

Located at Nerudova 34 in the Lesser Quarter, At the Golden Horseshoe was originally a Renaissance house with Baroque adaptations from the beginning of the 18th century.  In 1749, J. Bischof founded the first pharmacy in the Hradčany district there, which later moved to the neighbouring house At the Golden Lion.  A gilded horseshoe, said to bring good luck, marked this house as far back as the 16th century.  In the early 18th century, the house insignia was cleverly included in the painting of the patron saint of the Czech lands, St. Wenceslas.  Now, though, all that remains of the actual horseshoe is the trace of its imprint on the newly restored painting.