This isundoubtedlythe depiction of alaurel tree is depicted. Between the crown and the pot is a text, but this is hardly legible because of the weathered state of the gablestone.
According to information found, there are several possibilities: INDEN LAUWRIERBOMEN 1708, IN DEN LAUWRIERBOOM 1703, INT LAURIERBOOMKEN 1758 en IN DE LAU RIER BOME 1723. (IN THE LAUREL TREE)
On an archive photo from 1912 with the inscription IN 'T ORANGEBOOMKEN the text can, with a little good will, be read as INDE LAUW RIER BOMEN 1728.
The year is almost certainly correct, especially if you know that Paulus Stassen, mayor of St Pieter, bought this house and in 1728 borrowed fl. 1200,- "for construction", which certainly means the petrifying of the facade(s) which thus the placing of a facing stone made possible.
In the archive photo a tin-plated iron shield has been nailed above the tree, indicating that the house was insured against fire. Each insurance company had its own plate. Below you can see the plate of Primes Bruxelles with the image of the archangel Michael, who overcomes the (fire) devil.
During the general renovation of this street in 1963 the facade and the gable stone were moved from No. 4 to the opposite side, Smedenstraat 17.
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