After long travels this gable stone has returned to its original place. In 1868 De Stuers mentioned IN THE SMOKE SCISSORS at Maastrichter Brugstraat 10. He also saw the date ANNO 1735.
After some renovation the stone ended up in the cellar of the Dinghuis and in 1951 in the facade of Boschstraat 17. When that building was demolished in 1977, the "smookshier" returned to Maastrichter Brugstraat where the inscription, which had been lost before, was found during yet another renovation. At first it was hidden in the porch, but now image and inscription are reunited in the facade.
The image on the gable stone is a pair of snuff scissors for cutting off wicks from candles and oil lamps, which were then collected in the attached box. This operation was called snuffing and was done to prevent fumes from escaping. Hence the name SCHMOUCK SCEER and SMOCSCHER, because snuffing was called "smokke" in Maastricht and the "smooksjier" was not wanting in any household.
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