A wonder-full artifact with deep connections to the life of J. R. R. Tolkien.

As a child, Tolkien's guardian after his mother died, Father Francis Morgan, would take take him and his brothers to Lyme Regis on the south coast of England. They would stay at what was then the finest hotel in town, The Three Cups.

His imagination was stoked there. He recalled finding a large jaw bone as a child and half-convinced himself it was that of a dragon. He drew*. He painted. He imagined stories. It held such a special place in his imagination that he returned twice for extended periods to stoke his imagination. The first was in 1927 and 1928 when he executed a series of imaginative fairy tale paintings. These are clear precursors to Middle Earth. Then, importantly, when he began working on "a world" for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to live in, he again chose The Three Cups in Lyme Regis as his retreat. He moved into a room at the old hotel of his childhood and crafted there the world that would become Middle Earth. 

The language and spaces of Lyme Regis and The Three Cups found their way into the Tolkien lore. Tumble Hill in the books is based on Timber Hill in Lyme Regis. And the Prancing Pony itself is likely based, at least in part on The Three Cups. 

I imagine Tolkien's heart warmed in a way not too other than Bilbo's longed-for sight of the Shire. When he saw Lyme Regis approaching in the distance and then laid eyes on the solid brass sign, there since 1807, at The Three Cups, it was a coming home to his childhood, to the birthplace of Middle Earth . . . to his shire.

This would make the perfect gift for a library, reading room, or in a room to be used for writing. A wonderful physical artifact indeed.

Solid brass, dating to the 19th century, perhaps to the original construction of 1807. Removed at a section of demolition just a few years ago. Purchased directly from the town architectural antiques dealer. 

Measures 17 x 18 inches, solid brass with some apparent copper alloy. Lettering is polychrome or similar black; some wear and abbrasions as shown. 

*See the image of a drawing in this listing [not included] executed by Tolkien while staying at The Three Cups, overlooking the waterfront.