Back in 2016, I blogged about a pair of salt and pepper shakers that I
cherish, because they are one of the few things I own that belonged to my
late mother.
Don't these shakers look like they are intricately carved? I thought so, but the truth is stranger (and more fascinating) than that. The story is worth sharing, although it's a bit long.
Quoting from the Syracuse University website:
Founded in Syracuse, New York in 1890 by immigrant Adolph Holstein, the
Syracuse Ornamental
Company (Syroco)
specialized in decorative wood carving, especially
for the local residential market.
Products included fireplace
mantelpieces and other types of interior decoration
popular in late Victorian homes.
To meet increasing market
demand and sales opportunities Holstein developed a
material looked and felt like
wood but that which could be
shaped, allowing multiple pieces to be produced
through a molding process. The
new product, which combined
wood pulp brought from the Adirondacks [a New York
mountain chain] with flour as a binder and other materials
to give it strength, was
extruded and then cut to fit compression molds,
which had were made from original
carvings in real wood.
The process favored shallow molds with little
undercutting, and this served well for the creation of a wide variety of "carved"
relief work to be applied to different sorts
of flat surfaces such as walls, furniture and caskets. Production of this new molded
product, known as SyrocoWood, was the
mainstay of the company's production through the 1940s.
My guest photographer (a friend whose photos I feature from time to time) emailed me after the first time I blogged about this set, and sent me this link. It is full of information about Syroco and other manufacturers.
So many of these manufacturers gone now.
Strange how, for all these years, I owned a somewhat local product and never knew what it was.
Yes. Isn't it good Syroco wood.
I love these kinds of stories. Legacies, history, the chain of life.
ReplyDeleteCarol C
It's great that you took the time to do the research, you found such an interesting story.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting piece of history.
ReplyDeleteYou KNOW I don't mind a long story about a collectible! It's interesting too. The process worked, they look like they've stood the test of time well, especially things that were probably used a lot. It was a good way to use up wood pulp too.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting. They are beautiful.
ReplyDelete...and Syracuse China on April 9, 2009, after 138 years of production, its factory was shut down by Libbey, Inc. of Toledo Ohio, and all production of Syracuse China moved from North America. At that time, the plant had 275 employees.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing story. I would never have guessed how your mother's salt and pepper shakers were produced.
ReplyDeleteThe salt and pepper shakers are unique! Interesting history about them and the company! Again learned something new today here! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteBetty
Those s and p shakers are so cool. Great to know the history.
ReplyDeleteFascinating story, Alana! I love a back story!
ReplyDeleteInteresting. Sad that the company is no longer around. Great to have the pieces from your mom.
ReplyDeleteAlana,
ReplyDeleteI wasn't sure if these pieces were carved but they certainly look like they could be. How interesting to learn the history behind how this salt and pepper shaker design came to be, though. These now hold an extra measure of sentimentality for you.