ANTIQUE Sarah Symonds SALEM Witch City HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES Plaster Wall Plaque
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:106940 | Style: Colonial |
| Type: Plaque | Location: Massachusetts |
| Original/Reproduction: Antique Original | Maker: Sarah W Symonds |
| Decade: 1900s | Material: Plaster |
- ANTIQUE ORIGINAL -- ( no photographs or paperwork included )Sarah Symonds (1870-1965) is a well known Salem artist of a century ago.She had a long, successful career, with multiple shops in Salem, as well as a seasonal outlet in neighboring Marblehead. She worked into her eighties, as the Daniel Low Company (of Souvenir Witch Spoon fame) offered her plaques into the 1950's.She, along with several of her nieces, who she employed, produced a wide variety of Plaques, Door Knockers, Book...ends, Doorstops and Paperweights - generally in plaster, but also in iron and bronze.At one time she published a list of subjects available at the time, of which perhaps 20% have ever been observed. The most common are of The House of The Seven Gables. Sarah even maintained a shop directly across the street from this famous attraction for many years.There are multiple reasons so few of her pieces have survived. First of all, the Plaster items are extremely fragile, and it takes no more than a single drop to the floor to assure their fate. Moreover, Sarah signed her metal pieces with paint, and even light wear will remove her signature forever. There are, undoubtedly, many of her Doorstops in circulation that the owners are totally unaware were made by her.This example is a plaster plaque of THE HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES, as restored by Caroline Osgood Emmerton in 1907. This wonderful early building is nestled aside the shore of Salem Harbor, and has remained a must-see for over a century.This plaque is typical of Sarah in both size and subject. It measures 6 inches by 4-3/4 inches, and has a simple tan wash, rather than the intricate colors available at higher cost.Although there are no cracks nor repairs, there are several very small chips (see pics). All in all I would place it in the top 5% of her surviving pieces in condition.https://www.wickedlocal.com/x1380100906/John-Goff-Sarah-Symonds-was-the-heir-to-a-proud-crafting-tradition
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