Friday Vintage Sightings "Syroco"

You've seen them around, maybe in your grandmother's decor, or rummaging thru the flea markets.  Syroco was named for the Syracuse Ornamental Company founded in the 1890's by an Austrian woodcarver, Adolph Holstein. Initially the Company produced ornamental carvings for the embellishment of coffins and furniture, as well as in the Governor's mansion in New York.  As demand increased, a molding technique was developed where Syroco could create perfect replicas of their original carvings. Their recipe of wood flour, waxes, and resins combined with compression molding created an inexpensive, but high quality product.  Later they integrated polymers into their molding process and then moved entirely into plastics production.  Production ended in the 1960s.  These vintage pieces are seeing popularity in what is being called "Vintage Hollywood Regency".  Look for them in pairs.

Molded plastic, love the details in this pair of sconces



An early pair of wood compositewall brackets





Nature themes were common in their early designs



Paul Revere in the House

Some of you will cringe at the mention of silverplate Revere Bowls.   Popular in the 70s and 80s as wedding and anniversary gifts, they were often inscribed with that special date then stored out of sight in the buffet.  But when it comes to table-top accesorizing, these vintage bowls have become my go to resource.  With a bit of polish these vessels produce a brilliant mirror shine, contemporary and chic, perfect for showcasing all kinds of love. So the next time you're at your mom's house, open up the buffet and see what you find.

Faux Leather Upholstery... The Good and the Bad

Faux leathers have been around a very long time, remember pleather and naugahyde?  Today's fauxs are more innovative and in many cases, hard to tell from the real thing.  But seek a knowledgeable opinion when selecting a faux for your furniture as they don't all perform the same.  Problems like flaking or delamination can often occur if the right product isnt selected for your project.

Courtesy Trend Fabrics