Vintage Syroco Appraisal

Syracuse Ornamental Company (Syroco) Revolutionary War Minuteman Wall Plaque

This is a vintage three-dimensional relief wall plaque manufactured by the Syracuse Ornamental Company (Syroco), likely dating from the 1960s to mid-1970s during the popularity of 'Early American' decor and the Bicentennial era. The piece is constructed from Syroco wood, a proprietary molded material composed of wood flour and resins, designed to emulate hand-carved wood. It features an elongated octagonal frame with a faux-grained wood background and a riveted border. At the top, a spread-wing eagle sits above a horizontal band. The primary subject is a Continental Army soldier or Minuteman, rendered in a colorful palette of deep navy blue, ochre, buff, and red. He holds a long rifle and carries a powder horn, dressed in a tricorn hat and traditional colonial military attire. The condition appears fair to good; there is visible wear along the edges of the molded frame and some loss of finish/paint on the raised surfaces of the figure's clothing and the rifle. The patina suggests age-related oxidation of the original pigments. While no maker's mark is visible from the front, these items were typically stamped with 'Syroco' and a model number on the reverse.