25120

Three Cast 1852 Plaques- Pierce, Scott, Webster An Outstanding Set of Three Well-Known Large, Cast-I

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1,800.00 - 2,500.00 USD
Three Cast 1852 Plaques- Pierce, Scott, Webster An Outstanding Set of Three Well-Known Large, Cast-I
<B>An Outstanding Set of Three Well-Known Large, Cast-Iron Plaques from the 1852 Election: Pierce, Scott and Daniel Webster.</B></I> These heavy 10.5" x 12" wall plaques were very well made, with a very nice, smooth finish for cast iron. Pierce and Scott were, of course, the rival 1852 candidates, and the ubiquitous Mr. Webster may have been a subject simply as a renowned elder statesman, or because he had been a Whig presidential nomination "hopeful" earlier in 1852. The portraits are particularly well-done, immediately identifiable and in very high relief. The Scott and Webster both had an ornamental oval around the portraits, which apparently was originally gilded. The Scott retains just traces of the original gold, while the Webster has had the gold border restored. The Pierce differs from the other two in that its border is plain and does not appear to ever have been gold, and because of the (presumed mounting) holes in the field above and below his portrait. The Scott is the only example we can recall seeing with the original manufacturer's text in gold lettering on the reverse: "Copyright applied for 1852 / Chase Brothers & Co." <BR><BR>Of these, the Scott is, by far, the most often seen, which is rather odd, since usually the items of defeated candidates are scarcer than those of the victor. The Webster is significantly scarcer, and the Pierce is downright rare; we have not seen more than several over thirty-plus years. 3-D political items for Pierce and Scott (and for Webster as well, for that matter) are almost non-existent, making these plaques very important to any serious collector of 19th century political display items. All three in fine shape. The last Pierce we saw for sale was priced at well over $1000, and this was a few years ago.