HISTORIC ORNAMENT PRODUCTS

The Boston Ornament Company offers ornamental plaster medallions, mouldings, and brackets, as well as unique custom plasterwork to architects, designers, decorators, and owners who demand plaster ornament of the highest quality and finest traditional materials. For over two decades, the Boston Ornament Company has been a leading source of historically significant and quality ornamentation, particularly in the Greater Boston market. Our products represent the most notable collection of historic 19th century plaster medallions available anywhere. These medallions have been obtained over time from the finest homes in Boston's Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and the South End. Each was created in one of various Boston studios by the skilled artisans of their time. Our brackets, cornices, rosettes and mouldings share the same antique heritage as our medallions. Including any of the objects in this collection to the decoration of your home or historically significant building comes with the pride of knowing they were created by masters of heirloom quality decorative plaster in the Old World tradition.

Dura Art Stone's portfolio of successfully completed projects, extending nationwide for over 80 years, bears witness to our European heritage and focus on architecturally unique and structurally complex uses of Architectural Precast Concrete, Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete, and Glascrete, a proprietary simulated concrete material. Dura Art Stone traces its history to 1935 when Bruno Mariani, an accomplished Italian model maker and craftsman, quickly established himself as a leading source of Ornamental Cast Plaster and Cast Stone in San Francisco, CA. One of Bruno’s early works at the Pulgas Water Temple in Redwood City, CA, completed in 1941, remains beautiful and functional to this day. Please use our Architectural Precast link below to view our gallery of significant projects.

From its turn-of-the-century factory in Nevada, Missouri, the W. F. Norman Corporation still operates machines as old as the company itself. Production methods remain the same as the early days with sheet metal panels stamped one at a time on antique rope drop hammers, resulting in better quality control than modern hydraulic presses. Using original dies from 1898, the W.F. Norman Corp. Hi-Art® product line contains 140 steel ceiling design components and over 1,300 ornaments. Their growing popularity stems not only from nostalgia but from their beauty, permanence and economy. William Franklin Norman founded the W. F. Norman Sheet Metal Manufacturing Company in 1898. In 1978, grandson Franklin Norman sold the business to Robert Quitno. It is still run today by Bob’s family.

For The Swan Company owner, Carol Hanson, it all began in 1979 with the purchase of an 1876 Italianate row house on Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. "It had picture rail molding, but the only place that carried the appropriate hangers (Woolworth's) went out of business before I got there. So I said 'Ok, I can do this myself". Today, she is able to offer the world authentic Gesso Picture Rail Molding. Yes the real thing…plaster on wood and, best of all, it’s made in the USA. Whether you are looking for antique picture rail hooks or perhaps something a little fancier such as Victorian picture hangers with tassels and cord, you’re sure to find something to delight you at the The Swan Company. Original picture rail molding (moulding) can be found in homes through the l940’s, so we've included items to compliment your Arts and Crafts furniture or Craftsman style home. We have other fabulous picture hanging hardware including Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG) picture hangers and our latest addition, Breakfast at Tiffany's. Everything you need for your Victorian home or Craftsman house or restoration project, from decorative Gesso picture rail moldings to antique brass nail covers, tassels and more.