A Rare Terra-Cotta Presidential Wall Plaque Recently Found in Central Pennsylvania

In 2012, Garth's Auctions in Columbus, Ohio sold a sewer pipe presidential wall portrait plaque of President William McKinley (1843-1901), the 25th president of the United States who was assassinated in Buffalo, New York on September 14, 1901, after leading the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War and raising protective tariffs to promote American industry. The plaque was inscribed on the back "Made by Bert Palmer, Akron, Ohio."

Nevertheless, I just acquired at auction this circa 1890s or early twentieth century terra-cotta wall plaque of President McKinley that was recently found in central Pennsylvania. This plaque is larger and adorned with a little more decoration than the sewer pipe example that I referenced, although both are historical survivors, representing a period in American history.

The back of this plaque is also inscribed with the maker's initials, reading, "D.S." The factory that this object originated at is currently unknown to me, but I would think a likely place of manufacture would be Philadelphia, Trenton, New Jersey or New York City. But there were terra-cotta factories elsewhere, too, including in Zanesville, Ohio, near Buffalo, etc.

These three cities all had major terra-cotta industries during this period and it is my guess that this was an 'end-of-the-day' or 'lunch-time' piece made by one of the factory workers, seeing that if it were a part of any company's regular production then I would suspect more would be known, whereas this is the only example that I have been able to find. In fact, the sewer pipe factories operated in the same manner, and the circumstances of the sewer pipe plaque of President McKinley was probably made in the same way.

Note: I will post better pictures of this object once I have it in-hand to my personal Facebook and Instagram pages.

A Rare Terra-Cotta Presidential Wall Plaque Recently Found in Central PA

Circa 1890s-Early 1900s Terra-Cotta Wall Plaque of President William McKinley

President McKinley was Assassinated in 1901

Recently Found in Central Pennsylvania

Possibly Made in Philadelphia, Trenton, N.J. or New York City

Inscribed on the Back with the Maker's Inistial "D.S."

Stands 11 1/2" Tall and Measures 9 1/2" Wide

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Another View of the Plaque

The Plaque Weights 7 1/2" Pounds

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A View of the Back

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A View of the Inscribed Initials "D.S."

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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...