Cotton Mill Exchange

In 1986, the South Carolina State Museum commissioned Charleston master blacksmith Philip Simmons to create a wrought iron gate for the museum's grand opening. Mr. Simmons designed a 9 foot by 9 foot wrought iron masterpiece that reflected his love of the South Carolina Lowcountry. His elegant gate design celebrates several regional icons, including the egret, the magnolia leaf and the palmetto tree.

Philip Simmons, a skilled blacksmith of African descent, was born in 1912 on Daniel Island, South Carolina. He apprenticed to a Charleston artisan and former slave, Peter Simmons (no relation). He began his blacksmith career creating utilitarian items, shoeing horses, building carts and repairing plows. By the late 1930s when wrought iron functional items had become more mass produced, Simmons turned to more decorative items for his livelihood. Simmons worked on many of Charleston's historic preservation projects. He designed wrought iron gates and other decorative objects for many of the homes and businesses in Charleston's historic district. His work has appeared in many museums, including The National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian Institution and the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Although officially retired from blacksmithing, Mr. Simmons is still actively doing design work at the age of 93, and teaching his craft and artistry to a new generation of Charleston youth.

The Philip Simmons Gate became the inspiration for a variety of products that we designed for the South Carolina State Museum to sell in their retail venue, The Cotton Mill Exchange.  The most prominent design element on the gate is the pair of egrets facing each other.  We used the egret motif to produce a gold plated bookmark.  The gate is so rich in decorative elements that we were able to adapt the designs to expand the product line to include a picture frame, a thermometer, jewelry items and an ornament that captures the elegant lines of the entire gate. This approach to developing products from a single source is one of our exceptions, rather than the rule.  It can be achieved if the original design has great visual impact.

Egret Bookmark – a brass, gold plated bookmark that measures 2” ht. x 1 ½” wide. The egret in an oval is taken directly from the center level of the gate, and is attached to a simple rectangular border.

The Philip Simmons Gate Ornament – this brass, gold plated ornament reproduces the entire gate.  The ornament measures 2 ¾” ht. x 2 7/8” wide.  Each ornament comes packaged in a gift box.

Thermometer – various design elements of the gate have been rearranged to form a new pattern without losing the elegant scroll work and graceful curves of the original artwork. Each piece is made of solid brass, with a hand applied verdigre finish and a mercury free thermometer. Each piece measures 8 ½” ht. x 3” wide and is packaged in a kraft display box with a story card on the back.

Egret Earrings – each earring has the egret in an oval as a dangling element topped with a black glass bead.   Each pair of earrings comes in a gift box with a story card.

Egret Frame – measuring 4 ½” square on the outside, with a 1 15/16” square photo opening, this silver plated frame incorporates the egrets and Palmetto tree from the original gate.  The original design elements have been seamlessly connected to form a new flowing pattern of curving lines.