Items Similar to Art Deco Pair of French Spelter Bookends in Fish Shape and Marquinia Marble Base
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 20
Art Deco Pair of French Spelter Bookends in Fish Shape and Marquinia Marble Base
About the Item
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects.
Original and rare pair of bookends in Art Deco style; the design is essential with bold, marked lines, overall pleasingly elegant and proportionate; the fish, made of spelter a schematic representation of two angel fish (Pterophyllum Scalare); the rectangular base with two shaped corners is made of black Marquinia marble; the pair was produced by sophisticated spelter casting in an artisanal workshop in Saint-Ouen, a quaint suburb of Paris, France, between 1930 and 1935; master craftsmen then finished the objects by hand to give them a delicate and graceful shape, then subjected them to a delicate and complex treatment with special and secret acids to make them take on elegant bronze hues, then they were placed on a precious base of elegant black Marquinia marble; the craftsmen were able to submit metal to their artistic sensibilities, creating two unique and fantastic objects. The Pterophyllium or angel fish (see photo), is a tropical freshwater fish common in the Amazon River basin and other rivers in Brazil and French Guiana. These fish, with their extensive dorsal and ventral fins, have unparalleled poise and elegance in their movements. Black Marquinia marble is a high-quality, fine-grained stone material with a deep black color, quarried from the Markina region, Basque Country in northern Spain, is one of the most famous and appreciated natural stones in the world; Marquinia is widely used for fine ornamental work. Spelter is a metal alloy composed of copper, zinc, and lead, which can be finished in all shades of bronze. It has been used since 1860 for the manufacture of candelabra, clock cases, and lamps. In the early 20th century many sculptors such as Jaques Limousin used it extensively in their production of Art Noveau and Art Deco ornaments and figurines. Measures width cm.15, depth cm.8, height cm.17. The objects are in good condition, one has only a very small period repair before the caudal fin (see photo). For all our shipments we use special packaging materials (wooden crates, styrofoam, etc.) for maximum protection and safety of the objects.
- Dimensions:Height: 6.7 in (17 cm)Width: 5.91 in (15 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Art Deco (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1930-1935
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. The objects are in good condition, one has only a very small period repair before the caudal fin (see photo).
- Seller Location:Prato, IT
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
5.0
Gold Seller
These expertly vetted sellers are highly rated and consistently exceed customer expectations.
Established in 1977
1stDibs seller since 2019
235 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 4 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Prato, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
More From This SellerView All
- Art Deco France Pair Of Metal Bird Bookends With Fine Marble BaseLocated in Prato, TuscanyWe kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Pecul...Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsSiena Marble, Metal
- Napoleon III Pair of Marble Cassolettes Sanguine and Verde AlpiLocated in Prato, TuscanyWe kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Parti...Category
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Bookends
MaterialsMarble
- Art Deco French Sculpture of Two Fish in Craquelé PorcelainLocated in Prato, TuscanyWe kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Nice ...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Animal Sculptures
MaterialsPorcelain
- Art Deco Large French Marble Clock in Red Onyx Marble and PortoroLocated in Prato, TuscanyWe kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Huge ...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
MaterialsMarble, Brass
- Art Deco French Marble Clock And Bronzed Metal BirdLocated in Prato, TuscanyWe kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Uniq...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
MaterialsMarble, Metal
- Ruchot Jean Charles French Sculptor Art Noveau Statue of "Science" in SpelterBy Jean Charles RuchotLocated in Prato, TuscanyWe kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Particular and elegant statue in spelter with marble base; the sculpture represents a young woman in a beautiful plastic and slender pose that holds in the left hand a laurel wreath and in the right hand a sheet of paper with an inscription, probably of scientific formula, in fact, the statue is the interpretation of "Science". The crown "triumphalis", precisely called "laurel crown", in Greek mythology symbolized wisdom and glory, it was the highest honor for a poet who had just graduated. Laurel was considered a sacred plant also by ancient Romans: it was venerated in particular by Apollo, god of the sun, music, poetry, sculpture, and painting. Precisely because of his countless knowledge, in fact, Apollo represented wisdom and intelligence. On the pedestal has been applied a scroll with the name of the sculpture itself and that of its author: Jean Charles Ruchot. It was made in spelter, with the technique of "lost wax", by the artist himself in his workshop in Romainville, a French commune located in the department of Seine-Saint-Denis, between 1900 and 1905. Jean Charles Ruchot, the refined and prolific artist, was active from 1890 until 1925, he produced classical works inspired by antiquity, then he was influenced by Art Nouveau, then by Art Deco, styles in which he expressed his greatest talent; he created many statues both in bronze and in spelter, he is also the author of many objects of decorative arts: lamps, sculptural groups for clocks and advertising objects. Spelter is a zinc-lead alloy that is aged to resemble bronze, but it is softer and can be easily melted and worked unlike bronze, composed of copper and tin, which melts between 850° and 1020°. Spelter has been used since 1860 to make objects that could compete with bronze, because of its great convenience and ease of use, this material had very strong dissemination and use when many sculptors and bronze Art Nouveau and Art Deco used...Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Figurative Sculptures
MaterialsSpelter
You May Also Like
- French Art Deco Spelter Brass and Marble BookendsLocated in Victoria, BCHere is a lovely pair of French Art Deco Spelter Brass and Marble Bookends. These bookends feature two brass sea birds in flight attached to a beautiful spelter wave formation. Each ...Category
Vintage 1920s French Bookends
MaterialsMarble, Brass, Spelter
- Art Deco Pair of Figural Spelter Bookends, French, c1930Located in Devon, EnglandVery stylish and rare matching pair of Art Deco bookends. These are a great find and in exceptional condition. Originating from France and dating to the 1930s both stand on marble ba...Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsMarble, Spelter
- Pair of French Art Deco Bookends. Stags in Patinated Metal on a Marble BaseLocated in Copenhagen, DKA pair of French Art Deco bookends. Stags in patinated metal on a marble base. Approx. 1940s. In perfect condition. Dimensions: height 18.0 x depth 12.0 x width 8.0 cm.Category
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsMarble, Metal
- Pair of Art Deco Bookends in Bronze and MarbleBy Pierre FortinLocated in NANTES, FRElephant bookends in gilt patina bronze. Base in sea green marble. In the style of Bugatti. Signed Fortin on marble. We did not find indications on the...Category
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsMarble, Bronze
- Antique French Art Deco Bookends Angelfish 1930 Black Marble Spelter MoonfishLocated in Ijzendijke, NLStylish & Timeless! These French Art Deco Angelfish bookends from the 1930s. Marvelous Art Deco design with the right patina and feel to them. The Angel fish are styled perfectly...Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsMarble, Spelter
- French Art Deco Fishes Bookends, 1930By Studio Art DecoLocated in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FRFrench Art Deco bookends, France, ca.1930. Two fishes. Spelter, glass and marble. Each - Height: 5.5"(14cm), Width: 5.5"(14cm), Depth: 3.15"(8cm). Few slight traces of age. Very good...Category
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Bookends
MaterialsMarble, Spelter
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Country Home
Vintage Style Home Design
Art Deco Fruniture For Home
Design Of Art Deco Homes
French Country Accents
Marble Wooden Base
Pair Of Rectangular Art
Vintage Art Deco Ornaments
Vintage Hand Basins
Vintage Hand Basin
Period Basins
Tropical Deco
1930 Marble Lamp
Copper Fish
Tropical Art Deco
Small Accent Lamp
Marquinia Marble
Retro Hand Basin