Vintage Ronson Art Deco Greek Athlete Bookends

A fabulous pair of high-quality patinated bronze American Art Deco period bookends by Ronson Art Metal Works, circa mid-1920s, #7072, tilted "Cherub And Butterfly". Created in the early 20th century, the beautifully detailed works depict sculptural high relief figures of classical winged cherub putti seated among leaves, each enchanting putti holding a closed book, while their raised hands grasp butterflies. The naturalistic base with floral vines and a frog on each, backing to large book form, detailed book bindings with elegantly aged dull gilt finish, and green felt covered bases. Provenance / Acquisition: A fine and magnificent private estate in Greenwich, Connecticut Acquired from the reputable auction house Blackrock Galleries, Greenwich, Connecticut Maker: Ronson's Art Metal Works, founded by Louis V. Aronson (1869-1940) in the 1800s, was a leader and pioneer in the manufacture of fine decorative metalwares into the 1930s, producing a diverse selection of beautifully designed bookends, figural lighters, hood ornaments, figurines, lamps, and more. Dimensions: (approx) 6.5" High, 4.5" Wide, 4.5" Deep (each) History: Louis Aronson while still a student in the mid 1880s, registered his first patent for the electroplating of metal. In 1886, he sold his patent, raising $5,000, to start the Art Metal Company in New York City. The following year, he moved the company to Newark, NJ and changed the name to Art Metal Works. Ronson is best known for cigarette lighters, he invented the “safety match” in 1897, and the first mechanical cigarette lighter in 1910. But it was throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Ronson Art Metal Works became one of the most prolific and creative of all artistic bookend producers. In 1915, he copyrighted his first pair of bookends, and by 1936 had over 150 copyrighted bookends in his company catalog. By 1928 the company was traded on the American stock exchange...

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