Pair Of Art Deco Seated Bear Bookends, Marble, 1930, For Books, Desk, Or Library Decor

An elegant pair of Art Deco-era bookends depicting two seated bears, rendered in a geometric and highly stylized aesthetic.

Each bookend is topped by a seated bear with its head raised; its deliberately simplified and angular form is rendered in a style known as “à la hache” (axe-hewn). The forms are constructed from geometric facets, characteristic of Art Deco animal sculpture. This abstract treatment, far removed from naturalism, reflects the era’s taste for the simplification of animal forms.

The bears are crafted from metal with a brown-black patina (regule) and mounted on architecturally designed bases made of beige and pink-veined marble. The bases consist of a rectangular plinth, a vertical post designed to hold books, and a sloped surface serving as a base for the sculptures.

The combination of dark metal and light marble creates a decorative contrast characteristic of desk and library accessories from the years 1925–1935.

Dimensions of each bookend: height 17 cm, width 9 cm, depth 12 cm.

In good overall condition. Shows signs of use, with minor chips on the marble surfaces; the carvings are in good condition. - Remnants of an old label and felt padding under the bases. The photographs are an integral part of the description.