antique Pompeian Bronze bookends, Robinson Crusoe, c. 1930, rare for Sale

antique Pompeian Bronze bookends, Robinson Crusoe, c. 1930, rare For Sale

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antique Pompeian Bronze bookends, Robinson Crusoe, c. 1930, rare:
$350.00

Offered here is a arely seenpair of bookends in the figure of Robinson Crusoe, the shipwreck castaway from Daniel DeFoe's 1719 novel. These boo ends were copyrighted by Peter Manfredi in January, 1930, less than two years before the end of the Pompei bronze Company - another victim of the great depression. In part because these made near the end of the Compan's run these are quite rare.Condition is excellent.Take a good look at ehe photos.
These bookends are quite impressive: 9 3/4 inches tall; base is 3 3/4 inches side to side; 3 1/2 inches front to back. Each piece weighs 3 1/4 pounds.
shipping is $20
and questions please ask.

Most people are not really familiar with bronze clad bookends so here’s a little background information. Prior to 1914 just about all high-end sculptural artwork was solid bronze. About that time a company named Kathodian Bronze Works began manufacturing small sculptural artwork such as bookends (back then they were called “book rocks”) and statuary using a process imported from Europe around the turn of the century known as electroplating or electroforming. A plaster mold was made and then it was covered with graphite to allow copper or bronze to be electroplated on top of it. It was a very time-consuming process and several companies went one step further by painting the bookends in a very colorful fashion. This was a time-consuming and expensive manufacturing process by the early 1930s most manufacturers had exited the business.