JSG ESTATE LIQUIDATION

A charming and highly detailed pair of antique cast brass bookends depicting a cascade of Dutch children sledding, stacked one behind the other in a lively toboggan scene. Each bookend features three to four expressive cherubic figures wearing traditional Dutch bonnets and period clothing, rendered in exceptional sculptural relief with open mouths conveying the excitement of the ride — the lead child at the base grips a sled with remarkable detail. This style of figural brass bookend was popular during the Arts and Crafts and early Art Nouveau periods, approximately 1900–1930, when whimsical children's scenes and Dutch genre subjects were fashionable decorative motifs in American and European home libraries. The casting quality is notably fine, with crisp facial expressions, individually modeled hair, and well-defined clothing folds suggesting production by a skilled foundry rather than a mass-market manufacturer. Each bookend sits on a solid rectangular brass base with gently beveled edges providing stable support. Condition is Very Good overall; both pieces display an attractive warm golden patina consistent with age, with light surface wear, minor scuffs to the bases, and slight darkening in the recessed areas that enhances the sculptural depth — no cracks, repairs, or missing elements noted. A rare and desirable pair for collectors of antique brass, figural bookends, or Dutch decorative arts.