SALE Wooden Bookends, Val Gardena, Italy

Antiques : Accessories : Bookends

 

These wooden bookends hail from the Val Gardena area of northern Italy, famed for hand carving since the 17th century. These are from the early 20th century or possibly earlier. A brass marker is attached around the wrist of the woman and the ankle of the man, which is impressed "Guaranteed Hand Made" on one side and "Soplases" on the other. Soplases is the city these were made (in Val Gardena).

The work, detail, and coloring of these bookends are superb - from the facial expressions of the woman knitting and man smoking a pipe, to the folds of their clothing.

Three "burn marks" appear on the man's apron. I am not sure if this is part of the original design (a nod to the fact that he is smoking) or if someone did this with a cigarette years later. Either way, it adds to the effect.

They measure 7 1/2 inches high, 4 inches wide, and 3 1/2 inches deep.

Item ID: 153