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You are looking at a pair of some of the best and, unquestionably, some of the rarest Cast Iron Bookends made by a company that was widely known in the late nineteenth century - a company known by many as simply B&H. Highly regarded by curators, collectors and antique dealers, the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company was one of the largest producers of decorative and functional iron pieces.

This statuesque and fully figural Bradley & Hubbard pair is 100% Old and Authentic and is in nothing less than impeccable and superb condition. Some regard this pair to be too large to be bookends and it is true that they display more like statues - but they are just right for those large volumes and journals, heavy enough to be used as doorstops, and versatile enough to even be used as letter holders, by positioning the envelopes and papers between the boy and the fence. No matter how one chooses to use these fine pieces, one thing is certain - these beauties display amazingly and are of superior craftsmanship and artistry.

Many of those familiar with Bradley and Hubbard's works can identify these instantaneously as depicting the famous Huckleberry Finn. This is a character who remains a classic American literary icon and who was brought to life by author Mark Twain. Twain's novel, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," is considered by many to be one of the first Great American Novels and was, in fact, one of the first major American novels written using "common" speech. Just this year, Time Magazine placed the book in their list of the 10 Greatest Books of All Time.

One will find this exquisite, fully dimensional pair to be in quite good condition, especially considering the age of the pieces. The bookends are free of any breaks and repairs. On the bottoms, one will find the original screws and a cast mark with the model number - 171. One thing of note is that one of the pieces is missing the tiny pipe that sits in Huck's mouth. This isn't noticeable when displayed, and to be honest, it is quite difficult to find a pair with any pipes at all, let alone one or both, as they tend to become detached and lost easily. The other pipe is present but has a slight bend to it, which, again, doesn't detract from the overall piece.

Other Huckleberry Finn bookends can be found listed in Kuritzky's reference guide, and they are considered to be extremely rare and highly valued. This B&H set is even rarer, due to the size, the three component construction, the unique finish, and the scarcity.

Each boy stands tall on a base that is made of heavy cast iron with a special ochre and beige marbleized finish, which is seen on only the most premium B&H Pairs. Huck himself is made of grey metal with an extremely old, yet intact, heavy bronze gilded finish, that shows only minimal signs of wear and age. The artistry in this set captures the essence of pure rebelliousness and mischievousness, which Huckleberry definitely possessed.

These beauties rest at 6 ¼" Long, just under 7 ¼" Tall, and nearly 2 ½" Deep. The pair weighs 7 lbs.

As stated, these B&H bookends are very rare and highly collectible. They truly are detailed works of art that would benefit any collection.

Take a look at the actual photos below to see what is being offered. These could be ideal for the Collector and Bookend Enthusiast. Please feel free to email with questions, inquiries, or any additional information.

This item has already been professionally packed and is waiting to be promptly shipped via USPS. To better serve the winner I will send an email that includes Tracking Information for your order!

If inclined, feel free to check out other items that include more Vintage & Antique Bookend Pairs!

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