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Antique J.B. Hirsch Romeo & Juliet Art Deco Sculpture Bookends on Beige Marble
*Most listings for this specific design attribute them to circa 1924 or the general 1920s-1930s period.
*Manufactured at thegreat J.B. Hirsch Foundry of Bridgeport, Connecticut & are the hardest to find of all Hirsch bookends.
*Unsigned, which was not unusual for the artist.
*Depicts the Shakespearean characters Romeo and Juliet in a romantic embrace.
*Some sources also suggest it may represent Robin Hood and Maid Marian.
*Typically crafted from spelter (grey metal) with a bronze or metallic finish.
*Color scheme for this set is black & dark blue kindof floating in & out of each other.
*This specific version features celluloid (ivorine) faces and are mounted on beige marble bases.
*These are original first-run pieces. Some J.B. Hirsch pieces were reintroduced after World War II using the same original 1930s molds. These later versions (often called "Exemplaires") often feature brighter golds or metallic colors and were produced until the factory closed in the mid-1960s.
In decent condition. Both statues missing feathers & swords. Noticeable paint loss on both. One just had a successful repair to a repair: One of Romeo's legs was separated from his body & he & Juliet were separated at her left shoulder. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that the leg was previously welded to the body as a repair. Now, not only had the repair failed, it left behind a big mess of old lumpy wire coil that was not only ugly, it also completely hindered the leg's proper fit. I took to scraping away all that old coil & then used black epoxy putty to both secure the leg & also to fill in some holes & gaps caused by the wire coil. The lower 3/8" of one of Romeo's skirt pleats is 100% epoxy putty, shaped & smoothed until even I could hardly tell where it was. As for the shoulder, a little bit of superglue for metal & it's securely affixed.
Please see photos for dimensions.Shippingwill be via USPS. Always happy to answer questions, thanks for looking!
