Posted 8 years ago
mikelv85
(1230 items)
Another great find from Volunteer's of America today. I did not see the makers mark until I got out in the bright sunlight and even then was still unable to read it as it's stamped very faintly on the base. Checking online for deer bookends brought up the exact same pieces and the name FrankArt. The stamped marking says "Frankart Inc. Pat. Applied For. So I knew these were going to be a score. I really love the design and they are made of nice heavy brass. A bit dark with age and rough but I see no point in cleaning the patina off them. It would only devalue them and I certainly wouldn't want to do that. All I did was re-glue one of the felt bottoms that was coming off. I noticed the bases are hollow but the deer are solid brass and held to the base with two small nuts by the rear legs where the support is. These were wrapped together with packing tape for the princely sum of five dollars ! -Mike-
Frankart Bookends
Courtesy of justcollecting.com
Arthur Frankenberg began designing and producing bookends in New York City in 1921. In 1924, he established the company Frankart Inc. After a dispute with his partners, he left the company in 1930, and established Quoizel Metal Art Company. He took some designs with him, placing them on bases made of marble or onyx to conceal the Frankart maker’s mark they were already stamped with. However, Quoizel closed after less than a year, in 1931. Frankart closed in 1935.
Frankenberg’s bookends were classic Art Deco designs, simplistic, typically modern, with beautiful contours and lines. They were made of metal, usually brass, or cast aluminium with a brass patina or bronze finish.
There is a large collecting market for vintage Frankart bookends, among both bookend collectors and Art Deco collectors.
The fact that they were only produced for a very short time makes them scarce and desirable. The designs that Frankenberg took with him from Frankart to Quoizel are particularly rare, such as the Scotty Dog and Retro Scotty.
Genuine Frankart bookends will be signed Frankart Inc Pat Applied For, or the rare designs that Frankenberg took with him when he left, are simply marked Quoizel.
Some great bookends Mike, glad you scored them!
very cool bookends, great score!
Thanks so much Pops, Courtenay, and Thomas. These are a great addition to my "art deco" collection. :)
Spectacular set of bookends Mike!!
Hi Mike,
What can I say? You have "the best" eye for good finds. One of these days, I'm going to come up there!!
Thanks for sharing. :)
Thanks for the "loves" and nice comments Val, Scott, and OGF.... I found that in the past few weeks it is possible to stick to my original five dollar budget and still be lucky enough to find nice things. It still amazes me what people give away ! :)
Bingo! :-))))
Thanks Bonnie :)
Well found Mike. I would happily have paid much much more for these. Great design, great brand.
Thanks Karen...They actually look very nice with the Tiffin vases I found the other day. Volunteer's is finally yielding the good stuff once again. Now I believe I'm about due to find another nice painting....lol :)
un golpe de suerte I do not how to say this in English
Thanks Kiva....I highlighted the text and hit google translate. It translated to "A Lucky Break" and it sure was because I almost missed them the first time around ! :)
stunning book ends!!!
Thanks Sean...another random find that turned out to be something really good. :)
A Really great find!! Well done. I love Art Deco, bookends and animals, what's not to love:) They're superb.
Thanks Fran..they were kind of a surprise find because I really wasn't sure who they were by when I bought them. Art Deco is my favorite too so I was sold on that aspect alone. The Frank Art ID was the icing on the cake :)
As for cleaning them, I totally agree with you..leave them be they look great as they are. I learned that lesson the hard way after spoiling a few things with over zealous cleaning!
Thanks Fran...totally agree the less you do the better. :)