RARE penguin bookends Armor Bronze clad, original labels, exc. condition, 1920

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RARE penguin bookends Armor Bronze clad, original labels, exc. condition, 1920:
$425.00

Wonderful - and rarely seen - figural bookends in the form of penguins.Bronze clad, a manufacturing technique whereby a skin of bronze (maybe copper in this case) was made to adhere to a plaster form through the process of electro-plating. A handful of companies used this method in the early 1900s to make decorative household objects that had the look, feel and heft of solid bronze pieces yet still were affordable by the middle class.One of those companies was Armor Bronze, operating in NYC at least as early as the 19-teens. Each piece has an original label still affixed to the bottom, reading Armor Bronze and NYC. But they also show the name S.C. Tarrant Co, Inc which I have seen before, associated with Armor Bronze as well as Galvano Bronze. I\'ve never figured out precisely who SC Tarrant was. I don\'t believe it was a manufacturer. My theory is Tarrant was a marketing / retail / wholesale company that represented several manufacturers. In any event, I think those labels date the pieces to the 19-teens, but surely no later than 1920.Condition is fine. No breaks in the cladding; one front base corner is the teeniest bit mashed (see 2nd to last photo). Otherwise, nothing dented or bent. Black paint is original (what other color would you paint penguins?), showing a few areas of something akin to verdigris (3rd to last photo for an example; also in the armpits) and some minor chipping. 4th to last photo shows the worst of that chipping, but please know the camera flash makes it much brighter looking than in natural light; PLUS, that is the back of the bird\'s head, so is not visible anyway.Felts on bottoms probably are original. Both pieces sit flat and stable.6 1/4 inches tall; 3 5/8 inches wide; 3 1/4 inches deep. Each bird weighs approx. 1 1/2 pounds.Perfect gift for the collector of things penguin or for those who regard waddling as an entertaining means of locomotion.US shipping only. USPS retail ground. I pack with care.I SPECIALIZE IN ANTIQUE BOOKENDS AND DECORATIVE OBJECTS. PLEASE SEE MY OTHER LISTINGS FOR INTERESTING AND UNUSUAL ITEMS.