Antique Cast Iron "Rebecca at the Well" Biblical Figural Doorstop – Original Paint, C. 1890

Details

Description

For your consideration is this exceptionally scarce, late 19th to early 20th-century antique figural cast iron doorstop depicting the classical … Read more For your consideration is this exceptionally scarce, late 19th to early 20th-century antique figural cast iron doorstop depicting the classical biblical scene "Rebecca at the Well" (Genesis 24). This heavy, architecturally inspired doorstop features a deeply molded narrative composition showing Rebecca pouring water from an earthen pitcher into the hands of Abraham's servant, Eliezer. The scene is beautifully framed by an elegant fluted column and stylized old-growth foliage along the right perimeter.

Measuring an impressive 11 inches wide and standing nearly 10 inches tall, this substantial piece weighs 7 lbs and 8.9 oz. It features a solid, integral flat wedge base designed to slide securely under heavy residential or church doors.

The doorstop is in highly desirable, untouched "as-found" antique condition, boasting an authentic matrix of original polychrome paint over a naturally aged, oxidized iron surface. The dry, historical patina highlights the fine details of the drapery, figures, and architectural elements. The casting is completely integral with no cracks, breaks, or repairs. This specific design is a noted form within early American and English decorative cast iron manufacturing, referenced in standard trade literature including John C. Smith’s The Doorstop Book (p. 214). A premier addition to any advanced collection of early ironwork, architectural hardware, or religious folk art.

Technical Overview & Identification
Subject Matter: A highly detailed narrative scene from Genesis 24, depicting Rebecca at the Well offering water from her pitcher to Abraham’s servant, Eliezer. The composition features an architectural fluted column and a stylized tree framing the right background.

Form Factor: Single-piece wedge-base doorstop with a hollow, deeply recessed "negative" reverse face.

Material: Sand-cast gray iron.

Dimensions: 9.75 inches Tall x 11 inches Wide
Weight: 7 lbs, 8.9 oz (7.56 lbs).

Manufacturer/Origin: Unmarked, attributed to an American or English regional foundry (such as the Bradley & Hubbard or regional British patterns often imported in the late 19th century).

Estimated Era: Circa 1880–1910 (Late Victorian to Edwardian era).

Authenticity Assessment
A close physical examination of the casting and surface characteristics indicates that this doorstop is a genuine late 19th to early 20th-century antique rather than a modern reproduction:

Casting Texture & Core Lines: The reverse displays the highly characteristic, irregular, wavy "stepped" texture left by early loam or sand-molding techniques. The edges show standard, slightly uneven hand-filing from the foundry cleaning process, completely free of the modern grinding wheel marks seen on contemporary fakes.

Surface Crystalline Microstructure: Under high magnification, the exposed iron shows localized pitting and true oxidation that has formed underneath and adjacent to the remaining paint layers. It does not display the uniform, chemically induced dark spray or artificial orange rust found on reproductions.

Paint Layer Matrix: The polychrome paint (muted teals, browns, greens, and ochres) exhibits a classic aged oil-base signature: deep micro-craquelure, natural shrinkage, and perimeter wearing along the high-relief zones (e.g., the figures' shoulders and the column's edge).

Wedge Construction: The integral rectangular wedge base is heavy, thick, and tapers smoothly—consistent with structural architectural castings designed to slide beneath heavy period doors.

Reference
Book Title: The Doorstop Book: An Encyclopedia of Antique Cast Iron Doorstops > Author: John C. Smith
Page/Reference: Page 214 (Classified under Biblical / Narrative Figural Forms) See less