Details
Description
Offered is an original 1920s matched pair of cast iron "Kissing Dutch Kids" bookends manufactured by the premier Hubley Manufacturing …
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Offered is an original 1920s matched pair of cast iron "Kissing Dutch Kids" bookends manufactured by the premier Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Both pieces feature crisp, raised foundry mold marks on the reverse reading HUBLEY and catalog number 332.
This charming pair depicts a Dutch Boy in an orange cap, green shirt, and yellow trousers kissing a Dutch Girl in a turquoise blue dress, pink apron, and white bonnet, both standing on a moss-green ground base.
Collector's Note: While single pieces or modern recasts occasionally appear on the market, intact matching pairs retaining 100% original cold-painted polychrome factory finishes are increasingly difficult to source. This set displays fine age-appropriate paint crazing, light chipping at high-contact points, and an untouched vintage patina. Absolutely free of cracks or welds.
Provenance & Historical Significance: Produced during the 1920s heyday of decorative architectural and novelty ironwork by the Hubley Manufacturing Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Model 332 captures the period's fondness for figurative European folk themes rendered in heavy cast metal.
Design Significance & Aesthetic Appeal: Distinctive for its sculpted relief design and vibrant multi-tone cold enamels. The natural crazing and soft oxidation offer authentic historical texture, making the pair an exceptional accent for library shelves, mantels, or console tables.
Curator’s Note: An exquisite pair of early 20th-century Hubley cast iron bookends possessing magnificent original paint and rich textural patina. Perfectly scaled to serve as functional library bookends or standalone sculptural accents, these pieces bring color, history, and narrative charm to traditional, cottage, or eclectic interior schemes.
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- Dimensions
- 4.5ʺW × 2ʺD × 5ʺH
- Styles
- Early American
- Figurative
- Period
- 1920s
- Country of Origin
- United States
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Cast Iron
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Green
- Condition Notes
- Very Good Antique Condition. Features original, untouched factory polychrome paint showing honest age wear, minor surface chipping, and fine crazing … moreVery Good Antique Condition. Features original, untouched factory polychrome paint showing honest age wear, minor surface chipping, and fine crazing consistent with 1920s cold enamel applications. Uncleaned and unrestored. The cast iron bodies are solid with no cracks, fractures, or structural flaws. less
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Return Policy - All sales are final 48 hours after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the description of the product.
Cancellation Policy - Prior to shipping or local pickup, buyers may cancel an order for up to 48 hours, unless otherwise specified.
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