Art Deco Elephant Bookends in the Style of Ary Bitter, France, circa 1930

Art Deco Elephant Bookends in the Style of Ary Bitter, France, circa 1930

A striking pair of Art Deco elephant bookends in the style of Ary Bitter (French, 1883–1973), renowned for his animal sculptures that captured both power and grace. Though unsigned, these bronze figures clearly echo Bitter’s sculptural language and the stylized realism that defined the interwar period in France. Each elephant is modeled with expressive texture and commanding presence, their forms full of energy and rhythm, standing against geometric backplates that highlight the Art Deco fascination with the union of nature and modernity.

The pair is finished in a beautiful verde patina with golden tusks, lending warmth and depth to the overall composition. The patina’s surface reveals hand-applied nuances of oxidation, typical of fine French bronzes of the period, giving each elephant a sense of individuality and age. Their slightly forward-leaning posture and raised trunks convey both strength and vitality, emblematic of the optimism of the 1930s.

Mounted on rectangular black bases, the elephants exhibit the perfect balance between sculptural movement and architectural structure, an ideal pairing for a refined Art Deco interior, library, or collection of French animalier bronzes.

Excellent vintage condition with original patina and light wear consistent with age.