Pair of Art Deco Pelican Bookends by H. Moreau, France, 1930s

Pair of Art Deco Pelican Bookends by H. Moreau, France, 1930s

This striking pair of French Art Deco bookends depicts stylized pelicans rendered in cast metal with a rich dark patina, perched atop polished black marble bases with dramatic veining. Designed by H. Moreau—known for his playful yet sophisticated interpretations of animal forms—these sculptural bookends are a masterful example of the Cubist-inflected Art Deco aesthetic that emerged in France during the 1920s and 1930s.

Each bird is boldly geometric, with angular feather treatment and exaggerated, expressive glass eyes, a hallmark of Moreau’s design language. The sharply faceted forms evoke the influence of Cubism while retaining a whimsical character, especially in the caricatured beak and alert posture of the pelicans. The polished marble bases provide both elegance and weight, making these as practical as they are sculptural.

Signed H. Moreau on the side of one figure, these pieces were most likely produced in France during the early 1930s, possibly for limited distribution or boutique decorative use. Moreau's metal animal figures were often produced in collaboration with smaller foundries and decorative art workshops, and these examples reflect the unique fusion of modernist abstraction and French decorative refinement.

A delightful and rare find for collectors of Art Deco sculpture, animalier objets d'art, or French interwar design. Ideal for use or display on a bookshelf, console, or desk.