Walter Von Nessen Chase Elephant Bookends, American Art Deco Brass and Bakelite

Walter Von Nessen Chase Elephant Bookends, American Art Deco Brass and Bakelite, 1931
Rare pair of elephant bookends represents one of the most distinctive and collectible sculptural designs produced by the Chase Brass and Copper Company during the height of the American Art Deco movement. Conceived by pioneering industrial designer Walter Von Nessen, the sculptural forms translate streamlined modernism into a powerful architectural silhouette that merges function with sculpture. The elongated brass arches create a dramatic graphic presence, while the sharply faceted Bakelite heads introduce contrast and visual tension that exemplify early American machine age aesthetics.

Each bookend is fabricated in hand polished brass with original amber Bakelite elements, retaining a deep reflective surface and rich coloration. The sweeping arc of the bodies, combined with the sculptural downward curve of the trunks, produces a striking balance of geometry and motion. These pieces remain in outstanding refreshed original condition, exhibiting crisp lines and exceptional surface preservation that underscore their quality and rarity.

The pair bears the iconic Chase maker’s mark featuring the centaur drawing a bow, a hallmark used on the company’s most important Art Deco productions. Issued circa 1931, these bookends were part of the original consumer design revolution led by Chase, which collaborated with the most influential designers of the era including Walter Von Nessen, Russell Wright and Rockwell Kent. Today they are regarded as benchmark examples of American Art Deco industrial design and are highly sought after by serious collectors.