Antique French Art Deco Swan Bookendscirca 1930 — Pair of Patinated Metal Swans on Marble Bases, Stamped Made in France
Delivered free · US duties paid · Insured
The French Art Deco workshops of the 1920s and 30s turned the bookend into a small stage: animals caught mid-gesture, mounted on slabs of dark veined marble, sold in pairs through department stores and given as wedding gifts across France. Swans were among the favourites — the arched neck and swept-back wings gave sculptors exactly the kind of streamlined curve the era prized.
One of one. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
each approx. 12 cm high x 17 cm long (4.7 x 6.7 inches) — about the height of a coffee mug
Worldwide shipping included. No import charges for EU and US buyers.
Local import taxes may apply outside the EU and the US.
Prepared for you in 1–2 weeks. Most pieces ship within a week.
For Christmas delivery, order by 1 December.
Estimated delivery:
Need it sooner? Express takes about 3 days once shipped. Ask Kiet
Thinking it over, or showing it to someone first? I will set Antique French Art Deco Swan Bookends aside for you for 48 hours, free of charge.
Your hold request is in.
I will confirm it by email, usually the same day. Until then the piece is still on the site, so do not wait too long.
Not ready to decide? Leave your email and I will send you Antique French Art Deco Swan Bookends with a few extra photos, usually the same day.
Thank you, it is on its way to you.
I will email you this piece, usually the same day. Kiet
- Free shippingTracked and fully insured
- US duties paidNothing to pay at delivery
- 30-day returnsNo reason needed
- 4.9 / 5 rating47 reviews on Etsy
Before you ask
Will I pay import duties or tariffs?
No. I pay the US import duties and tariffs, so there is nothing to pay on delivery.
What if it arrives damaged?
Every piece is packed individually and fully insured. Send me a photo of the piece and the box, and I handle the claim with the carrier and agree the solution with you.
What if it doesn't suit my room?
You have 30 days to return it, no reason needed. For a change of mind, you pay the return shipping. How returns work
Antique French Art Deco Swan Bookends, circa 1930 — Pair of Patinated Metal Swans on Marble Bases, Stamped Made in France
- Period
- French Art Deco, circa 1930
- Materials
- patinated metal (fonte d'art) on marble bases
- Dimensions
- each approx. 12 cm high x 17 cm long (4.7 x 6.7 inches) — about the height of a coffee mug
DETAILS:
Size: each approx. 12 cm high x 17 cm long (4.7 x 6.7 inches) — about the height of a coffee mug
Material: patinated metal (fonte d'art) on marble bases
Style-Period: French Art Deco, circa 1930
Weight: 2.38 kg the pair
Shipping: professionally packed, fully insured, worldwide — we handle the paperwork
Condition: Good antique condition with signs of use, including small chips to the marble base edges and corners.
Returns: accepted within 30 days.
The French Art Deco workshops of the 1920s and 30s turned the bookend into a small stage: animals caught mid-gesture, mounted on slabs of dark veined marble, sold in pairs through department stores and given as wedding gifts across France. Swans were among the favourites — the arched neck and swept-back wings gave sculptors exactly the kind of streamlined curve the era prized.
This is a pair of swan bookends, each bird cast in patinated metal — fonte d'art, the French trade term for decorative art casting — with wings raised in the stylised, fan-like manner typical of the period and heads lowered as if gliding. The patina is the quiet star here: a mottled polychrome finish shifting between verdigris green, teal blue, and warm russet across each body, applied cold to the casting to imitate the depth of aged bronze. Each swan sits on a rectangular base of dark marble shot through with red and white veining, and the underside of one tail carries a stamped MADE FRANCE mark, photographed and legible.
They reach us in honest condition for their ninety-odd years — patina intact and evenly mellowed, marble bases showing small chips to their edges and corners, and both birds firmly mounted. We pass them on as we received them, cleaned and cared for but never restored beyond need. On a bookshelf they do their intended work; on a mantel or console they stand just as well as a facing pair of sculptures.
In plain terms: a pair of French Art Deco swan bookends from around 1930, patinated metal on marble bases, each about the height of a coffee mug and together weighing 2.38 kilos — just over five pounds — stamped Made in France, with the casting metal described conservatively as patinated metal rather than bronze.
Condition & electrical details
Condition
Read our condition standard. Please ask if you need additional photographs or measurements.
A decorative style is not a guarantee of a particular maker or date. See the individual listing for the stated attribution and period.
Shipping, insurance & duties
Worldwide delivery is included in the price. Every piece is individually packed, tracked and fully insured. No shipping charge is added at checkout. If your destination is not listed, please contact us before ordering.
European Union: no customs and no import charges. Delivery usually takes 2–5 working days after dispatch.
United States: Maison Jaspers pays the tariffs and import duties for you.
United Kingdom: UK import VAT is payable on delivery (5% for antiques over 100 years old, otherwise 20%).
Other destinations: local import taxes may apply and are payable by the recipient. Contact us before ordering if you would like guidance.
Dispatch timing is shown above.
Returns
Notify us within 30 days of delivery if you wish to return a piece. No reason is required. Returns are free within the Netherlands and Belgium; from elsewhere you pay return shipping for a change-of-mind return.
Choose options
Related pieces
Art Nouveau / Jugendstil style; vintage