Pair of Art Deco sphinx bookends in cast iron and marble.

A pair of Art Deco bookends, featuring two stylised sphinxes in dark patinated cast iron (bronze green), resting on richly veined black marble rectangular bases. Inspired by ancient iconography, these mythological figures with lion bodies and outstretched wings embody strength and protection. Their design is typically Art Deco, characterised by clean lines, geometric stylisation, and great formal elegance. The contrast between the matte texture of the patinated cast iron and the smooth, shiny surface of the marble creates a refined visual balance, characteristic of decorative objects from the 1920s–1930s. Both functional and decorative, these bookends can be used to hold a row of books or simply as sculptural objects on a shelf, desk, or console. There are chips on the edges and corners of the marble bases. Some signs of wear/friction on the sphinxes. Weight 1.915kg.