Rare pair of French Art Deco bookends featuring ‘Alfred the Penguin’, circa 1935 For Sale

A pair of rare French Art deco period nickel-plated brass and green marble bookends / vides-poches featuring the very popular “Alfred the Penguin”, circa 1930.Alfred the Penguin is the breakout cartoon character created by the pioneering French comic artist Alain Saint-Ogan. He debuted in the landmark comic strip Zig et Puce, which launched in Dimanche Illustré in 1925. As the pet companion to the two young protagonists, Zig and Puce, Alfred transformed from a minor plot device into a massive cultural phenomenon in interwar France.Both penguin figure with original manufacturer’s mark “Fabrication Francaise, Made in France, Paris” on the back. The original marble bases also designed as ‘vide-poches’ or valet tray or catch-all dish, a designated drop-spot to empty your pockets at the end of the day, holding items like keys, coins, jewelry...An unusual and very collectible pair of Art deco Bookends.

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