Pair of French Carved Wooden Bookends, Art Deco Style, circa 1940-1960 A striking pair of French carved wooden bookends, dating to around the mid-20th century and made in a strongly Art Deco spirit. Each bookend is formed as a stylized horned animal, somewhere between an ibex, antelope, and a small fantastical beast, reduced into sharp planes and lively cuts that give the pair a wonderfully graphic silhouette. What makes them so appealing is the combination of function and sculpture. The animals seem to spring upward from their bases, with elongated horns, carved flanks, and stepped details that catch the light beautifully. Seen from the side, they become even more angular and expressive. They have that slightly eccentric, decorative energy that works so well in an eclectic interior, but they are disciplined enough to sit comfortably in a more sober modernist setting too. Executed in very light (in weught) but richly toned wood with a warm aged surface, they are sculptures first and bookends second. A very decorative pair. Condition Good vintage condition with wear consistent with age and use. Minor surface marks, and age-related wear to the wood. The sculptures can turn on the base.