Bookends (2) - Alabaster - Pair of cockatoos

A beautiful pair of hand-carved alabaster bookends depicting two cockatoos with characteristic crests.
The posture of the birds and the inclination of the head, along with the attention to the rendering of legs and claws, give the work a sense of plasticity and naturalness, suggesting a good knowledge of animal anatomy as well as mastery of the sculptural art by the artist.
Alabaster is a natural stone of white color with veins of gray of varying intensity and extent, features that are highlighted in these specimens which manage to be both identical and yet different.
This stone, with translucent shades, is quite soft, which naturally makes it prone to wear and chipping with some ease.
This type of objects, mainly of Italian origin, was widespread from the late 19th to the early 20th century, in full Art Deco style.
Both specimens are 19 cm tall, with a wide base of 11 cm and a depth of 7 cm.
The darker specimen depicts the female, as evidenced by the less conspicuous plumage of the head, which, moreover, has over time experienced the breaking of the initial crest.
This imperfection, in our opinion, does not diminish the beauty and value of the piece, which, like all vintage items, has the privilege and distinction of suggesting and telling other stories and lives that transcend our here and now.
The sculptures are offered in pairs so they can continue to serve their function by adding grace and beauty to any bookshelf or shelf.
We do not send outside the European Community.
For the islands, we reserve the right to request a settlement for any additional expenses charged by the shippers.