Brass Book plate - I think, anone know any more?

[PaddyB]

I picked up this with a bunch of Silver coins at an auction here in the UK. I think it is a book plate of some sort, possibly Germanic. Anyone know anymore?

 

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[ANTIQUARIAN]

It's difficult to tell what it might have come from.
But it's beautifully cast and finished, I'm also surprised that it's not signed or stamped by the foundry.

Date wise, I'm thinking it's from the Arts & Crafts Period.

"The Arts and Crafts movement was an international movement in the decorative and fine arts that began in Britain and flourished in Europe and North America between about 1880 and 1920, emerging in Japan in the 1920s."

Dave

 

[creskol]

Is it cast or pressed? The back tabs suggest it is pressed? How long is it?

 

[PaddyB]

I think it is actually cast - it is quite thick and of very variable thickness along its whole length.
It is about 4 3/4 inches long - the scale down the side in the first picture shows it more accurately.

 

[creskol]

Given the subject matter on it, could it be funerary in nature?

 

[DCMatt]

I'm thinking more along the lines of "Guardian Angel". Maybe applique from a religious plaque? You know, a "Protect this House" sort of wall hanging.

BTW... I never heard of a 'book plate'. I think I know what you mean though.

I'm with Dave on dating the piece to the turn of the 20th C. up to the 1940's.

 

[Reanm8er]

Congrats Paddy, Beautiful piece!

 

[HuntinDog]

I know it's not the meaning... art is art
I don't know, but it just looks wrong... with a naked little boy under some old guys skirt.

Sorry

 

[A2coins]

Cool piece

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

It might be Greek in origin, to me it looks like a depiction of Atlas as a child with the world on his shoulders and the grown man depicting Zeus, although the Zeus figure has Angel wings so that kind of baffles me.

 

[invent4hir]

The top figure could be an angel as he appears to have wings. The boy looks like he is holding a planet between his shoulders.