SAN GABRIEL MISSION BOOKENDS

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel bookends and El Camino Real Guidepost Bell manufactured by the Forbes Foundry, also known as the California Bell Company. The early bronze bookend on the left has a hinged foot so it folds flat when not in use. The later, 1920s, iron bookends are patinated and have an inscription describing the mission on the back.

 

Bronze folding San Gabriel Mission bookends from about 1915 and inscribed back of iron bookends from about 1925. Both are from the Forbes Foundry that morphed into The California Bell Company

Bronze folding San Gabriel Mission bookends from about 1915 and inscribed back of iron bookends from about 1925. Both are from the Forbes Foundry that morphed into The California Bell Company

Bronze folding San Gabriel Mission bookends from about 1915 and inscribed back of iron bookends from about 1925. Both are from the Forbes Foundry that morphed into The California Bell Company

Alta California was first visited by Spanish explorers in the 1530s.  It wasn’t until 1769 that Spain began to claim control of the West Coast by sending soldiers and Franciscan priests to establish presidios and missions at strategic points.  Each Spanish outpost to be an independent and self-reliant agrarian community.  The first Presidio and Mission were built on a bluff overlooking San Diego Bay in 1769.  Eventually a line of 4 presidios and 21 missions from San Diego to Sonoma secured Alta California for Spain and later Mexico. 

Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, founded in 1771 was the fourth of the 21 missions in California.  Placed in the foothills of the mountain chain now known as the San Gabriels, the mission was extolled for it’s beauty, it’s fertile lands, and wealth.  It was very successful with crops and cattle, and has sometimes been called the Pride of the Alta California Missions and the Mother of Agriculture in California. Ministering to the surrounding country and the little pueblo which is now the City of Los Angeles, an 11 mile ride away, it was a social focal point.  Today it is located in the City of San Gabriel, a suburb of L.A.  Many a postcard of Mission San Gabriel Arcangel were sent by lucky vacationers to Southern California back  to envious stay-at-home family and friends in the eastern United States.

 

 

 

The mission has seen 250 years of California history.  Established in 1771 in Alta California under the rule of New Spain, it found itself in 1821 under the rule of Mexico following the Mexican Revolution.  In the 1830s Mexico secularized the missions. In the late 1840s Mexico ceded much of what is now the Southwest to the United States.  By 1855 the San Gabriel Mission had been restored to the Church, first by military action and later by the United States Land Commission.  

Built in gothic style with a vaulted roof, Mission San Gabriel has been damaged by several earthquakes.  In the early 1800s the vaulted roof collapsed and was replaced with a flat roof of timbers and tile.  More recently it was damaged in the 1987 Whittier Narrows quake, when large cracks appeared in it’s walls and floor.  In 2020 a massive fire destroyed much of the interior and roof.  As restoration work was underway at the time, a good portion of the artwork and especially the Tongva (California Mission Indian) painted Stations of the Cross had been removed.   September 8, 2021 marks the 250th Anniversary of the Mission’s founding. and the beginning of a celebratory Jubilee Year. with many activities planned.  Click here to read about the Mission Restoration and preparations for the Jubilee Year in the Los Angeles Angelus News.

 

LEAD BOOKENDS

Bookends came into use  at the beginning of the twentieth century.  Then, as now, it was clear that  bookends needed to be heavy or to have a foot on which a book sat in order to maintain stability.  In addition, the bookend needed to have a flat vertical surface or contact points to hold a book or books vertical. and a surface that held paint well when painted.  Suitability for mass production was important.  Metal fit all the requirements and metal  bookends became popular.  Many bookends were cast from lead, but it soon became obvious that lead was too soft and the easily dented and did not hold paint well.  For those reasons lead fell into disuse as a bookend material about the same time in the early twentieth century that lead was also recognized as a health hazard when handled. Now we recognize lead bookends as very early bookends, and valuable to collectors for this reason. 

 

Owl and Sunburst: Lead, Height 5.5 in. unmarked, The sunburst is an early French image which is now considered Art Deco. The sunburst behind the owl has not photographed well. This pair displays numerous dents. 12 lbs. per pair, circa 1916.

 

Mephistopheles: Lead. Height 4 in. Mephistopheles is the demon in the German Faust legend who acquires Faust’s soul. Here he has a sardonic expression and horns. Perhaps the bookends are actually Satan. 8 lbs. per pair. circa 1910.

 

Raven Figure: Lead. Height 5 in., In North American Indian mythology, The raven is regarded as a creator of the current world and also as a selfish trickster. Loss of paint is seen on the beaks. 9 lbs. per pair. circa 1915.

 

Knights Templar: Lead with wood backing, Height 5 in., Inscription: 33 Triennial Centennial Conclave Los Angeles. This is a bookend from the Masons. A wood backing is attached to the back of the lead slab to prevent the slab from drooping. Templars, a catholic military order (12 to 14 centuries CE ) identified by shirts bearing crosses, are shown fighting in the Holy Land during the crusades. 6 lbs 6oz. per pair. 1916.

 

 

Coffee Grinder; Lead, Height 5,5 in., Hand coffee grinders and powered grinders are still available for the kitchen. The bookends show an early hand coffee grinder and it was probably meant to support books in the kitchen; perhaps cook books. The bookend grinder is set within a faux Arts and Crafts-type wooden frame, 13 lbs. per pair. circa 1910.

 

Zuni Buffalo Dance Bookends by Freddie Leekya

Zuni Buffalo Dancer and Drummer. 8 .5”, local rock (zuni stone) carved figures, wood base and upright. Sculptor, Freddie Leekya, painting by Edward Lewis. 2011.

This is the perfect time to tell the story behind our Freddie Leekya Bookends. Freddie Leekya is the grandson of renowned Zuni Master Carver, Leekya Deyuse.  The Albuquerque Museum of Art History exhibit, THE LEEKYA FAMILY: MASTER CARVERS OF ZUNI PUEBLO, runs until September 24, 2017. The exhibit features 350 works by the Leekya family gathered from individuals and galleries and from major museums such as the Heard Museum, the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, the School of Advanced Research, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Click here to see the NEW MEXICO magazine post  “Stories in Stone”.   We are looking forward to visiting this exhibit in a few week’s time.

In 2011, we visited Zuni Pueblo bringing with us our Leekya Deyuse frog bracelet and ring to show. We had arranged our visit ahead of time with the Zuni Pueblo Visitor Center. We had a magical day.

Leekya Frog Bracelet and Ring made of carved turquoise set in silver.

We were introduced to Robert (son of Leekya Deyuse) and Bernice Leekya (masters of silver and gold jewelry) and Sarah Leekya (daughter of Leekya Deyuse) who was still carving a bit at that time and who when she put my bracelet on her arm almost didn’t give it back. Sarah also called us back to her home to share with us some additional carvings by her father and to have her son show us the hand drill Leekya used in carving his figures.

Four treasured carvings purchased from Sarah Leekya in 2011. Badger, Fox, Fox and Bird.

We visited Freddie Leekya at his studio. He was working on two figures which are now in our collection. Our daughter-in-law fell in love with a Zuni rock carved bear by Freddie.

Two of Freddie Leekya Zuni Rock carvings purchased from the artist in 2011.

Loveable Bear carved by Freddie Leekya. Purchased in 2011.

 

That Christmas Bob was gifted with the Zuni Buffalo Dancer and Drummer Bookends. They were specially ordered from Freddie Leekya. The Buffalo Dance is a social dance and is often performed at festive gatherings. Here is a link Dave Hinkle’s youtube video of the dance being performed in Gallup, New Mexico.

The Buffalo Dancer holds a Dance Wand and a Snake. He has a buffalo horn headress. The signature of Edward Lewis can be seen under the painting.

The drummer holds a turquoise inlaid pueblo-style drum and drumstick.

 

Indian Encampment Bookends

Indian Encampment:  Electroformed Bronze.  Height 5.25 inches. Circa 1910.  Shopmark:  AC with a line between the two letters, a copyright sign and the number 108.

We saw this pair recently and were very surprised.  We thought we had already seen all the Indian bookends, but this pair was new to us.  It is probably very rare.

An Indian holding his pipe sits with his back against a large tree trunk, with a fire circle at his feet.  Two tipis are in the background.  The scene is enclosed in an art-nouveau or aesthetic style frame. It has the feel of a George Caitlin painting.

Shopmark on reverse of Indian Encampment Bookends. Foundry has not been identified.

Tipis were houses for the plains Indians.  Each tipi was constructed from supporting poles, tied at the top to give a cone shape and covered with tanned bison hides.  A tipi could be disassembled and carted away, pulled by dogs or horses.  Portability was very important because these people were nomadic and followed the herds of bison across the plains. The tipi on the bookends is representative of what artists in the early 20th century thought tipis looked like, it does not show flaps for a smoke hole and is therefore referred to as a stylized cone according to the author of “Historic Photos of Tipis” website.

Indian and Tipi with additional Tipis in background.

 

 

Guardian Spirit Bookends

Northwest-Coast Indian Guardian-Spirit Bookends.  Red Cedar and paint, Height 6.5 inches, probably folk art, probably twentieth century.

The figures on these bookends look like movie animation creatures, but they represent traditional guardian spirits of the Norhwest Coast Indians.  Guardian spirits protect their owners from evil spirits and from dangers in general. We have owned these bookends for a number of years and during that time our home has been safe from evil or damage, so, obviously, the bookends are powerful and doing their job.  We will keep them, and continue to enjoy their protection.

 

Bookend Collector News

Booth # 2533 will feature bookends at the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show  , August 20 – 23, 2015. Former members of the late Bookend Collector’s Club are invited to contact Brenda D at Bdiaz33@aol.com.  She has all the latest information and a show promotion code to share. Perhaps bookend enthusiasts that are attending the show can get together for a breakfast or dinner.

The Baltimore show is always a treat. Several years ago we purchased this pair of coveted bookends from a dealer whose shop was one of our haunts in California. To think those bookends travelled 2000 miles east so we could buy them!

Indian Holding Lance. 8”, bronze plating on gray metal. Inscription: Shop mark of Jennings Bros, No. 1996. Circa 1923. Reference: Pg. 85, Fig. 197 in BOOKENDS, Objects of Art and Fashion.

 

Indian War Dancers Bookends

Each bookend shows one Indian beating a drum and one Indian dancing with a knife in one hand and a tomahawk in the other.  The depiction obviously seems to be a war dance or more generally a weapon dance, probably ceremonial.  Most, or perhaps all, American Indian weapon dances were performed en masse with the dancers moving in a circle.  A single dancer with a single drummer probably does not show any traditional ritual dance.  More likely, the figures probably stem from the artist’s imagination.  Regardless of authenticity or the weapons shown, these bookends are outstanding as examples of action in sculpture.

Electroformed Bronze: 8.5 inches.  Inscription: Paul Herzel.  Pompeian Bronze. Circa 1919.

We purchased these very rare bookends from a private individual who contacted us after seeing our request in the BOOKENDS WANTED section of this blog.

 

Rare Alaskan Indian Bookends

Tsimshian Eagle Bookends:  Red cedar wood,  Height 7.25 inches, Carver:  Casper Mather, circa 1940.

 

These Eagle Bookends were carved by Casper Mather ( 1876-1972) of New Metlakatla and Ketchikan, Alaska. We purchased them, this past year, as having been carved by Eli Tait, another carver from New Metlakatla. In researching them we found a photo postcard of Casper Mather posing with his carvings and showing very similar bookends at his feet.  It soon became clear that while Eli Tait and Casper Mather had very similar carving styles there were also distinct differences, and we are now confidently attributing these bookends to Casper Mather.

Photo of Casper Mather in regalia with some of his carvings.  Note the pair of Eagle bookends at his feet that closely resemble the bookends in this post.  Photo courtesy of Steve Akerman.  Original photo postcard by Otto Schallerer of Shallerer’s Photo Shop, Ketchikan, AK

Mather was a member of the Tsimshian (Indian) cultural group and of the Episcopal Church group that emigrated with Father William Duncan from Old Metlakatla in Canada to found New Metlakatla on Annette Island, Alaska. Casper was 11 years old at the time of the move in 1887. As part of the move to Alaska, Father Duncan encouraged the emigrants to divest themselves of the old ways. Many tribal objects were destroyed and public display of tribal art was discouraged.  Mather was without formal training as a carver.  Steve Akerman’s website, Early Totem Carvers of New Metlakatla, is dedicated to those early carvers that kept the Metlakatla style of carving alive:

Today Casper Mather is regarded as a prominent Tsimshian carver who helped keep Tsimshian traditional art forms alive during his lifetime.  These eagle bookends were probably carved when Mather lived in Ketchikan, where he moved in the 1920s. Mather was a founder and a preacher in Tsimshian and English at the Indian Episcopal Church in Ketchikan. He led a full and varied life – packer on the Chilkoot Pass, Ship Master and Guide in Alaskan Waters, blacksmith, and Carver. Click the links below to read more about Casper Mather and about New Metlakatla.

Remembering Casper Mather, Master Carver, Remembering Alaskans Series.

The Founding of Metlakatla, by Dave Kiffer.  Stories In The News, Sit.News, Ketchikan, AK

 

 

Cowboy and Indian Salute Bookends

Cowboy and Indian Salute.  Electroformed bronze.  Height 8 inches.  Armor Bronze,  Taunton, MA foundry, Taunton Armor Bronze labels on both felts.  Circa 1935.

There are dozens of Indian bookends and fewer cowboy bookends, but fewest of all are bookends featuring both cowboys and Indians.  This pair of bookends, produced by the Taunton, Massachusetts foundry of Armor Bronze around 1935, is one of the rare pairings.

By 1935 the film industry had thoroughly imprinted the American movie-going public with the heroics of the West. The biggest movie stars were the likes of Gene Autry, Tim McCoy, Tom Mix, Buck Jones, and Will Rogers. Some of these stars were part Indian. The “Indian” in the movies had moved from always being the enemy to being portrayed, in part, sympathetically and even sometimes heroically. Click here to see the New York Times Movie Review, Sept. 1932, of WHITE EAGLE.

As with other bookend sets, these bookends of a cowboy and an indian with their rearing horse salute, reflected the changing attitudes in American culture.

 

Indian Emissary Bookends

Native American Chiefs and Leaders visited Washington D.C. and Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries so it was not remarkable in those days to see an Indian in European-style clothing.  But an Indian in tailored jacket on a bookend is very unusual.  This pair of bookends shows an Indian in a jacket and cravat, the only such bookends we have ever seen, and we entitle the pair Indian Emissary.  The pair is six inches tall, electroformed bronze, unmarked, and attributed to Armor Bronze, circa 1915.The bookends are a unique addition to any collection and a great conversation piece as well.

Indian Emissary wears a European style jacket and cravat but his feather and hairstyle reflects his Native American Identity. 6” tall, electroformed bronze.