Tipsy Monk Book Ends: Ceramic. Height 7 inches. 1932. Inscription Gladding, McBean & Co. S.F. Cal. and the artist signature Theo. Tracy.
Presentations of monks are associated with objects made in the Arts and Crafts style, including bookends. The monk is usually identified by his cowl. Here is a pair of ceramic bookends with each bookend showing a monk sprawling on a huge book. One apparently intoxicated monk is facing us with a silly look on his face. There is a chalice in his right hand with liquid draining from it. The liquid is presumably wine and the silly expression indicates the monk has had too much of the tipple. The other monk is leaning sideways with a distressed look on his face. His look suggests concern for his supply of wine.
During the middle ages thousands of monasteries in Europe produced wine from their own vineyards for ceremonies, consumption, and sale. Pairs of bookends showing monks like these, one facing forward and holding an empty cup and the other leaning to the side were popular early in the twentieth century. Such bookends were issued by leading California potteries, including the Catalina Clay Products Co. and the Malibu Potteries, plus independent potters. Click here to view the post and photo of the Malibu Potteries version from Oct. 7, 2013. All of these inebriated monk bookends are highly collectible today.
The pair shown here was issued by Gladding, McBean & Co in their “Semi-Porcelain” line and called “Monk Book Ends” in the 1932 company catalog. The spine of the book reads “Gladding McBean & Co., S.F. Cal”. A quick search did not yield information about an artist named Theo. Tracy, whose name is inscribed on the back of the bookends.
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