5 REASONS TO BUY THIS SET:Instant Library Distinction: Add a sophisticated, mid-century touch of Latter-day Saint history to your home library, office desk, or study shelves.Striking Visual Appeal: The brilliant, high-gloss copper-bronze luster glaze reflects light beautifully, giving the illusion of heavy, expensive antique cast metal.Functional & Heavy: Weighing a solid 2 lbs each, these are not flimsy plastic or hollow porcelain. They are weighted to securely hold up your favorite books.Dual Church History Portraits: This matching pair features beautifully detailed portrait busts of early LDS Church leaders. The Brigham Young bust rests against a spine labeled "Holy Bible", while the Joseph Smith bust rests against "The Book of Mormon".A Unique Conversation Piece: This mid-century set is a rare find for historians and collectors alike, making it an excellent gift or a centerpiece for your own collection.Add an elegant and deeply meaningful touch of Church history to your library shelves with this unique pair of vintage portrait bust bookends! This heavy-set pair features two foundational leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), beautifully rendered in a striking, high-gloss metallic bronze-gold glaze that catches the light beautifully.The Top Figure: A detailed portrait bust of President Brigham Young, identifiable by his iconic textured beard and pioneer-era attire.The Bottom Figure: The founding prophet, Joseph Smith, captured in his classic mid-19th-century hairstyle, high collar, and cravat tie.This rare set makes a beautiful addition to a home library, a priesthood leader's office study, or as a thoughtful heritage gift for LDS history buffs and collectors.Material & CompositionThese bookends are crafted from substantial slip-cast ceramic earthenware. Created from thick, heavy-duty plaster molds, they offer sturdy support and crisp architectural contours while carrying a substantial weight of 2 solid pounds each.The brilliant, reflective finish is an authentic, kiln-fired metallic liquid luster overglaze. Unlike modern spray paint, this traditional ceramic technique creates a beautiful faux-metal finish with subtle iridescent shifts and deep, dark amber pooling in the sculpted details of the hair and clothing. The pieces are hollow-core on the inside (typical for the slip-cast method) but have thick ceramic structural walls to easily anchor heavy volumes.AgeThis specific set dates back to the 1970s or early 1980s, a peak period for mid-century ceramic arts and independent hobbyist studios throughout Utah and the Intermountain West.Condition ReportThis vintage set is in very good, honest vintage condition with beautiful historical character.Surface Finish: The gold-bronze metallic glaze remains vibrant, highly reflective, and glossy with no major dulling or wide finish wear.Structure: Sound, solid, and structurally intact.Vintage Wear Note: There are a couple of small, minor chips located exclusively on the back side of the Brigham Young bust. These are superficial chips to the outer ceramic/glaze layer on the reverse and do not impact the stability or structural integrity of the piece. Because they are on the back, they are completely hidden from view when the bookends are placed flat against a wall or flush against books.Production Characteristics: As hand-glazed vintage pottery pieces, minor surface irregularities or tiny pinpoint glaze skips from the original kiln firing may be present, which underscores their unique hand-crafted history.Please carefully review all photos—especially the detailed shots of the back of the Brigham Young bust—to inspect the fine contours and glaze qualities before purchasing).
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