Retro Bookends Appraisal

Mid-Century Modern Green Stone Mayan/Olmec Style Bookends

This is a pair of carved stone bookends, likely crafted from a variety of serpentine or jade due to their distinctive mottled green and yellowish-green coloration. Each bookend depicts a stylized anthropomorphic figure, resembling ancient Mesoamerican or Pre-Columbian art often associated with cultures like the Olmec or Mayan. The figures are rectangular and blocky in general form, with simplified facial features that include incised lines for eyes, a prominent nose, and a small mouth. They appear to be seated or kneeling, with hands or arms resting across their lower body, indicated by simplified, relief-carved sections. The carving is somewhat abstract, focusing on geometric shapes and minimal detail, which is characteristic of certain ancient stone carving traditions. The stone exhibits natural variations in color and translucency, with darker veins and lighter cloudy areas, indicative of natural stone rather than a synthetic material. The surface appears to be polished, giving it a subtle sheen. There are no obvious signs of significant damage like chips or cracks visible in the provided image, but the inherent variations in the stone’s color could sometimes be mistaken for wear. The craftsmanship appears solid and uniform between the two pieces, suggesting they were produced as a matching set. Given the 'Mid century' context, these could be interpretations of ancient designs created during that period. Their design lends itself well to their function as bookends, providing a stable, weighty base.