Vintage Neoclassical Cast Brass Sea-Griffin Bookend

This is a single vintage decorative bookend featuring a mythological creature, specifically a winged sea-griffin or hippocampus, executed in a French Empire or Neoclassical Revival style. The piece is constructed from cast brass or bronze-toned metal with a weighted base. The creature is depicted with a lion-like head and torso, avian wings, and a scaled serpentine tail that terminates in elaborate, scrolling foliate volutes. The base is rectangular with clipped corners and tiered gadrooned molding. Structurally, the casting shows high-quality detailing in the feathers and scales. The color is a muted, aged gold with visible darkened oxidation and verdigris in the recessed areas, which serves to highlight the textural details. The surface demonstrates a natural aged patina consistent with mid-20th-century production, though it mimics 19th-century motifs. Condition-wise, the metal shows some surface scratching and minor pitting on the flat part of the base, but it remains structurally sound with no visible cracks or repairs. The item possesses a significant visual weight often associated with sand-cast brass decorative arts of the early to mid-1900s.

Based on my visual examination of this single bookend, I identify it as a vintage decorative piece in the French Empire or Neoclassical Revival style, likely produced in the mid-20th century (circa 1940s-1960s). The subject is a dynamic winged sea-griffin or hippocampus, a classic motif often associated with strength and protection. The construction appears to be sand-cast brass with a natural, unpolished patina that has accumulated verdigris in the recesses, adding desirable depth to the feathers and scales. The primary value limitation here is that this is an 'orphan'—a single bookend missing its mate. Pairs command significantly higher prices in the decorative arts market. While the casting quality is respectable, the tiered gadrooned base and overall finish suggest mass-market production rather than a fine arts foundry piece (e.g., unsigned French bronze). The surface shows honest wear, including minor pitting and scratching consistent with age, which authenticates it as vintage rather than a modern reproduction. Market conditions for Neoclassical brass decor remain steady, driven by 'Grandmillennial' and traditional interior design trends. Comparable single bookends of this nature typically sell in the $45 to $85 range, whereas a complete pair might realize $150-$225. Full authentication would require physical handling to determine the specific alloy composition (verifying if it is solid brass vs. spelter with a brass wash) and to check the felted underside for any obscured maker's marks or foundry stamps that are not visible in the provided images.