Young's Inc. 1995 African American Mother and Child Reading Bookend

This is a single decorative bookend manufactured by Young's Inc., dated 1995. The piece is crafted from cold-cast resin, a common material for mass-produced collectibles of the 1990s, allowing for fine sculptural detail in the textile folds and hair texture. It depicts an African American woman with her hair in a high bun, wearing a pink robe with black ruffled trim, seated in a blue chair adorned with yellow flowers. She is reading a book titled 'HOLY BIBLE' to a young child sitting on her lap. The child wears a light blue outfit with red bows in her hair. The color palette is vibrant but shows the matte, slightly chalky finish characteristic of painted resin. Physically, the item appears to be in fair to good condition, showing some surface dust and minor paint wear, particularly on the edges of the book and the black trim, which is common for pieces of this age. There are no immediate visible structural cracks, though close inspection for 'flea bites' or small chips in the brittle resin is advised. The piece is part of a nostalgic line of figurines focused on family and faith. This single unit is likely missing its matching counterpart, which would form a complete set, significantly impacting its utility and market value as a functional bookend.

Based on my examination of this cold-cast resin figurine manufactured by Young's Inc. in 1995, I have determined it to be an authentic example of late-20th-century mass-produced decorative collectibles. The piece exhibits the standard matte finish and sculptural casting details consistent with Young’s production methods from the mid-90s, focusing on themes of 'Family and Faith.' The condition is fair to good; while the structural integrity appears sound, there is visible paint loss on high-point areas such as the Bible edges and ruffled trim, alongside surface dust accumulation. The primary factor depressing the value of this item is its status as a single unit. As a bookend, its utility and market appeal are significantly diminished without its matching counterpart; collectors and decorators almost exclusively seek these in pairs. Furthermore, the secondary market for 1990s resin figurines is Currently saturated, with high supply and moderate-to-low demand. Comparable sales for single Young's figurines of this era typically fall in the $10-$20 range. Identifying this piece via images allows for a high degree of confidence regarding its origin, but a physical inspection would be required to rule out 'flea bite' chips or internal resin degradation not visible in photographs. To fully authenticate and potentially increase marketability, original packaging or a manufacturer's catalog entry would be beneficial, though rarely preserved for items of this pedigree. This appraisal assumes no hidden repairs or structural fractures beneath the paint layer.