Hi Catherine,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Owls became popular decorative motifs for bookends because they symbolize wisdom, learning, and scholarship—qualities closely associated with books and libraries. The connection goes back to ancient Greece, where the owl was associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, and strategic thinking. As a result, the owl became a long-lasting symbol of intelligence and education in Western culture.

The Marion Bronze Company occupies an interesting niche in American decorative arts because it wasn't primarily a traditional bronze foundry. Instead, it specialized in bronze-clad decorative objects that looked and felt like solid bronze but could be produced more economically.

The company was founded in 1922 by Arthur France and Marion France in Metuchen. Production took place in a workshop behind their home, where they manufactured bookends, lamps, candlesticks, mirrors, wall plaques, religious figures, and other decorative objects. The Frances operated the business until retiring in 1958, and the company continued under new ownership until 1971.

Marion's products were made using what the company called Galvano Bronze. Rather than casting objects in solid bronze, craftsmen first created a detailed core from a proprietary material called "Cerama-Stone." The object was then coated with real bronze through an electroplating process, producing a solid-feeling piece with a genuine bronze surface. The company advertised this as combining fine detail, substantial weight, and lower cost than traditional bronze castings.

This process descended from late-19th-century electroformed and bronze-clad manufacturing techniques pioneered by firms such as P. Mori & Sons. Marion became one of the longest-lasting American companies using this method.

Though similar bookends are currently priced at between $500 and $800 by retail sellers (both antique dealers and private sellers), they don't usually bring quite as much when they sell at auction, where a pair in a condition similar to the condition of this pair would be more likely to sell for between $150 and $250 for the pair. If you're hoping to sell this pair, you might price them at $500...you can lower your price if you don't get a buyer but at least you won't risk underselling them.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A pair of vintage Marion Manufacturing bronze clad owl-form bookends
circa 1920s-30s
Each depicting an owl with turned head, on a short stack of books.
8 inches tall
CONDITION: with some wear commensurate to age and use.
PROVENANCE: purchased at an estate sale
$ 150-250 for the pair*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia