These snowy white horse heads are bookends, nicely-sculpted and cast in highly-durable vitreous china by Abingdon Pottery (Knoxville, Illinois).
The Abingdon Sanitary Manufacturing Company was founded in 1908 and quickly gained a reputation for its beautifully-finished plumbing fixtures, made of ultra-durable vitreous china which was less susceptible to hairline cracking or chipping. In addition to superior (and expensive) clays, the company also spent a great deal of effort hand-finishing each sink, toilet, urinal, water fountain or bottled water dispenser. Abingdon was the first to introduce colored plumbing fixtures (in 1928) and were commissioned to provide all the plumbing fixtures for the Chicago World's Fair in 1933.
But the Depression was tough on American companies—especially those which depended on new construction to create demand for their new interior fixtures. Thus, in 1934, Abingdon branched-out into making small, decorative, consumer objects for the home: vases, bowls, bookends. Such items—affordable luxuries during bleak times—could keep the company afloat and its employees at work. Like Abingdon's plumbing fixtures, these objets were made of heavy and durable vitreous china, finished to the same high standards for which the company was known. After World War II, America enjoyed a building boom which revived demand for Abingdon's top-of-the-market plumbing fixtures. In 1950, Abingdon ceased production of the small, decorative items.
This pair of handsomely sculpted ceramic bookends have a lovely weight and hand-feel. The smooth finishing and the satiny glaze add to the look and feel of these useful sculptures. They were made in the Thirties or Forties by Abingdon—during their brief foray into such small decorative items. Click on the photo above to learn more about this wonderful gift for any book (or horse) lover.
More Winter White items to come—tomorrow and in the days to follow.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.