HEAVY VINTAGE BRASS “THE ANGELUS” BOOKENDS

What a beautiful reminder of a time when the rhythm of daily life was ordered around prayer. ❤️

This substantial pair of vintage brass bookends depicts The Angelus, the beloved painting by French artist Jean-François Millet. A husband and wife have paused their work in the potato field, bowed their heads, and joined their hands in prayer as the Angelus bells ring from the distant village church.

Traditionally, church bells rang three times each day—morning, noon, and evening—calling the faithful to stop wherever they were and pray the Angelus in remembrance of the Annunciation and the mystery of the Incarnation:

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”

The beautifully raised scene includes the praying farmers, their basket and tools, the surrounding fields, and the distant church. “ANGELUS” is cast along the base of each bookend.

These are wonderfully heavy and substantial—each weighs just under two pounds—making them practical enough to hold a collection of prayer books, missals, or other beloved Catholic volumes.

They display a warm, time-earned patina with darkening, surface wear, and signs of age that only add to their old-world character. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.

Each measures approximately 4 inches tall by 4½ inches wide

Heavy cast brass

Each weighs just under 2 pounds

Early 20th century, likely circa 1920s–1930s

Sold as a matching pair

Vintage condition with expected patina and age-related wear

Due to the substantial weight of this pair, shipping is available within the United States only.