Heavy Brass Lion Claws (Great Bookends!) - A Pair birds on branch made for holding a drink

made for holding a drink while mounted on horseback

having my mother read to my brother and me) all of the Oz books when we were kids

But what makes this one particularly intriguing is that pasted to the back of the painting and written in pencil in a childlike hand

to the jauntily cocked handle

11" tall with a diameter of 3 1/2" across at opening and 4 3/8" across at base

Heavy Brass Lion Claws (Great Bookends!) - A Pair birds on branch made for holding a drinkThis is a terrific pair of what I believe are pretty old brass lion claws, which were likely once feet on a piece of furniture, but which now I think would make an excellent pair of bookends. They are quite heavy, so plenty weighty to keep even a long row of big art books tightly upright. I just love the nails on these dramatic claws, making me think a bit of gothic gargoyles. Just fabulous! There is a bit of pitting and greening to the brass, which I