Pair of French Art Deco Rosewood Fish Bookends by Dan Karner, Paris

Code: 12355

Dimensions:

A pair of French Art Deco Rosewood Bookends by Dan Karner of Paris, the carved fish with chrome plated fins and tails upon quadrant shaped bases, signed Dan Karner, Paris to one base and numbered '3'.

Dan (Daniel) Karner, was a French designer and craftsman, working in Paris in the 1930s, where he had a workshop and showroom. He worked mainly on his own with apprentices, specialising in carved wooden items including bookends, cocktail accoutrements, desk accessories and lamps. His creations had a refined elegance and were produced in limited editions. One morning in 1940, he never came to open his workshop. Karner was of Jewish origin and it is thought he left Paris and crossed the Pyrenees to flee from the German occupation of Paris. He never came back to France after World War II, but some pieces can be found on the market with his signature and the following mention, "Creaciones - Barcelona - Spain''. This could indicate, he was successful in his trip to Spain and freedom and was able to re-establish his activities in Barcelona.