A wonderfully collected little equestrian vignette pairing four antique volumes of The World’s Best One Hundred Detective Stories with a vintage English John Peel horse brass. Published by Funk & Wagnalls in 1929, the petite green-bound volumes feature beautifully aged gilt decoration and are gathered together with a rich burnt-orange ribbon. Suspended at the front is a substantial figural horse brass depicting famed English huntsman John Peel on horseback with hounds, creating an unexpected marriage of literary and sporting history. The entire arrangement has the layered, slightly eccentric character of something discovered in an old English country house library.
CONDITION Beautifully aged vintage and antique condition with expected wear to the book covers, gilt decoration and metalwork. The horse brass retains an attractive timeworn patina. Ribbon is a later decorative addition. Wear is consistent with age and contributes to the collected character of the piece.
SIZE Approximately 6.25"H × 3"W × 4"D overall.
PROVENANCE The four books are 1929 editions published by Funk & Wagnalls. The John Peel horse brass is English and believed to date to the mid-20th century. The components have been thoughtfully assembled as a one-of-a-kind decorative vignette.
MAKER Books published by Funk & Wagnalls. Horse brass maker unknown.
MATERIAL Antique bound books, textile ribbon and cast metal horse brass.
STYLING SUGGESTIONS Perfect tucked into a library bookcase, styled on a desk or layered into an equestrian collection. Its small scale makes it especially good beside leather-bound volumes, framed sporting art or collected objects in an English country library, hunt room or refined tack-room-inspired interior.
