Anne Fish for Hubley Charleston Dancers Doorstop

This exceptional 1920s Hubley cast iron doorstop, “Charleston Dancers,” No. 270, was designed by the celebrated British-born artist Anne Harriet Fish (later Anne Sefton) and captures the exuberant, lighthearted spirit of the Roaring Twenties. The sculptural doorstop depicts a dancing couple in close embrace, joyfully moving across the floor as they dance the Charleston late into the night, an iconic image of Jazz Age energy and modernity. Anne Harriet Fish was born in Bristol, England, and trained as a painter working in both oils and watercolors. After relocating to New York City, she became a prominent illustrator for Vanity Fair and Vogue, including the celebrated April 1917 Vanity Fair cover. During World War I, German-made porcelain doll heads became unavailable in the United States, prompting Fulper Pottery of Flemington, New Jersey, originally founded in 1909 as a stoneware pottery, to establish a new line of porcelain doll heads. When the postwar market for these products collapsed, Fulper pivoted to producing ceramic novelties, hiring Anne Fish in the early 1920s to contribute her distinctive, expressive designs. Fish’s success in ceramic design led to her collaboration with Hubley Manufacturing Company, for whom she designed seven iconic cast iron doorstops, now among the most desirable in the field of American folk and decorative arts: No. 269 – The Tiger No. 249 – The Messenger Boy No. 268 – The Parlor Maid No. 250 – Bathing Girls No. 270 – Charleston Dancers No. 222 – Small Footmen No. 248 – Large Footmen Anne Fish’s Hubley doorstops are characteristically numbered on the back and bear a copyright mark, with her name “FISH” painted on the front base, often in black. Likely influenced by her background in ceramics, her designs were finished with a distinctive high-gloss surface, a feature that has worn away on many surviving examples. This example is in beautiful antique condition, having been gently cleaned with minor professional paint restoration. It retains excellent surface presence and sculptural detail, with a richness and charm that exemplify Fish’s playful yet sophisticated approach to design. A highly collectible example of Hubley cast iron, Anne Fish doorstops...

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