It's officially spring. March 20 marks the vernal equinox and is one of two days during the year when the lengths of day and night are just about equal.

So throw your doors open, and bring in some flowers with a vintage cast iron doorstop like this one that sold for $181 at a Bertoia auction in New Jersey. It was made by the Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hubley, founded in 1894, specialized in metal toys, banks, doorstops, bookends, doorknockers and other cast iron accessories. Doorstops were popular during the 1920s and 30s, and Hubley made many with flowers—tulips, roses, sunflowers, irises, black-eyed susans, pansies, poppies, petunias, tiger lilies, gladiolas, chrysanthemums, zinnias, daisies, dahlias and delphiniums, like this one. Over 150 different flower doorstops were made by the many foundries that made doorstops. Hubley was in business until the early 1970s, but some of the doorstop molds were sold after 1948 and reproductions have been made.

Iron is selling extremely well today. Doorstops, bookends, doorknockers, pans, tools, and even furniture are among the most sought-after iron collectibles.

Find more doorstop prices in the FREE online price guide at Kovels.com and in Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide 2012, available online and in your local bookstore.

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