Bookends
2010s Colombian Other Bookends
Stone
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
Marble
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Glass, Art Glass
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Bookends
Carrara Marble
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
Late 20th Century Neoclassical Bookends
Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Bookends
Marble
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Bookends
Onyx
Mid-20th Century American Brutalist Bookends
Metal
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Marble
2010s Colombian Other Bookends
Stone
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Glass
1930s Dutch Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Ceramic, Pottery
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Lucite, Acrylic
Late 20th Century North American Post-Modern Bookends
Lucite
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Art Glass
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Bookends
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinese Folk Art Bookends
Soapstone
15th Century and Earlier South American Antique Bookends
Agate, Amethyst, Quartz
Late 20th Century Rustic Bookends
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookends
Plastic, Acrylic, Lucite
20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Aluminum
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Bookends
Marble
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
Chrome
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookends
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookends
Lucite
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Metal, Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Lucite
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Iron
Late 20th Century American Minimalist Bookends
Glass
2010s American Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
2010s Italian Bookends
Carrara Marble
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Bookends
Ceramic
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Granite, Spelter
20th Century Organic Modern Bookends
Amethyst, Crystal, Quartz
20th Century Bookends
Resin
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
Marble, Spelter
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
Glass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Lucite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Lucite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Glass
15th Century and Earlier American Mid-Century Modern Antique Bookends
Stone
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Metal, Nickel
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Bookends
Marble
1940s American Industrial Vintage Bookends
Steel, Chrome
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Glass
19th Century American Antique Bookends
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
Plaster
Early 20th Century American American Colonial Bookends
Metal
Antique, New and Vintage Bookends
A good pair of antique, new or vintage bookends will look wonderful in your reading nook. And the need for these trusty home accents has stood the test of time, which means there are many different kinds to suit any design taste or furniture style.
Bookends weren’t created until the 1870s. Serving faithfully in the background, they went unobserved for a while. The authors of the Oxford English Dictionary report that the term “book end” didn’t appear in printed material until 1907. The primary function of bookends is to ensure that your books remain upright in your bookcase, but style and form have taken the lead over the years. Furniture makers have ensured that bookends demand as much attention as the books themselves. Indeed, while competing with carefully curated first editions or rows of colorful spines is no small task, plenty of bookends steal the stage.
If you’re looking to add a dose of intrigue or decorative flourish to your reading room that will be difficult to ignore, stone bookends and metal bookends can take on the appearance of small, provocative sculptures rather than functional accessories to keep your books orderly on your shelves. Depending on what kind of textures you’re thinking of introducing to your home office or study, a pair of brass bookends or a bronze set will pop against your dusty hardcovers and any decorative objects you’ve accumulated while working to style your bookcase. A pair of mid-century modern bookends carved from dark, exotic woods such as teak can also introduce warmth to a home office or study. While teak was a favorite of designers who worked with furniture in the mid-20th century, all manner of wood bookends have emerged over the years, with some woodworkers carving ornate patterns or figures into their pieces.
Bookworms, take note: You can find an extraordinary range of antique, new and vintage bookends for your dazzling book displays and bookshelves today on 1stDibs.