Bookends
Early 1900s American Antique Bookends
Bronze
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Bookends
Wood
20th Century Organic Modern Bookends
Amethyst, Crystal, Quartz
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Iron
Late 19th Century Italian Classical Roman Antique Bookends
Breccia Marble
Mid-20th Century Indian Organic Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Metal, Chrome
20th Century Vietnamese Campaign Bookends
Metal
20th Century Italian Victorian Bookends
Marble
20th Century Bookends
Brass
1960s French Vintage Bookends
Slate, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Bookends
Resin
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Bookends
Brass
Mid-20th Century Scandinavian Modern Bookends
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Bookends
Brass
Late 20th Century Italian Bookends
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Tibetan Bookends
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Art Glass
20th Century Post-Modern Bookends
Stone
20th Century American Post-Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Metal
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
Late 20th Century Modern Bookends
Brass, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1890s Chinese Qing Antique Bookends
Jade, Brass
18th Century Antique Bookends
Giltwood
1960s Scandinavian Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bookends
Aluminum
2010s Moroccan Bookends
Bronze
Late 20th Century Italian Space Age Bookends
Plastic
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
1960s Vintage Bookends
Brass
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Bookends
Metal
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Copper
Mid-20th Century Bookends
Plastic, Paint
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Art Glass
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Bookends
Marble, Bronze
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Marble, Bronze
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Rock Crystal
1950s German Hollywood Regency Vintage Bookends
Brass
1840s French Antique Bookends
Marble, Bronze
1920s Vintage Bookends
Metal
Early 20th Century Unknown Art Deco Bookends
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Bookends
Alabaster
1980s French Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Crystal
Mid-20th Century Spanish Bookends
Stone, Amethyst, Quartz
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Metal
19th Century British Regency Antique Bookends
Rosewood
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Spelter
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Travertine
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Iron
Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Wood
Late 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Bookends
Wood
20th Century American Modern Bookends
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass, Copper, Enamel
Mid-20th Century Italian Bookends
Brass
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, 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.