Bookends
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Rock Crystal
2010s Brazilian Organic Modern Bookends
Agate, Quartz
1960s American Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Plaster
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Brass
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, Metal
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Hardwood
2010s Italian Bookends
Stone
2010s American Post-Modern Bookends
Crystal, Brass
2010s Bookends
Aluminum
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, Metal
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, Metal
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Brass
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Onyx, Stone, Metal
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, Metal
2010s Minimalist Bookends
Marble
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Bookends
Rosewood
1960s Italian Brutalist Vintage Bookends
Marble
2010s Czech Baroque Bookends
Brass
2010s American Minimalist Bookends
Cement
1960s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Steel
2010s Pakistani Organic Modern Bookends
Onyx
2010s Italian Other Bookends
Steel
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, Metal
2010s Turkish Classical Greek Bookends
Statuary Marble
2010s Indian Modern Bookends
Brass
2010s Turkish Classical Greek Bookends
Statuary Marble
1960s Italian Grand Tour Vintage Bookends
Alabaster
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, Metal
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Onyx, Stone, Metal
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron, Gold Leaf
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Marble
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Iron
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Fiberglass
2010s Italian Other Bookends
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Brass
2010s Spanish Modern Bookends
Stone, Crystal, Marble
1960s Hollywood Regency Vintage Bookends
Brass
2010s Mexican Minimalist Bookends
Beech
2010s Italian Other Bookends
Steel
2010s Indian Modern Bookends
Metal
2010s Spanish Modern Bookends
Stone, Slate
2010s Italian Other Bookends
Steel
2010s Italian Other Bookends
Steel
1960s Vintage Bookends
Marble
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron
2010s Indian Modern Bookends
Brass
2010s Bookends
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron
2010s English Modern Bookends
Granite, Marble
2010s English Modern Bookends
Plastic, Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Bookends
Onyx
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Bronze
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Onyx, Bronze
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Concrete
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Bronze
2010s French Post-Modern Bookends
Bronze
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Onyx, Bronze
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.