Bookends
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Bookends
Giltwood
2010s Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Oak, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Chrome
Late 20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Bookends
Metal
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass, Pewter
Early 20th Century British Edwardian Bookends
Leather
Early 20th Century German Bookends
Wrought Iron
2010s American Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Marble, Carrara Marble
20th Century Bookends
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Bookends
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Iron, Aluminum
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Bookends
Metal
20th Century Unknown Hollywood Regency Bookends
Brass
Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Antique Bookends
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century American Modern Bookends
Acrylic, Lucite
Mid-20th Century British Art Deco Bookends
Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Arts and Crafts Bookends
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Bookends
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
19th Century European Antique Bookends
Maple
Mid-20th Century Italian Bookends
Wood
1960s Vintage Bookends
Alabaster
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Bronze
Late 20th Century American Bookends
Leather
1830s American American Empire Antique Bookends
Brass, Iron
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Bookends
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Classical Bookends
Metal
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
Marble, Spelter
1950s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary German Post-Modern Bookends
Onyx
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art Bookends
Marble
1920s Vintage Bookends
Metal
Mid-19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Bookends
20th Century Chinese Export Bookends
20th Century American Bookends
Bronze
Early 1800s English George III Antique Bookends
Brass
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
Marble, Bronze
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Resin, Wood
1970s Indian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Stainless Steel
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Marble, Brass
20th Century Italian Bookends
Terracotta
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Bookends
Ceramic, Paint
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
Marble, Bronze
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Onyx, Stone, Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Bookends
Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Bookends
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century American Modern Bookends
Resin
1980s French Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary German Post-Modern Bookends
Onyx
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Iron
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.