Bookends
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Metal
1980s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Copper
15th Century and Earlier American Mid-Century Modern Antique Bookends
Stone
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Lucite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Lucite
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Quartz
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Metal, Nickel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Marble, Travertine
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Agate, Gold Plate
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Art Glass
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Copper, Steel, Stainless Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Glass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Stone
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Art Glass
20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Lucite
1880s French Louis XVI Antique Bookends
Bronze
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Travertine
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Art Glass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Glass
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Steel
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Wood
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron, Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Glass
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Plywood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Acrylic, Lucite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Iron
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Composition
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Onyx, Brass
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Copper, Pewter
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Lucite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Cast Stone
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Glass
Mid-20th Century Taiwanese Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Chrome, Iron
Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Onyx, Marble, Brass, Chrome
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Wood
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.