Bookends
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Bookends
Marble, Spelter
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Onyx, Stone, Metal
2010s Turkish Classical Greek Bookends
Statuary Marble
2010s Austrian Bookends
Brass
2010s Bookends
Brass
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Aluminum
2010s American Modern Bookends
Blown Glass
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Marble, Bronze
2010s Bookends
Marble, Stainless Steel
Mid-20th Century Taiwanese Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
Early 20th Century Art Deco Bookends
Bronze, Copper
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Marble, Metal
2010s Australian Modern Bookends
Bronze
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Bookends
Metal
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Bookends
Iron
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Hardwood
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Glass
Late 20th Century Spanish Bookends
Bronze
20th Century American Post-Modern Bookends
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Travertine
2010s American Minimalist Bookends
Cement
2010s Mexican Bookends
Onyx
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Metal
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Marble, Bronze
Late 20th Century Hollywood Regency Bookends
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Bookends
Mahogany
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Brass
1930s American Vintage Bookends
Wood
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Metal
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
Wood, Burl
1940s British Art Deco Vintage Bookends
Metal
20th Century Bookends
Marble
2010s American Bookends
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Bookends
Bronze, Iron
1970s American Federal Vintage Bookends
Brass
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Ceramic
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Iron
20th Century American Bookends
Metal
1950s American Federal Vintage Bookends
Brass
1990s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Marble
Early 20th Century Bookends
Bronze, Enamel
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bookends
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Federal Bookends
Bronze
Early 20th Century Bookends
Brass
1950s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Ceramic, Walnut
20th Century Asian Hollywood Regency Bookends
Brass
Late 20th Century Bookends
Crystal, Chrome
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Bookends
Marble
1970s European Anglo-Indian Vintage Bookends
Wood
1930s Italian Modern Vintage Bookends
Blown Glass
1940s Chinese Hollywood Regency Vintage Bookends
Brass
1920s Vintage Bookends
Agate
Late 20th Century Bookends
Bronze
1930s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Nickel, Enamel, Copper
1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bookends
Teak
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.