Modern Bookends
MODERN STYLE
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
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Style: Modern
Cuyo Large Alpaca Silver & Blue Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #4 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Steel
Medium & Large, Bookends Cuyo, Onix Stone & Silver Alpaca
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
4" x 4" x 7.8"
4.8 "x 4.8" x 9.5"
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Pair of 2 Small Bronze Bookends by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Fin bookends come in two sizes. Each are made, finished and polished in Sydney, Australia using sand-casted gunmetal bronze. Their weight and size can support the heftiest of edition...
Category
2010s Australian Modern Bookends
Materials
Bronze
Early Italian Art Glass pair of Apples Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Italian Art Glass apples. Wonderful deep red transparent color with intentional bubbles on the surface of the apples. The green stem is a seperatly added piece completing eac...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Blown Glass
Pair of Polished Brass and Chrome Tennis Racket Bookends
Located in New York, NY
Nice set of brass and chrome tennis racket bookends. Features a brass tennis racket and ball on each. Has thin foam on bottom of each to prevent scratching furniture. 5.5" high. Grea...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Fornasetti Bookends Strumenti Musicali Gold on Red Metal
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
There can be wit and unpredictability in the order: this was Fornasetti idea when he designed his first bookends. The mix of images with their functional design make these accessorie...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Metal
Pair of Leather and Brass Bookends, Gucci, Italy, c. 1970
By Gucci
Located in New York City, NY
Classic, refined bookends from Gucci, decorated with patinated brass horsebits and a contrast stitched leather.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
Handmade Glass Bookends by Blenko - a Pair
By Blenko Glass
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of handmade glass bookends with smooth top and textured sides by Blenko Glass, USA circa 1980s.
Measurement for each block: w3.5" d4" h3.75"
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Bookends
Materials
Glass
Salta Round Black Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Contemporary 21st Century Capo Metal Bookend by Spinzi, Italian Modern Design
By Spinzi
Located in Milano, IT
Capo is a collection of bookends designed by Milano based studio Spinzi, and artisanally handcrafted from metal in Italy. They are small in size yet big in personality: rather then s...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Metal
Set of Polished Brass and Chrome Tennis Racket Bookends QUICK SHIP
Located in New York, NY
Set of brass and chrome tennis racket bookends. Has thin foam on bottom to prevent scratching furniture. 5.5" high. Great on a book shelf or desk. Nice condition, ready to use. QUICK...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass, Chrome
SAND bookend in Sandstone & Limestone by Meble Matters
Located in Singapore, SG
Crafted with care and precision, this bookend showcases the unique characteristics of sandstone and limestone. The captivating grains and textures of these natural stones create a st...
Category
2010s Singaporean Modern Bookends
Materials
Limestone, Sandstone
Pair of Painted Wood Zig-Zag Bookends, Mid 20th C
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Painted Wood Zig-Zag Bookends mounted on marble bases, mid-20th century.
Dealer: S138XX
Category
20th Century Unknown Modern Bookends
Materials
Marble
Salta Round Cream Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Contemporary Handmade Brass Bookend "Hippos" in Ancient Greek Forms by Anaktae
By ANAKTAE
Located in Athens, GR
Contemporary, handcrafted bookend, model "Hippos" in oxidized brass.
This bookend is part of the "Althaea Series", a collection of four bookends in brass Inspired by ancient Greek symbols...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
Set of 2 Large Bronze Bookends by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 large bronze bookends by Henry Wilson
Fin bookends come in two sizes. Each are made, finished and polished in Sydney, Austral...
Category
2010s Australian Modern Bookends
Materials
Bronze
Salta Round Blue Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Salta Medium Bordeaux Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Vintage Kangaroo Bookends in Silver Plated Brass
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Decorative pair of rare mother kangaroo bookends with Joey's/babies. Made from silver plated brass. They have developed a unique rainbow-like patina over the years but obviously can ...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Modernist Bookends Set Black Granite and Etched Glass Slab, France 1980s
By Paris Studio
Located in Atlanta, GA
This architecturally designed pair of bookends from the 1980s is a modernist marvel. The large round disk glass slab is etched with clouds and dots, and the base is constructed of bl...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Granite, Metal, Chrome
Cuyo Medium Alpaca Silver & Blue Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Portariviste italiano Lira di Pierangelo Gallotti per Gallotti e Radice, 1980 ca
Located in MIlano, IT
Portariviste modello Lira con struttura curva in tondino d'acciaio e piano d'appoggio in vetro fumè curvato infilato fra quattro bulloni che lo tengono fermo, anche grazie al suo stesso peso e forma...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Steel
Salta Large Square Bordeaux Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images that led us to design our largest collection. It has pure and contemporary lines, a classic vision but with modern design. The chosen materials are alpaca and onyx...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Cuyo Medium Alpaca Silver & Bordeaux Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Cuyo Large Alpaca Silver & Bordeaux Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Salta Round Brown Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Pair of Striped Carrera Marble Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful pair of Carrera Marble Bookends - the "pyramid' shape in addition to the divisional use of stripes is very creative and decorative.
Turn a subtle shelf and book area i...
Category
20th Century Modern Bookends
Materials
Carrara Marble
Classic Gucci Bookends
By Gucci
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of Classic bookends by Gucci. Classic brown leather stripe with brass bases. Beautiful stitching and attention to details.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
Brass Fold Bookend by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Fold Bookend by Stem Design
Dimensions: D 11 x W 11 x H 18 cm.
Materials: Brass.
Finish: Tumbled and burnished.
Weight: 2,5 kg.
Finished and assembled by hand in India. Please contact us.
Fold bookend captures the recurring act of turning a page as a sculptural object. The simplified form reveals a bold character by allowing the material to take over the conversation. Designed to be used as a bookend, the interior surface reveals itself mysteriously as you move around it. Fold layers on as a metaphor in space beautifying its timeless nature. Sand cast in solid brass, each piece is finished working closely with master artisans.
The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime.
Stem is a contemporary Indian...
Category
2010s Indian Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
Pair of Carved Fossilized Limestone Bookends with Many Fossils Visible
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., a high quality pair of demilune columnar form stone bookends, unmarked. Skillfully carved beige limestone with a large number of spiral shell gastropods, nautiloids, and other fossils polished to show off the beauty of the fossils. There are natural streaks of dark and light limestone, orange iron oxide, and crystalline calcite in the shells. The stone contains a large amount of calcite (or aragonite) with the remainder made of impurities such as dolomite, quartz or silicates, clay, iron oxides, and rock particles of many kinds.
These are of lovely quality and are fascinating to look at. As they are cut from the same piece, the fossils match up when both bookends are placed together and the corresponding portion of fossils can be seen on the opposite interior vertical plane.
Dimensions:
7"h x 5.75"w x 2.75"d (each half)
Condition:
Good, a few scratches and nicks on base, attractive appearance.
Provenance:
A Private Collection: The Sherry Netherland...
Category
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone
Pair of Vintage Chrome Bookends, 20th. Century
Located in New York City, NY
Pair of Vintage Chrome Bookends, 20th. Century
Sleek and tubular in composition, these bookends are highly sculptural and present an elegant symmetry when in use.
Category
20th Century Modern Bookends
Materials
Chrome
Frosted Glass Horse Head Bookends with Black Glass Base in the Style of Lalique
By Lalique
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Solid glass Horse head bookends with solid black glass base. The pair are wonderful and are very reminiscent of Lalique. Very sophist...
Category
20th Century Modern Bookends
Materials
Art Glass, Wood
Salta Medium Square Cream Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #6 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Steel
Aurora Pink Portal Glass Bookends, ANDREW HUGHES
Located in New York, NY
The Portal design is a simple exercise in optics and color. The Aurora color and reflective light are diffused by a surface etching on the top third of the interior of each bookend. ...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookends
Materials
Blown Glass
Suite of Three Italian Paperweights in Veined Black Marble, 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
SUITE OF THREE ITALIAN PAPERWEIGHTS In veined Black Marble 20th century
In veined black marble, one square, another conical and the last pyramidal.
Cone dimensions: h. 15cm
Good c...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Marble
Pair of “Dilàdiquà” Bookcases from “Trasformatio” Collection, Italy 1940/2022
Located in Napoli, IT
Pair of “DilàDiquà” bookcases from the “Trasformatio” collection,
design Michele Iodice exclusively for the Esprit Nouveau gallery.
Limited Edition 2/2
Movable structures in b...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Iron
Substantial Pair of Etched Crystal Globe Bookends by Nicole Miller
Located in San Diego, CA
Substantial pair of etched crystal globe bookends by Nicole Miller, circa 2000s. The bookends are in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measure 9.5"W x 4.75"D x ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookends
Materials
Crystal
Limes Bookends by Imperfettolab
Located in Geneve, CH
Limes bookends by Imperfettolab
Dimensions: 25 x 25 x H 41 cm
Materials: Fiberglass
Imperfetto Lab
Who we are ? We are a family.
Verter Turroni, Emanuela Ravelli and our child...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Fiberglass
Ben Seibel for Jenfred-Ware Bookends in Brass Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great modern design in this pair of bookends by Ben Seibel.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Bookends
Materials
Metal
Fornasetti Bookends Gift Tema E Variazioni N. 171 Black/White/Red Metal
By Fornasetti
Located in MILANO, IT
There can be wit and unpredictability in the order: this was Fornasetti idea when he designed his first bookends. The mix of images with their functional design make these accessorie...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Metal
Yellow Marble & Crystal Bookend Contemporary Design Joaquín Moll in Stock Meddel
By Joaquín Moll, Meddel
Located in VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, CL
Yellow Marble & Crystal Bookend Contemporary Design Joaquín Moll in Stock Meddel is available for sale from stock on 1stDibs.
A unique and distinguished piece that combines the beau...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Crystal, Marble
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #3 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Steel
Pair of Polished Brass and Chrome Tennis Racket Bookends
Located in New York, NY
Nice set of brass and chrome tennis racket bookends. Features a brass tennis racket and ball on each. Has thin foam on bottom of each to prevent scratching furniture. 5.5" high. Grea...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Pair of Vintage Horse Bust Bookends, English, Cast Brass, Decorative, Novel Rest
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of vintage horse bust bookends. An English, cast brass decorative novel rest, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970.
Wonderful equin...
Category
Late 20th Century British Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
Pair of Book ends, in Onyx, White Color, Horse Shape Pattern, France, Circa 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Pair of book ends, in onyx, the motif pattern are horse heads. They are white in color, and were made in France in the 1970s.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx
Abstract Bronzed Copper Sculpture, circa 1960s
Located in New York, NY
A signed copper abstract sculpture on wood base, circa 1960s. Sculpture is copper, with a beautiful rich dark brown patina, adhered to rectangular wood base. Signature (illegible) on...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Bookends
Materials
Copper
Oxid Slate Bookend Natural Stone Contemporary Design by Joaquín Moll In Stock
By Joaquín Moll, Meddel
Located in VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, CL
Oxid slate bookend natural stone Contemporary Design by Joaquín Moll In Stock.
This rust slate stone bookend is a unique way to present and store all your books. A piece created fro...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Slate
Devon Bookend by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Devon bookend by Madheke
Dimensions: D 11.2 x W 16.2 x H 21.2 cm.
Materials: Leather, wood, metal.
Encased leather booked with internal compartments.
Reflecting the finest in craftsmanship, innovation and heritage, Madheke creates tailored and crafted goods that reflect understated classic elegance, blending tradition and contemporary - vintage and modern...
Category
2010s Indian Modern Bookends
Materials
Metal
Ben Seibel for Jenfred-Ware Bookends in Copper Finish
By Ben Seibel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great modern design in this pair of bookends by the well known Modern designer Ben Seibel.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Bookends
Materials
Metal
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #2 Bookend
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ombres de Chats by Angelo Barcella are poetic objects, delicate table sculptures. Shadows of curious, busy, sore, angry or bored cats, instants which are made eternal when transforme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Steel
Talon Bookend with Leather Body by Madheke
Located in Geneve, CH
Talon bookend with leather body by Madheke
Dimensions: W 6.2 D 15.2 H 21 cm
Materials: Leather, Carbon Fibre, Wood
The TALON bookend offers both functionality and style and is a...
Category
2010s Indian Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
Mould for Bookend by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Located in Geneve, CH
Mould for bookend by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Unique piece
Materials: MDF
Dimensions: 19 x 22 x 10 cm
Theodora Alfredsdottir is a product design studio based in London.
Theodor...
Category
2010s English Modern Bookends
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Materials Matter Set by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Located in Geneve, CH
Materials matter set by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Unique set
Materials: Granite
Dimensions: 11 x 6 x 18 cm
Theodora Alfredsdottir is a product design studio based in London.
The...
Category
2010s English Modern Bookends
Materials
Granite, Marble
Travertine 'Slo' Book Ends by Christophe Delcourt, Collection Particulière
Located in Utrecht, NL
Pair of 'SLO' book ends in 'Travertine' by French designer Christophe Delcourt.
Renown designer and interior decorator Delcourt celebrates his passion for noble materials, by infusi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Bookends
Materials
Travertine
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
John Lee bookend by Fakasaka Design
Dimensions: W 13 cm D 11.5 cm H 18 cm
Materials: polished bronze.
FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furniture, ...
Category
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Materials
Bronze
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design
Dimensions: W 13 cm D 11.5 cm H 18 cm
Materials: black/brown bronze.
FAKASAKA is a design company focused on production of high-end furnitur...
Category
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Materials
Bronze
Modern bookends for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern bookends for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bookends created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern bookends made in a specific country, there are Europe, North America, and South America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookends, popular names associated with this style include AIREDELSUR, ANAKTAE, Opinion Ciatti, and Stefano Giovannoni. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for bookends differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $130 and tops out at $11,095 while the average work can sell for $691.
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