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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 Medium Alpaca Silver & Black 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
Modern Acrylic Bookends, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of clear acrylic bookends with Modern edge and jewel-like design, circa mid-20th century, 1960s. Each measure: 6" Height.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Bookends
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite
$300 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Portal Clear Glass Bookends, ANDREW HUGHES
Located in New York, NY
The Portal design is a simple exercise in optics and color. The clear color and reflective light are diffused by a surface etching on the top third of the interior of each bookend. A...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookends
Materials
Blown Glass
$3,000 / set
COPPIA FERMALIBRI - Ottone argentato (base) é dorato(racchette) - USA 1980.
Located in Milano, IT
Coppia di ferma libri in ottone argentato e dorato ,con racchette da tennis .
In ottimo stato.
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
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
$250 / item
Pair of Faux Marble Pop Art "Nose" Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of large faux marble surrealist pop art "nose" bookends, circa 1970s. They are in good vintage condition and each bookend measures: 4" W x 8.75" H x 6.5" D. Super fun edition to...
Category
Early 20th Century American Modern Bookends
Materials
Resin
$680 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
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
Fallon Marble Bookends
Located in Paonia, CO
The (wh)ORE HAüS STUDIOS small goods collection was made for those that wanted to experience the (wh)ORE HAüS brand without committing to our larger pieces. Our Fallon Marble Bookend...
Category
2010s American Modern Bookends
Materials
Marble
$800 / item
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
$250 / item
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
Salta Medium Square Black Onyx Stone & Brass 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
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
$300 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
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
$250 / item
Pair of Modern Brushed Aluminum and Horn Bookends
Located in San Diego, CA
Cool pair of modern brushed aluminum and horn bookends, circa 2000s. The set is beautifully crafted and are in very good vintage condition; they measure 11”W x 3.5”D x 7.25”H. #3932
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookends
Materials
Aluminum
Pair of Geometric Bookends in Lucite by Amparo Calderon Tapia for Cain Modern
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning and beautiful pair of geometric bookends in polished Lucite designed by Amparo Calderon Tapia for Cain modern, the pieces have wonderful sh...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookends
Materials
Lucite
Homes & Gardens Book of Design Resource of Interior Style by Matthew Line
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Homes & Gardens Book of Design: A Complete Resource of Interior Style Hardcover – January 1, 2001 by Matthew Line (Author).
Innovative yet pragmatic, and focusing on lasting results ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bookends
Materials
Paper
Opinion Ciatti Ombres de Chats #5 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
$250 / item
Lee Rosen Ceramic/Pottery, Pair Bookends for Design Technics, Fused Glass Glaze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice pair of bookends designed by Lee Rosen, with an amazing fused glass glaze like broken glass surface very popular and used for many designers of the period, in America and Europe...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Ceramic
Modernist Bookends Black Granite and Glass Slab, circa 1980
By Paris Studio
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elevate your interior with these striking, architecturally designed bookends—a true modernist masterpiece from circa 1980. The bold, round glass slab is delicately etched with clouds...
Category
1980s French Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Granite, Stone, Metal, Chrome
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
$3,000 / set
Norman Bleckner Brass Bull Bookends Pair Of Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
These pair of vintage polished Norman Bleckner brass bull bookends have the original label on the bottom. New black felt feet were replaced with the ol...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Brass
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
Stone, Onyx, Metal
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
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
$179 / item
Italian Lira magazine rack by Pierangelo Gallotti for Gallotti and Radice, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Lira magazine rack by Pierangelo Gallotti for Gallotti and Radice, 1980s.
Lira model magazine rack with curved steel rod structure and curved smoked glass support surface ins...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Bookends
Materials
Steel
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
$1,690 / set
Pair of Bookends with Authentic Fossil Ammonites - Exclusive Design
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Add a touch of elegance and prehistoric charm to your bookshelf with this pair of bookends made of black slate and authentic fossil ammonites.
A unique work that combines modern aes...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Slate
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
$191 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Manks Magazine rack
Located in Ciudad de México, MX
Our Architecture and Cabinetry furniture collection is a collaboration with the most renowned Mexican architects. In this collection we explore, thro...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Bookends
Materials
Steel
$975 / item
Spinzi Capo Sculptural Bookend in Metal, Tiffany Blue, Collectible Decorative
By Spinzi
Located in Milano, IT
Capo is a sculptural bookend designed by Spinzi Milano and hand-crafted from metal. Finished in shades of bright colors, it is designed to add an unexpected and playful touch of vibr...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Metal, Steel
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
$1,355 / item
John Lee 2 Bookend with Onyx base by Fakasaka Design
Located in Geneve, CH
John Lee Bookend by Fakasaka Design
Dimensions: W 13 cm D 11.5 cm H 18 cm, base D 14cm.
Materials: polished bronze, onyx base.
JOHNLEE BOOKEND / DOOR HOLDER...
Category
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
$1,283 / item
Oxid Slate Bookend Natural Stone Contemporary Design by Joaquín Moll In Stock
By Meddel, Joaquín Moll
Located in VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, CL
Oxid Slate Bookend Natural Stone Contemporary Design by Joaquín Moll In Stock
This exquisite oxidized slate bookend blends the beauty of natural stone with a modern, minimalist desig...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Slate
$441 Sale Price
53% Off
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
This stunning bookend, crafted from Spanish yellow marble and crystal, seamlessly combines functional...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Marble, Crystal
$345 Sale Price
56% Off
Secondo Fuoco Contemporary Bookends in Bronze
By TIPSTUDIO
Located in Florence, IT
Secondo Fuoco is an investigation into bronze, a reflection on the multiple souls of matter: its mineral origin, re-obtained by smelting processes and it...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Bronze
$1,175 / set
Apollineo Bookend 2 in Leccese Stone and Hand-Painted Ceramic
By TIPSTUDIO
Located in Florence, IT
The Apollineo collection mergs classical and contemporary elements to define a unique aesthetic inspired by Mediterranean architecture and vibes. Sun-blessed pure volumes, shapes mar...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Limestone
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
$1,151 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
$4,200 / set
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
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
$707 / item
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
$1,355 / item
John Lee 2 Bookend with Onyx Base 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: dark bronze, onyx base.
Johnlee Bookend / door holder / sculpture.
...
Category
2010s Brazilian Modern Bookends
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
$1,283 / item
Apollineo Candle Stand in Leccese Stone and Hand-Painted Ceramic
By TIPSTUDIO
Located in Florence, IT
The Apollineo collection mergs classical and contemporary elements to define a unique aesthetic inspired by Mediterranean architecture and v...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Bookends
Materials
Stone, Limestone
$326 Sale Price / item
20% Off
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
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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