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. 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. 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. Indeed, while competing with carefully curated first editions or rows of colorful spines is no small task, plenty of bookends steal the stage. Furniture makers have ensured that bookends demand as much attention as the books themselves. 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. The authors of the Oxford English Dictionary report that the term “book end” didn’t appear in printed material until 1907. Serving faithfully in the background, they went unobserved for a while.

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.īookends weren’t created until the 1870s. A good pair of antique, new or vintage bookends will look wonderful in your reading nook.

Blenko handmade grey owl bookends