Bookends

Bookends, usually used in pairs, are supports placed at the end of a row of books to hold them upright. Utilitarian objects used in libraries and homes, bookends are also decorative pieces that add variety and personality to collectors’ bookshelves.

The history of bookends is directly tied to the history of widespread literacy and book collecting in the modern world. During the 17th century, people from varying socioeconomic backgrounds began reading more and purchasing books for private consumption. The surge in literacy was largely due to the invention of the printing press, which allowed books to be printed quickly and sold at affordable prices. As people began collecting books and stacking them vertically on bookshelves, the need arose to prevent them from falling over as books were removed for use. Bookends solved this problem. They also presented an opportunity to decorate avid readers’ collections of reading materials in creative and inventive ways.

Bookends can be made from almost any heavy stone or material, such as marble, bronze, or dense wood. They often illustrate miniature versions of famous works of art or stand on their own as priceless decorative objects.

Quick Facts

• On November 6, 2013, Christie’s Amsterdam sold Juan Muñoz’s "Untitled (Bookends)" for $70,146
• In 1877, William Stebbins Barnard patented the sheet metal bookend used to this day in libraries and large private collections around the world
• The Gutenberg printing press was introduced around 1440, giving rise to widespread book collection and necessitating the use of bookends