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D'Argenta
Silver bookends on a marble counter

Bookends

Sculpture at the end of a row of books: a lion's face framed by a deep mane, mirror-bright parrots, a spiralling column and pre-Hispanic gods and rulers, finished by hand in silver and 24-karat gold.

Pieces from $7,520 to $31,940 MXN

Why bookends became sculpture

A bookend has to be heavy and stable enough to keep a row of books upright, which is why sculptural bookends have long been favourites in libraries and studies. Since the job demands weight, it makes sense to give that weight a face, a figure or a form worth looking at between the spines.

The Silver Lion Book End Statue is the classic of the collection: a lion's face framed by a thick, deeply textured mane, the darker recesses giving the fur its depth, set flat against the spines. Among lion bookends it is a traditional image in the best sense, and it sits naturally beside our Lion statues.

Parrots and a spiral

The Silver Parrot Statue - Toznene and the Silver Abstract Parrot Statue - Toznene are mirror images of each other, so together they face inwards like a pair. Each is a tall, flat-sided head in mirror-polished silver, with a round hollow eye and a hooked beak drawn as a curved opening.

The Motion Silver Sculpture is pure form: a polished cylinder wrapped in deep spiral grooves that seem to turn as the light moves. With the parrots it forms the modern side of the collection, unique bookends for a contemporary shelf or a desk.

Gods and rulers of ancient Mexico

The pre-Hispanic figures are dense with relief. The Silver Aztec Figure sits frontally under an enormous feathered headdress on a black stone plinth, and it is also offered in 24-karat gold. Tláloc, the Aztec god of rain, stands as a blocky, stela-like figure on a black plinth. Maya rulers were carved on stelae seated in niches, wearing elaborate crowns, and our Mayan King sits cross-legged in just such a niche, above a mask.

The Zapotecan Urn follows the effigy urns of the Zapotecs of Oaxaca, made around Monte Albán, which show seated figures under large headdresses. These Aztec bookends and their Maya and Zapotec neighbours connect with our Aztec art collection, and they bring a small history of ancient Mexico to a library shelf.

Frequently asked questions

Which pieces suit a modern shelf?

The Toznene parrots and Motion, all smooth, mirror-polished silver, belong to contemporary interiors; the lion and the pre-Hispanic figures, with their deep relief, suit a classic library. As bookends for shelves they can share one room, and our Shelf décor page offers more pieces for the same spot.

Is a bookend a good gift?

It is a classic gift for a reader, a writer, a lawyer or someone setting up a new study. The lion suits a traditional library, Motion a modern desk, and the pre-Hispanic figures anyone with a love of Mexican history. We ship throughout Mexico from Mexico City.

How are silver and gold bookends cared for?

A resistant lacquer protects the finish, so a soft, dry cloth is all it needs; metal polish is best avoided. Each piece is designed and finished by hand in Mexico City, where D'Argenta has worked since 1976, and carries a lifetime guarantee covering manufacturing defects.