Guard Dog Resin Bookend Set

Bookends are one of those objects that are almost always either purely functional or purely decorative, rarely both. This pair manages both. Two black resin dogs sit alert at either end of a row of books, heads up and shoulders squared, and the weight that keeps the books upright is exactly what gives them their presence on the shelf. Take the books away and they still look deliberate.

The finish is a deep matt black with the modelling picked out in the surface rather than in colour, which is what stops them tipping into novelty. They read as sculpture at a distance and as characters up close. On a shelf of paperbacks they add a bit of wit; on a console table or a desk they work equally well simply as a facing pair with nothing between them.

Each set measures 27cm long, 9.5cm wide and 19cm high overall, substantial enough to hold a full run of hardbacks without sliding. Cast resin gives the density needed for the job while keeping the detail crisp. Wipe with a soft dry cloth; avoid solvents and abrasive cleaners, which will dull the finish. They are decorative objects with some weight to them, so place them securely on a stable shelf and keep them out of reach of small children.

• Pair of sculptural bookends in cast resin, matt black finish
• Overall dimensions 27 x 9.5 x 19cm
• Weighted to hold a full run of hardback books upright
• Suits shelves, desks, console tables and mantelpieces
• Wipe clean with a soft dry cloth; avoid solvents and abrasives
• Decorative object, not a toy - keep out of reach of small children
• Place securely on a stable, level shelf