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Bookends (Outlet)

$89.00$69.00

Handmade Solid Mid-Century Modern Wood Bookends in Natural Walnut or Layered Edge-Grain Baltic Birch

  • This is an outlet item and may have minor blemishes
  • Up to 150 layers of solid Baltic birch — each pair reads as a small architectural object
  • Substantial enough to hold a book collection or a stack of LPs
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Handcrafted in Minneapolis — ships in ~1-3 business days (as of 07/13/2026). .

Lead Times

The truth is, good furniture takes time.

Every Relic Modern™  piece is built by me, start to finish, in my Minneapolis studio — no warehouse, no assembly line. I select and mill the lumber, join, sand, and finish each piece by hand. That care takes time, but it's also why the wait exists: it's the difference between something pulled off a shelf and something built for you, by hand, meant to last generations.

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About this Piece

Approximately 75 individual layers of Baltic birch are stacked into each walnut bookend, with the layered edge-grain version pushing that closer to 150. Each pair reads as a small architectural object — a wedge of layered wood with the construction left visible. Sold as a pair, either with a walnut face or a layered edge-grain face. Substantial enough to hold a Vonnegut collection or a stack of LPs on a bookshelf, shelf, or mantel.

These bookends sit in mid-century modern lineage — a nod to the layered Baltic birch and exposed-edge style that Charles and Ray Eames brought into modern wood furniture in the 1940s, scaled down here to fit on a shelf, a mantel, or an entry console. They make a strong gift for a reader, a record collector, or anyone furnishing a first home — substantial, handmade, and built to last decades. A cork pad on the underside grips the surface to keep the pair in place under a typical row of books or LPs.

Finished with a hand-rubbed oil and wax blend, the piece has a matte, warm look that enhances the natural grain of the walnut or the layered edge-grain.

American Made · Ships Free

Dimensions

Overall

  • 4 ¾"H × 3"W × 4 ¾"D, approximately 2 lbs each
  • Sold as a pair
Materials

(01) Wood (Walnut Face): 75-layer laminated Baltic birch stack with walnut face

(02) Wood (Edge-Grain Face): 150-layer edge-grain Baltic birch (striped face)

(03) Finish: pure tung oil, boiled linseed oil, beeswax, carnauba wax — a durable, water-resistant matte finish that feels like silky-smooth wood

Product FAQ

(01) Can I buy a single bookend, or mix the two styles? Bookends are sold as a matched pair — either two walnut or two edge-grain — to keep the layered construction reading consistently across both ends of a shelf. For a single bookend or a custom mismatched pair, reach out directly.

(02) How long does shipping take? This piece is made in batches and ready to ship from Minneapolis. Current lead time is listed in the box above the Add to Cart button. See Shipping, Pickup & Returns for details.

(03) Will the wood color change over time? Yes — for the walnut variant. The walnut face will deepen and take on warmer, reddish tones over the first year or two. This is a natural characteristic of the species and part of what makes the piece feel alive. The hand-rubbed oil and wax finish supports this patina rather than sealing it off. The layered edge-grain variant won't shift much over time — the striped face stays close to its original tone.

(04) Will these actually hold my books up? The cork pad on the underside grips the shelf well, so the pair holds its place under a typical row of books or LPs.

(05) How do I care for this piece? A damp cloth is all that's needed for cleaning — no furniture polishes. The piece can be refreshed with a bit of furniture wax when it feels dry. Additional details are on the FAQ page.

Meet Justin

The Maker Behind Every Piece

Real Furniture,Made by Real Hands

I build every piece by hand in my Minneapolis workshop — one maker, one standard, no shortcuts. While big-box stores fill warehouses with particle board and mass-produced templates, Relic Modern™ starts with real, high-quality wood and ends with something built to last. Some things are worth buying from a real person.

Original Designs
Stale, Recycled Templates
Hand-Built Craftsmanship
Factory Assembly Lines
Real, High-Quality Wood
Particle Board & Cheap Fillers
Built to Last a Lifetime
Disposable by Design

Mid-century modern isn't a trend — it's a discipline. Clean lines, reasonable proportions, and modest, organic shapes. At Relic Modern™, that means stripping every design down to its essential form and building it from high-quality Baltic birch with walnut or maple faces, finished with a hand-rubbed oil and wax blend that lets the wood speak for itself.