Ship Cleat Bookends Appraisal

Nautical Polished Brass Cleat and Rope Bookends

This is a pair of vintage-style nautical bookends, featuring a distinctive maritime aesthetic. Each bookend is constructed with a L-shaped solid wood base, likely mahogany or a similar dense hardwood, showing a rich, warm reddish-brown grain. Mounted onto the wood is a pair of polished yellow brass fittings: a traditional horn cleat on the horizontal base and a cylindrical post on the vertical upright. A thick, three-strand natural cotton twisted rope is looped around the cleat and tensioned through the vertical post, mimicking a docking line. The brass elements exhibit a high-mirror polish with minimal visible tarnish, suggesting well-maintained lacquer or recent cleaning. The woodwork shows sharp, clean edges with a matte finish. There are no obvious maker's marks or stamps visible in the current view, but the craftsmanship suggests mid-to-late 20th-century production, possibly 1970s or 1980s. The condition appears excellent with light surface wear consistent with age, and no visible fraying to the rope. The scale is suitable for standard hardcover books, providing a heavy, stable support platform.