I found this pair while browsing eBay for shelf objects, and vintage brass duck bookends have a confidence I admire. They are useful, shiny, and just odd enough to keep a row of hardcovers from taking itself too seriously.
The amusement is in the assignment: two ducks holding literature in place. That is not the first solution anyone would propose, which is precisely why it works.
Why it caught my eye: heavy brass decor has a way of making even a small bookshelf feel collected instead of merely filled.
Best for: home libraries, vintage brass collectors, and people whose shelves could use a little structured whimsy.