| Knights in armor, dragons and castles are just | | | | image of a dragon is that of a scaly reptilian beast |
| some of the popular styles of medieval bookends. | | | | with ferocious features and great strength. Some |
| Popular with collectors, replica artifacts of the | | | | portrayals of these mythical creatures claim the |
| Middle Ages, such as bookends, harkens back to | | | | ability of the dragon to breath fire. Dragons were |
| the days of enchantment and magic. Contests of | | | | thought to stand over sacred places and are |
| skill and bravery where jousting knights on mighty | | | | considered to be creatures possessing the |
| steeds would fight for honor, and perhaps the | | | | qualities of benevolence and even good fortune. |
| affections of the lady fair. Grand castles of stone | | | | Dragon figures are very popular among some |
| topped with imposing parapets. | | | | collectors especially as bookends and other |
| It was a time of King Arthur and the Knights of | | | | statuary. |
| the Round Table. The great and eternal quest for | | | | Castles have always captured our collective |
| Excalibur, the elusive Singing Sword fueled | | | | imagination. Great castles stand as symbols of |
| centuries of folk lore. All of these medieval | | | | great wealth and power. Throughout history, |
| themes can be found reflected in decorative and | | | | castles have marked the rise and fall of medieval |
| collectible bookends. | | | | fiefdoms. Some castle bookends are replicas of |
| The saga of Saint George slaying the infamous | | | | famous structures, while others may depict |
| dragon still endures as a legend of the great | | | | scenes of whimsy and fantasy. From the wonder |
| Crusades. Though the dragon was a creation of | | | | and splendor of Camelot to the darkness and |
| mythology, the story has stood as a metaphor of | | | | dour of medieval dungeons, castles stand as |
| the battle against evil, the saintly versus the | | | | reminders of a time of wonderment, treachery |
| serpent. Rising from a mythical lake in North | | | | and power. Castles are a very popular genre in |
| Africa, the legend has the dragon about to feast | | | | bookends and often made of stone types such |
| on a virgin girl who had been cast out by | | | | as granite. |
| superstitious villagers. Coming to the girls rescue, | | | | Another popular figure in medieval mythology is |
| Saint George is said to have dealt the dragon a | | | | the venerable wizard. Like witches and warlocks, |
| fatal blow and the rest, as they say, is legend. | | | | wizards were thought to possess powers of |
| The slaying of the mythical dragon is one of the | | | | good, evil or sometimes both. The most well |
| most persistent stories of the ages. Images | | | | known wizard has to be Merlin. The legend on |
| depicting the great encounter have been the | | | | Merlin the Wizard plays heavily in stories of King |
| subject of artwork from tapestries to collectible | | | | Arthur. |
| bookends. Whether portrayed with a great sword | | | | A number of accounts about this wizard portray |
| or a lance, images of St. George can be found | | | | him as the antichrist as least a bitter and |
| across the globe. Images of the fierce struggle | | | | enigmatic sorcerer. Other stories claim that Merlin |
| between man and beast grace the halls of fine | | | | was a notorious shape shifter, able to turn himself |
| art museums. Some collectible book ends capture | | | | into any number of creatures. Wizard bookends |
| the scene in great detail and are highly prized by | | | | have been on the must have list of collectors for |
| mythology enthusiasts and collectors of medieval | | | | centuries, emblematic of a combination of |
| keepsakes. | | | | supernatural power, magic and whimsy. |
| Dragons of all kinds are popular among collectors. | | | | Collectible medieval bookends can add to your |
| Human history is filled with stories and myths | | | | book collection a sense of the days of yore. |
| about these fierce some creatures. The common | | | | |