The Belfry Guard — Gothic Bat Bookend, Dark Academia Bookshelf Decor

The Belfry Guard — Something rather nocturnal has taken up watch in the Archive.

A matched pair of Gothic bookends, each featuring a seated bat guardian perched upon a layered architectural base. Tall pointed ears, deeply ribbed inner-ear detailing, folded membrane wings and sculpted clawed feet give the pair plenty of character without losing their clean, functional form.

Repeating pointed arches run across the front of each base, with a larger central arch creating the appearance of a small fragment of Gothic architecture. The two bookends are correctly opposed: the bats face outwards while the tall inner panels sit against the books between them.

Because the two pieces remain separate, the distance between them can be adjusted to suit the books being displayed. Finished in matte black, the sculpted edges catch the light across the ears, wings, claws and architectural detailing without disguising the natural character of a 3D-printed piece.

Key details

• Each bookend measures approx. 15.9 cm wide × 16.0 cm high × 8.6 cm deep

• Exact model dimensions per bookend: 158.7 × 160.4 × 86.4 mm (width × height × depth)

• Supplied as one matched pair of bookends

• One left-hand and one right-hand bookend

• Adjustable spacing between the two separate pieces

• 3D-printed PLA construction

• Freestanding design with flat, stable bases

• Seated outward-facing bat guardian on each bookend

• Tall pointed ears with deeply ribbed inner detail

• Large folded wings with raised membrane ribs

• Sculpted front legs and clawed feet

• Tall, plain rectangular book-support panels

• Layered architectural bases

• Repeating Gothic arcade and larger central pointed-arch ornament

• Books and photographic props are not included

• Subtle layer texture and minor print variation are a natural part of the 3D-printing process

Finish options

• Matte Black — our standard finish. Deep matte PLA that holds shadow and shows every sculpted edge.

• Antique Silver — hand-painted, drybrushed by us in the workshop so the raised detail lifts and the recesses stay dark. Each one is done individually, so no two are ever quite the same.

• Antique Bronze — hand-painted, drybrushed by us in the workshop so the raised detail lifts and the recesses stay dark. Each one is done individually, so no two are ever quite the same.

• Other (message me) — the same hand-painted finish in colours of your choosing, for the same price. Send us a message before you order and tell us what you have in mind, and we will say honestly whether we can do it justice.

What's included

• 1 x matched pair of The Belfry Guard bookends in your chosen finish

• 1 x left-hand bookend and 1 x right-hand bookend

• Books, furniture and other decorative items shown in the photographs are not included

Made and posted in Ireland

Printed, finished and packed by the two of us in Dublin, and posted from Ireland — so EU orders arrive without customs charges or import delays. The Belfry Guard in matte black goes out in 1-3 working days; hand-painted finishes take 3-5, because the paint needs time to dry properly between coats.

Product safety

• Decorative freestanding bookends for indoor use only.

• Not a toy. Keep away from young children.

• Place both bookends on a stable, level surface.

• Keep away from excessive heat, open flames and prolonged direct sunlight — PLA can soften at high temperatures.

• Clean gently with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners and solvents, especially on a hand-painted finish.

• Handle the projecting ears, wings, claws and support panels with care.

• No specific load-bearing capacity is claimed.

• Materials: PLA. Hand-painted finishes also use acrylic paint and matt varnish.

• Due to the nature of 3D printing, minor layer lines and small variations in finish are normal and form part of the piece's character.

If anything isn't right

Every piece gets checked before it's packed. If something turns up damaged, or just isn't what you were hoping for, please send us a message — we're a two-person workshop and we would far rather hear from you and put it right.

Original model designed by Akshan Designs. Produced, hand-finished and sold by Gremlin Relics under a valid commercial licence.