Archive review: This retrospective assessment uses surviving Hirst & Hirst records and contemporary press material. It is not a claim that the product is currently stocked or newly tested.
What was it?
Susan Bradley’s folded metal bookend turns the Statue of Liberty into a strong vertical silhouette. Hirst & Hirst stocked it alongside British city and transport designs, and it was selected for national press coverage in 2012.
Design and usefulness
The flat colour and recognisable outline do the visual work, while the horizontal base disappears beneath the books. It is more graphic than sculptural and best suited to a short row of medium-weight books.
What worked
- Immediately recognisable silhouette
- Functional folded-metal construction
- Compact footprint
- Contemporary press record survives
Points to consider
- Archive photograph includes press markings
- Painted metal can chip
- Tall narrow silhouette may bend if overloaded
Buying or collecting one today
Check that the upright is still square to the base, that the powder-coated finish is intact and that the thin edges have not been distorted.
Hirst & Hirst verdict
A simple idea executed with enough confidence to make a useful object feel architectural.
Primary archive source: view the surviving Hirst & Hirst record.
Archive & sourcing note
Retrospective archive review. Hirst & Hirst no longer sells this product and has not retested a current example.
View the surviving Hirst & Hirst archive source (opens original archive).