Weighing in at 2 1/4 pounds each, these sturdy bookends are made from cast iron, taking the form of a sleekly stylized cat. Made by skilled craftspersons in Takaoka City in the Toyama prefecture of Japan, they're ready to hold up books and can also be used individually as doorstops. Finished with the traditional Japanese lacquer glaze known as urushi, the antique gold look finish is applied by hand, so some variation is characteristic. Felt tabs on the base help protect the surface they are placed on.