Shelf brackets, usually only useful and not decorative, are only noticed when they fail, and the shelf and contents hit the floor. But there are some interesting decorative shelf brackets on the marketplace. These are usually in some form of gingerbread, meaning with swirls and curls, that seen in profile, add a lot of detail to the shelf it holds up without getting in the way.

Shelf brackets usually consist of a right angle piece and a brace between the arms of the angle. It can be made from metal or wood. The important qualities of the material the bracket is made from is stiffness and load bearing capability. Metal shelf brackets are usually made from aluminum, cast iron and brass. Wood shelf brackets can generally be made from any kind of wood, and can be stained to match the shelves.

Although some decorative shelf brackets have both arms of the right angle piece the same length, many have one longer than the other. The space between the 90 degree angle usually has at least one cross piece to brace the load bearing arm. Often the brace takes the form of a simple curly-cue, or a more complex design of vines and leaves or a quarter of a compass rose. Unless the brace design dictates otherwise, a shelf bracket can usually be installed with the long arm either vertically or horizontally. Which way depends on the width of the shelf. The arm holding the shelf should not be longer the the shelf is wide, or a protrusion is left that may catch on things going by or cause damage to anything falling onto it. For best results the shelf should be attached to the shelf bracket, forming a solid connection between the shelf, the self bracket and the wall stud.

Minimalist shelf brackets consist of the brace alone. These are screwed into the wall stud and the shelf to make the shelf stable. Without the 90 degree arms of other shelf brackets, the brace without the angle piece will not be stable unless it is attached to both the wall and the shelf. Glass shelf brackets and floating shelf brackets hold the shelf from the back edge and depend on the stiffness of the shelf itself to bear most of the load. They can be overloaded, so make sure to check the load maximum and do not exceed it.

Are shelf brackets really collectible? Do a quick search and you will see a lot of different designs. Once there are more than two possibilities, an object becomes collectible, as far as I am concerned. A collection of metal shelf brackets could not only be used to create shelves to hold other collectibles and books about collectibles, but they could be hung flat against the wall like pictures. Arranged in a pattern, shelf brackets would be as interesting as, or more interesting than, family pictures, especially those 60′s color studio portraits that changed color. Making a design of four would be easy, given the right angle inherent in these collectibles.

Old metal shelf brackets and replicas are available in many stores and retain outlets. If you know any woodworkers, you can probably get custom made wood shelf brackets, and there are books with plans and diagrams to do it yourself. Shelf brackets do not have to be boring. Even modern styles can be incorporated into shelf brackets and added to your decor.

* * * Another metallic collectible is door knockers. * * *

* * * Wrought iron chandeliers enhance you living space, both inside and out. * * *

Go to the Table of Contents to see all the topics covered so far.

Click American collectibles to go to the latest entry on this site.