The polished black obsidian is absolutely striking — it has a mirror-like depth that photographs don't capture. The gold geometric inlays catch the reading lamp light beautifully. They're heavy enough to hold a full shelf of hardcovers without budging. Worth the investment for any serious bibliophile.

The craftsmanship is superb. The gold inlays are brushed rather than polished, which gives a more understated look than I expected. The obsidian colour is slightly warmer than the website photos suggest, but honestly it works even better in our walnut-panelled study.