Mail Holder Organizer
Vintage 1970s Decorative Boxes
Glass
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
Oak
Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Desk Sets
Wood
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Bookcases
Elm, Pine, Teak, Oak, Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Game Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Teak
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Aluminum
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Glass, Teak
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Teak
2010s American Louis XVI Daybeds
Upholstery, Maple, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Antique 19th Century British Victorian Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Teak
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Cabinets
Brass
Vintage 1950s Danish Shelves
Birch
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Secretaires
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
Teak
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century European Gothic Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Walnut
Vintage 1960s French Desk Accessories
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Desk Sets
Leather, Glass
Mid-20th Century French Desk Sets
Leather
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Brass, Silver Plate
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Chrome
Vintage 1970s American Letter Openers
Bamboo, Rattan
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
Marble
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Music Stands
Metal
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Magazine Racks and Stands
Steel
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Steel
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Magazine Racks and Stands
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Magazine Racks and Stands
Steel
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Magazine Racks and Stands
Steel
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desk Sets
Macassar
Finding the Right desk-accessories for You
Whether you’ve carved out a space for a nifty home office or you prefer the morning commute, why not dress up your desk with antique and vintage desk accessories? To best tiptoe the line between desk efficiency and desk enjoyment, we suggest adding a touch of the past to your modern-day space.
Desks are a funny thing. Their basic premise has remained the same for quite literally centuries: a flat surface, oftentimes a drawer, and potentially a shelf or two. However, the contents that lay upon the desk? Well, the evolution has been drastic to say the least.
Thank the Victorians for the initial popularity of the paperweight. The Industrial Revolution offered the novel concept of leisure-time to Europeans, giving them more time to take part in the then crucial activity of letter writing. Decorative glass paperweight designs were all the rage, and during the mid-19th-century some of the most popular makers included the French companies of Baccarat, St. Louis and Clichy.
As paper was exceedingly expensive in the early to mid-19th-century, every effort was made to utilize a full sheet of it. Paper knives, which gave way to the modern letter opener, were helpful for cutting paper down to an appropriate size.
Books — those bound volumes of paper, you may recall — used to be common occurrences on desks of yore and where there were books there needed to be bookends. As a luxury item, bookend designs have run the gamut from incorporating ultra-luxurious materials (think marble and Murano glass) to being whimsical desk accompaniments (animal figurines were highly popular choices).
Though the inkwell’s extinction was ushered in by the advent of the ballpoint pen (itself quasi-obsolete at this point), there is still significant charm to be had from placing one of these bauble-like objets in a central spot on one’s desk. You may be surprised to discover the mood-boosting powers an antique — and purposefully empty — inkwell can provide.
The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass-production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier.
Find antique and vintage desk accessories today on 1stDibs.
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