Murano Glass Pen Holder
Vintage 1970s European Paperweights
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Vases
Metal, Gold Plate
Antique 1870s Italian Belle Époque Glass
Blown Glass, Art Glass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Gold
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Crystal, Brass
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Early 20th Century Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Glass
Vintage 1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Figurative Sculptures
Art Glass, Cut Glass
Antique Late 19th Century German Renaissance Revival Pitchers
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century French Country Animal Sculptures
Iron
Late 20th Century Italian Glass
Crystal
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Flush Mount
Glass
Vintage 1950s English Mid-Century Modern Glass
Blown Glass
Late 20th Century Russian Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
Murano Glass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Chrome
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Wood
Late 20th Century Finnish Scandinavian Modern Animal Sculptures
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Brass
Vintage 1910s English Edwardian Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass
Recent Sales
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Dishes and Vide-P...
Gold Leaf
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Glass
Murano Glass
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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