Early 20th Century Desk Accessories

A gorgeous pair of Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period patinated bronze Graduate pattern blotter ends, with a custom brown leather desk blotter. By Tiffany Studios (signed to the under...

Mughal ladies Tom Pouce lighter designed by Cartier. Fabulous and extremely rare ladies cylindrical gasoline lighter. Created in Paris during the art deco period by the house of Cartier, back in the middle of the 1920's. This miniature Tom Pouce lighter, takes its name from the classic short fairy tales by the Grimm's brothers, Tom Thumb (Tom Pouce being the French translation). It was crafted with Champlevé colored enamels over rustic bronze and accented with details in yellow gold of 18 karats. Embellished with natural lapis lazuli and an emerald. The main outside body is decorated with organics elements and figures of red and blue birds. Gorgeous look and surely a great conversation piece which is accompanied by the round Cartier red box. Champlevé, in the decorative arts, is an enameling technique or an object made by the champlevé process, which consists of cutting away troughs or cells in a metal plate and filling the depressions with pulverized vitreous enamel. The raised metal lines between the cutout areas form the design outline. Emerald: Accented on top in a bezel setting, with 1 square faceted cut of a natural green emerald of about 0.15 carats. Lapis: Mount with 1 flat round cabochon cut, carved from lapis lazuli of about 1.25 carats. Birthstone: Emerald for the month of May. Weight: 21.95 Grams, (14.07 Dwt). Measurements: Have a diameter of 16 mm and a height of 33 mm (0.63 x 1.30 Inches). Hallmarks Stamped with the maker's mark, the serial numbers, the French taxation mark for luxury items BL inside a rectangular cartouche and signed, "CARTIER 5554", stamped with matching cases numbers, 13 & 13. Ministere Des Finances Lighter Tax 1911-1945 Note: On 10th December 1910 the French state adopted a new tax regulations on all devices indented to produce spark or fire by friction, or by any other means, and of the combustion of a flammable substance. Since 1st January 1911 every lighter in France that was intended for sale in the French market had to be taxed and adequately marked. To confirm that the excise duty was paid to the Ministry of Finance a special duty metal plate (stamp) was attached (usually welded) to the lighter by the lighter manufacturers. The fees charged by the French state were high but the tax rates levied by the state were varying depending on the type and finish of the lighter. Following tax rates were used: 2 French francs for common pocket lighters, 5 Fr for pocket lighters made of silver, 20 Fr for luxury pocket lighters (e.g. made of gold), 5 Fr for common table/desk lighters (over 10 cm), 10 Fr for table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of silver, 50 Fr for luxury table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of gold or platinum. Between 1911 and 1916 a simple copper plate was used which had the date 1911 engraved. Later, between 1916 and 1945 a new plate (undated) was introduced with the letters "C" and "I" (stands for indirect taxes) and a profile of Mercury (patron god of financial gain, commerce and messengers) with an inscription "Ministère Des Finances" (eng. Ministry of Finance). Two shapes were used for the plate – oval for table lighters, the other one for pocket lighters. Additional to the two duty plates a marking "BL" (Briquet de Luxe, eng. luxury lighter) was introduced in 1926. It was a small hallmark which was considered as more discreet and applied only on luxury lighters like Quercia or Lancel. It is worth to mention that France was not the sole country where lighters were taxed and marked with special plates...

A gorgeous antique bronze Graduate pattern desk pen tray with verdigris green patina By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 8.75"...

Vintage Erika Model 10 Germany Pearl Green Manual Portable Typewriter in Case. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 6.5" H x 14.5" W x 15" D.

Enameled box by Louis Kuppenheim for Cartier Paris. Very rare box, created during the art deco period in the city of Pforzheim Germany, back in the 1930. This beautiful box was specially commissioned by the Cartier branch in Paris France to the Louis Kuppenheim silversmith workshop. It was crafted with impeccable details in solid .935/.999 silver, with gilded finish in the interior and high polished frames. Has an exceptional workmanship as you expect of the workshop of Louis Kuppenheim, with a remarkable geometric composition made up with in blue and black enamels. It is fitted with nine barrels invisible hinges and a push snap thumb for opening. This box is very rare and involves three big names in their manufacture, such; Cartier, Louis Kuppenheim and Alfred Dunhill. Weight: 128.40 Grams, (82.31 Dwt). Measurements: 83 mm by 58 mm by 12 mm (3.27 x 2.28 x 0.47 Inches). Hallmarks: Stamped with French marks, the maker's mark LK inside an oval cartouche associated to the workshop of Louis Kuppenheim, which is obliterated by the mark AD associated to Alfred Dunhill Paris, twice with the French national mark for the assay of the .935 silver, the case model number, the Cartier serial numbers and signed in full, "CARTIER MADE IN FRANCE STERLING No3277 LK/AD .935". Louis Kuppenheim The company was grounded in 1854 by Louis Kuppenheim (1824-1889) and Heinrich Witzenmann, specialized in silver and gold and enameled artefacts. On the World Exhibition in 1900 the firm received a gold medal for a letter opener. In that same year the company opened a branch in the Rue Richelieu 67 in Paris. In these years some designs by Hans Christiansen were executed, amongst them very delicately enameled silver cigarette cases...

An unusual brass desk top, mantelpiece or shelf curio. Likely England or France, c1900s. Raised over a black marble bass, this details desk top model of a street lantern has ...

This very well executed cast and cold-painted bronze and brass book stand is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Austria and dating to approximately 1920 and done in a per...

The entire machine is expertly disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, all repaired and fully functional The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the age...

A desk clock designed by Tiffany & Co. A beautiful elegant desk clock, created in New York city by Tiffany & Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1928. This stunning piece ...

Bone china Ordinary York cup by Daisy Making-Jones for Wedgwood Decorated on the outer with a trio of hand painted and gilded butterflies, a ground of...

Particular inkwell made in Germany in 1900, green and blue enameled parts, decorated with floreal motifs.

Early 20th century English desk set made of a carved oak platform with a black lacquer surface embellished with silver plate details. Form fitting inserts hold a pair of square cryst...

Artist: Franz Xaver Bergmann Sculpture: Crocodile This wonderful life-like little sculpture of a crocodile is actually a most convenient paperweight, and a perfect desk accesso...

Very elegant French Art Deco Inkwell in gilt bronze and portor black marble with its white and golden veins. The inkwell stands on three beautiful round gilt bronze feet. It has a pe...

A Tiffany Studios New York glass and bronze "Poppy" table lamp featuring a leaded glass shade depicting crimson red poppy blossoms with multi-hued green leaves against a mottled oran...