Desk Accessories
1870s French Japonisme Antique Desk Accessories
Ormolu, Enamel
Late 20th Century Desk Accessories
Lacquer
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic
1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Plexiglass
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
Early 1900s British Antique Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Desk Accessories
Crystal
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Concrete
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Desk Accessories
Marble
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Stone, Onyx
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Silver
1980s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Belgian Black Marble, Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Stone, Silver
Because of heliocentric system theorized by Copernicus, it was possible to create mechanical antique orreries...
1860s Czech Antique Desk Accessories
Iron
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Bronze
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass, Murrine, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
Late 19th Century European Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Gold Plate, Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Oak
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Bakelite
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Marble, Bronze
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Wood
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Chrome
20th Century American Desk Accessories
Plastic, Teak
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories
Bronze
Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 19th Century British Antique Desk Accessories
Silver
20th Century Scottish Desk Accessories
Glass
1850s Italian Grand Tour Antique Desk Accessories
Belgian Black Marble
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Oak, Glass
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Bronze
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Horn
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Early 20th Century British Desk Accessories
Nickel
Antique, New and Vintage Desk Accessories
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.