Vintage Padfolio
1970s Moroccan Mid-Century Modern Vintage Padfolio
Leather
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Vintage Padfolio
Leather
People Also Browsed
Late 20th Century Vintage Padfolio
Lacquer
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Vintage Padfolio
Metal
20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Padfolio
Marble
Late 20th Century German Modern Vintage Padfolio
Gold, Stainless Steel
Late 20th Century German Art Deco Vintage Padfolio
Resin
1960s French Vintage Padfolio
Leather, Faux Leather
1960s Dutch Vintage Padfolio
Wood
Mid-17th Century Vintage Padfolio
Copper
19th Century Belgian Gothic Revival Vintage Padfolio
Art Glass, Stained Glass
17th Century Belgian Vintage Padfolio
Canvas
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Padfolio
Metal
Mid-19th Century French Vintage Padfolio
Mahogany, Oak
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Padfolio
Wood, Wool
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Padfolio
Metal
Late 17th Century Dutch Baroque Vintage Padfolio
Canvas
1950s Spanish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Padfolio
Metal
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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