1949 Desk Phone
Vintage 1940s Swedish Desk Sets
Steel
Vintage 1940s Danish Desk Sets
Steel
Recent Sales
20th Century Swedish Art Deco More Desk Accessories
Copper
Vintage 1940s Swedish Desk Sets
Steel
Vintage 1940s Swedish Desk Sets
Steel
People Also Browsed
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Carts and Bar Carts
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Benches
Cord, Hardwood
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Side Tables
Marble, Brass
Antique Early 1900s French Vanities
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century English Neoclassical Revival Musical Instruments
Bronze
2010s European Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Animal Sculptures
Crystal, Gold Plate, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Bamboo, Rattan, Wicker
Antique 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Beds and Bed Frames
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Desks and Writing Tables
Birch
Antique 19th Century Chinese Beds and Bed Frames
Gold Leaf
Antique Early 1900s French Neoclassical Revival Centerpieces
Wood
20th Century French Vases
Crystal
Antique 18th Century English Neoclassical Console Tables
Alabaster, Marble, Gold Leaf
Antique 19th Century Chinese Console Tables
Elm
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.
Read More
How a Craving for Color Revolutionized Glass
After synthetic dyes changed fashion, home goods and printed matter, it was only a matter of time till glass caught up.
Kazuyo Sejima’s Flowering Tree Blooms Year-Round
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
He Wrote ‘Oedipus Rex,’ but Do You Know What He Looked Like?
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Cigar Culture Was Once the Peak of Masculinity. Now, It’s a Compelling Curiosity
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
African Travel Plans on Hold? This Ardmore Leopard Vase Brings the Beauty of the Savanna to You
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
With a High-Tech Flagship and Cool Collabs, Lladró Is Breaking the Mold for Porcelain Production
Thanks to its new leadership, the Spanish maker of figurines, busts and lighting is on a mission to update the art of porcelain for the 21st century.
Zoë Powell’s Magnolia 05 Vessel Is Handmade from Clay She Unearthed Herself
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.
8 Ways to Breathe New Life into a Space with Plants
The pair behind the Instagram account @houseplantclub share their tips for making any room of the house gloriously green.