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A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s

A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s

Located in Berghuelen, DE

A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s Item e7286 A nicely carved Black Forest bear

Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Wood

Exquisite Rococo Gilt-Bronze Malachite Encrier Inkwell Desk Set ca. 1880
Exquisite Rococo Gilt-Bronze Malachite Encrier Inkwell Desk Set ca. 1880

Exquisite Rococo Gilt-Bronze Malachite Encrier Inkwell Desk Set ca. 1880

Located in Shippensburg, PA

ROCOCO ORMOLU-MOUNTED MALACHITE VENEERED ENCRIER Circa 1880 unmarked of exceedingly fine quality Item # 404XKP19B An exceedingly fine malachite veneered encrier (inkwell), it feat...

Category

19th Century Rococo Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu

Rare 19th Century "Yachting" Maritime Desk Set with Historic Monogram
Rare 19th Century "Yachting" Maritime Desk Set with Historic Monogram

Rare 19th Century "Yachting" Maritime Desk Set with Historic Monogram

Located in London, GB

A rare nautical desk set The lockable oak felt-lined case, embossed with the initials 'AL' of

Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Silver Plate, Metal

Twelve 19th Century Painted and Gilt Metal Desk Accessories
Twelve 19th Century Painted and Gilt Metal Desk Accessories

Twelve 19th Century Painted and Gilt Metal Desk Accessories

Located in London, GB

In a time of computers and technology, this antique desk set harks back to a more romantic period

Category

Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Metal

Edwardian Cock / Barometer/ Thermometer Desk Set
Edwardian Cock / Barometer/ Thermometer Desk Set

Edwardian Cock / Barometer/ Thermometer Desk Set

Located in Norwich, GB

Housed in a gilded case standing on a raised, moulded rouge marble base with brass banding surmounted by a decorative gilded carrying handle. The clock to the left with enamel dial, ...

Category

1910s French Edwardian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century French Spelter and Walnut Desk Garniture Set
Early 20th Century French Spelter and Walnut Desk Garniture Set

Early 20th Century French Spelter and Walnut Desk Garniture Set

Located in Dallas, TX

Decorate a desk or study with this charming antique desk accessory set crafted in France, circa

Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Spelter

NAPOLEON III Antique 1870 French Desk Tray Set In Gray Marble And Gilt Ormolu
NAPOLEON III Antique 1870 French Desk Tray Set In Gray Marble And Gilt Ormolu

NAPOLEON III Antique 1870 French Desk Tray Set In Gray Marble And Gilt Ormolu

By Napoléon III

Located in Miami, FL

A Napoleon III desk set in marble and ormolu. This is a beautiful and flamboyant desk tray set

Category

1870s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Gold, Ormolu

Tiffany Studios New York Heraldic Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter
Tiffany Studios New York Heraldic Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter

Tiffany Studios New York Heraldic Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

nicely with Art Deco, Arts & Crafts, or Art Nouveau decor. This rare Tiffany desk set features

Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios New York Heraldic Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter
Tiffany Studios New York Heraldic Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter

Tiffany Studios New York Heraldic Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

with Art Deco, Arts & Crafts, or Art Nouveau decor. This rare Tiffany desk set features decorative

Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Art Deco Bronze Seal and Ink Tray by Sadoux
Art Deco Bronze Seal and Ink Tray by Sadoux

Art Deco Bronze Seal and Ink Tray by Sadoux

Located in New York, NY

A Bronze desk set with "Antico" patina and gold-plated flower decoration from 1925 period: seal

Category

1920s French Art Deco Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Cast Stone

Grand French Three-Piece Desk Set, Hand Painted Porcelain Inset, circa 1860
Grand French Three-Piece Desk Set, Hand Painted Porcelain Inset, circa 1860

Grand French Three-Piece Desk Set, Hand Painted Porcelain Inset, circa 1860

Located in Bath, GB

Wonderful to find a top-notch, highly decorative and most unusual desk set, French in origin dating

Category

1860s French Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Simmons Brushed Steel Sheraton Series Desk Vanity Set
Simmons Brushed Steel Sheraton Series Desk Vanity Set

Simmons Brushed Steel Sheraton Series Desk Vanity Set

By Simmons Company Furniture

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Early 20th century, Sheraton Series vanity or desk set by Simmons Company Furniture features an

Category

Early 20th Century American Sheraton Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Steel

Tiffany Studios New York Pine Needle Bronze Doré and Slag Glass Eight-Piece Desk
Tiffany Studios New York Pine Needle Bronze Doré and Slag Glass Eight-Piece Desk

Tiffany Studios New York Pine Needle Bronze Doré and Slag Glass Eight-Piece Desk

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

glass desk set. The eight-piece set includes: inkwell, pen brush, letter rack, calendar frame, large

Category

1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Samuel Alcock Writing Desk Set Coalbrookdale Porcelain Encrusted Flowers, ca1830
Samuel Alcock Writing Desk Set Coalbrookdale Porcelain Encrusted Flowers, ca1830

Samuel Alcock Writing Desk Set Coalbrookdale Porcelain Encrusted Flowers, ca1830

By Samuel Alcock & Co.

Located in London, GB

A complete writing desk set in the Coalbrookdale style with lavishly encrusted flowers, consisting

Category

1830s English Rococo Revival Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century French Longwy Ceramic Inkwell
19th Century French Longwy Ceramic Inkwell

19th Century French Longwy Ceramic Inkwell

By Faïenceries et Emaux de Longwy

Located in Winter Park, FL

A 19th century French Longwy ceramic desk set with inkwells and candle holders. Beautiful cloisonné

Category

19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Ceramic

French Victorian Gilt Brass Desk Set with Globe
French Victorian Gilt Brass Desk Set with Globe

French Victorian Gilt Brass Desk Set with Globe

Located in San Francisco, CA

An unusual French gilt brass inkwell in the Art Nouveau style with 2 inkwells centered by a terrestrial 3" diameter globe. Globe is signed M. Vivien de St. Martin. Inkwells lack line...

Category

Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Desk Blotter Ends
Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Desk Blotter Ends

Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Desk Blotter Ends

By Louis Comfort Tiffany, Tiffany Studios

Located in New York, NY

New York" with respective model number Literature: Tiffany Desk Sets by William R. Holland, Atglen, PA

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Tiffany Studios New York Pine Needle Bronze Doré and Slag Glass Nine-Piece Desk
Tiffany Studios New York Pine Needle Bronze Doré and Slag Glass Nine-Piece Desk

Tiffany Studios New York Pine Needle Bronze Doré and Slag Glass Nine-Piece Desk

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

glass desk set. The nine-piece set includes: inkwell, pen brush, letter rack, pen tray, desk box

Category

1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Polished Brass Islamic Moorish Style Desk Inkwells Set
Polished Brass Islamic Moorish Style Desk Inkwells Set

Polished Brass Islamic Moorish Style Desk Inkwells Set

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Early 20th century desk set, rare and great quality Mamluk Cairoware style, silver and copper

Category

19th Century Lebanese Moorish Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Antique French Neoclassical Revival Style Desk & Chair Set w/Original Finish
Antique French Neoclassical Revival Style Desk & Chair Set w/Original Finish

Antique French Neoclassical Revival Style Desk & Chair Set w/Original Finish

Located in Atlanta, GA

A French Neoclassical style desk and chair set, with their original painted finish, from the early

Category

Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Wood

Napoleon III Period Gilt-Bronze and Crystal Inkwell Set, circa 1870
Napoleon III Period Gilt-Bronze and Crystal Inkwell Set, circa 1870

Napoleon III Period Gilt-Bronze and Crystal Inkwell Set, circa 1870

Located in Atlanta, GA

A gilt-bronze and crystal desk set of the Napoleon III period. Composed of two crystal ink wells, a

Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Leather desk organiser
Leather desk organiser

Leather desk organiser

Located in MILL, NL

Desk organiser / Letter tray. Fully upholstered in green/brown leather with gold lettering. From

Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Leather

Italian Art Nouveau style desk and chair set
Italian Art Nouveau style desk and chair set

Italian Art Nouveau style desk and chair set

Located in Milano, IT

Italian Art Nouveau set from the early 1900s - Elegant carved wooden desk and chairs with floral

Category

Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Victorian Ormolu Clock and Barometer Desk Set, of Maritime or Naval Interest

Victorian Ormolu Clock and Barometer Desk Set, of Maritime or Naval Interest

Located in London, GB

Each in the form of a ship's wheel with 2.5 inch silvered dial, contained in cases, one with seven turned banded agate handles, the other with eight banded agate handles, each on ova...

Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Agate, Ormolu

A Large Desk Blotter A great piece of desk furniture
A Large Desk Blotter A great piece of desk furniture

A Large Desk Blotter A great piece of desk furniture

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

A Large Desk Blotter A great piece of desk furniture, the blotter has simulated book spines in

Category

19th Century Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Leather

Traveling Desk Box
Traveling Desk Box

Traveling Desk Box

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This Georgian period traveling desk from circa 1820, crafted in England, features an Italiante

Category

1820s English Early Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Wood

English Victorian Brass Desk Calendar
English Victorian Brass Desk Calendar

English Victorian Brass Desk Calendar

Located in Queens, NY

English Victorian brass and oak rectangular desk calendar.

Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Leather desk organizer 19th century
Leather desk organizer 19th century

Leather desk organizer 19th century

Located in MILL, NL

French Letter Box Fully covered in leather. Particularly beautiful colour and patina. In very good condition. Originally from France, 19th century. Price: 23H x 25W x 15D

Category

19th Century Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Leather

Impressive Antique Coromandel Desk Stand
Impressive Antique Coromandel Desk Stand

Impressive Antique Coromandel Desk Stand

Located in Ipswich, GB

Impressive Antique Coromandel and mother of pearl desk stand dating back to the Victorian era. The

Category

Early 19th Century Early Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

Mid 19thC Coramandel Inkwell Stand/Desk Tidy
Mid 19thC Coramandel Inkwell Stand/Desk Tidy

Mid 19thC Coramandel Inkwell Stand/Desk Tidy

Located in Altrincham, GB

Mid 19thC Coramandel Inkwell Stand/Desk Tidy with Mother of Pearl Inlays, Original Ink Bottle all

Category

Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Zebra Wood

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand / Desk Standish
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand / Desk Standish

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand / Desk Standish

By Edward Barnard & Sons

Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne

A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver inkstand / desk

Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Desk accessories, France, French 19th Century
Desk accessories, France, French 19th Century

Desk accessories, France, French 19th Century

Located in PARIS, FR

Lovely damascened metal smoking kit composed of a tray with branch-shaped handles and four removable containers. It’s adorned with flowers, red and gilt orientalist pattern friezes. ...

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Metal

Rare 18th Century Georgian Mahogany Book Carrier Desk Stand
Rare 18th Century Georgian Mahogany Book Carrier Desk Stand

Rare 18th Century Georgian Mahogany Book Carrier Desk Stand

Located in Bedfordshire, GB

An Extremely Rare 18th Century Mahogany George III Period Book Carrier, Or Desk Stand Tidy, Having

Category

Mid-18th Century English George II Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Mahogany

Late 19th Century Desk Box -  Bayley's England
Late 19th Century Desk Box -  Bayley's England

Late 19th Century Desk Box - Bayley's England

Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant

A beautiful antique desk box. Made of wood, covered with leather with beautiful gold details. Fine

Category

1890s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Copper

French Art Deco Bronze Lioness/Panther Desk Calendar, 1920
French Art Deco Bronze Lioness/Panther Desk Calendar, 1920

French Art Deco Bronze Lioness/Panther Desk Calendar, 1920

Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR

French Art Deco Desk Calendar with Lioness / Panther – Silverplate Bronze and Marble, France, 1920s

Category

1920s Art Deco Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Mid 19th Century campaign camphor metamorphic lap desk
Mid 19th Century campaign camphor metamorphic lap desk

Mid 19th Century campaign camphor metamorphic lap desk

Located in Debenham, Suffolk

Rare and good quality Chinese export camphor wood writing desk, circa 1860. Brass bound around the

Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Campaign Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

Roycroft Arts & Crafts Copper Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter
Roycroft Arts & Crafts Copper Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter

Roycroft Arts & Crafts Copper Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter

By Roycroft

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous set of Arts & Crafts period brass finished hand hammered copper blotter corners with

Category

1920s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass, Copper

Pair Of 1920s French Art Deco Marble Desk Organizers
Pair Of 1920s French Art Deco Marble Desk Organizers

Pair Of 1920s French Art Deco Marble Desk Organizers

Located in High Point, NC

This pair of 1920s French Art Deco marble desk organizers exemplifies the era’s fascination with

Category

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Marble

Large Antique Oak Perpetual Desk Calendar. English, C.1900
Large Antique Oak Perpetual Desk Calendar. English, C.1900

Large Antique Oak Perpetual Desk Calendar. English, C.1900

Located in St Annes, Lancashire

A fabulous oak desk calendar Lovely colour of oak Original patina. Not re-polished Good

Category

1890s English Edwardian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Oak

Roycroft Arts & Crafts Silver Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter
Roycroft Arts & Crafts Silver Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter

Roycroft Arts & Crafts Silver Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter

By Roycroft

Located in South Bend, IN

ends with a custom blue leather desk blotter By Roycroft (blotter ends signed with impressed orb and

Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Blotter Ends Early 20th Century
Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Blotter Ends Early 20th Century

Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Blotter Ends Early 20th Century

By Tiffany Studios

Located in Fulton, CA

A pair of bronze Tiffany Studios "Zodiac" desk pad blotters. Very nice original condition and

Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Desk Calendar Holder
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Desk Calendar Holder

Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Desk Calendar Holder

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period gilt bronze desk calendar holder or picture

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios New York Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter
Tiffany Studios New York Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter

Tiffany Studios New York Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous set of four Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period silvered bronze and abalone blotter corners

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Spanish Colonial Inlaid Travel Desk, Wood and Iron, 17th Century
Spanish Colonial Inlaid Travel Desk, Wood and Iron, 17th Century

Spanish Colonial Inlaid Travel Desk, Wood and Iron, 17th Century

Located in Bradenton, FL

Spanish Colonial Inlaid Travel Desk with Bone and Iron Mounts. Features a wooden foundation with

Category

18th Century Peruvian Spanish Colonial Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Iron

Roycroft Arts & Crafts Blotter Corners With Desk Blotter, Circa 1920s
Roycroft Arts & Crafts Blotter Corners With Desk Blotter, Circa 1920s

Roycroft Arts & Crafts Blotter Corners With Desk Blotter, Circa 1920s

By Roycroft

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous set of Arts & Crafts period brass finished hand hammered copper blotter corners with

Category

1920s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass, Copper

Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival Writing Slope Desk Box
Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival Writing Slope Desk Box

Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival Writing Slope Desk Box

Located in Chapel Hill, NC

Circa 1870s English Gothic Revival writing slope desk box. A letter box is flanked by the original

Category

1870s English Gothic Revival Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

END OF THE 19th CENTURY ENGLISH TRAVELING WRITING DESK
END OF THE 19th CENTURY ENGLISH TRAVELING WRITING DESK

END OF THE 19th CENTURY ENGLISH TRAVELING WRITING DESK

Located in Firenze, FI

This solid mahogany travel desk is a fine piece of English manufacture from the late 19th century

Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Leather, Wood

Tiffany Studios Grapevine Bronze Doré Blotter With Leather Desk Blotter
Tiffany Studios Grapevine Bronze Doré Blotter With Leather Desk Blotter

Tiffany Studios Grapevine Bronze Doré Blotter With Leather Desk Blotter

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous set of four Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period gilt bronze "Grapevine" pattern blotter

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

Burr Elm & Oak Desk Tray from Charlton Park Estate
Burr Elm & Oak Desk Tray from Charlton Park Estate

Burr Elm & Oak Desk Tray from Charlton Park Estate

Located in New Orleans, LA

Burr Elm & Oak Desk Tray from Charlton Park Estate 19th Century This exceptional desk tray

Category

19th Century English Georgian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Crystal

Napoleon III Gutta Percha Desk Accessory Pen Holder, circa 1880
Napoleon III Gutta Percha Desk Accessory Pen Holder, circa 1880

Napoleon III Gutta Percha Desk Accessory Pen Holder, circa 1880

By Travail Francais

Located in Atlanta, GA

each side—each design distinct and richly detailed. The antique desk accessory is exquisitely crafted

Category

1880s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Latex

Tiffany Studios New York Grapevine Bronze Doré Leather Desk Blotter
Tiffany Studios New York Grapevine Bronze Doré Leather Desk Blotter

Tiffany Studios New York Grapevine Bronze Doré Leather Desk Blotter

By Tiffany Studios

Located in South Bend, IN

with a custom blue leather desk blotter By Tiffany Studios (each blotter end signed to the underside

Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Bronze

English Notary Travel Mail Desk Correspondence Box, circa 1910
English Notary Travel Mail Desk Correspondence Box, circa 1910

English Notary Travel Mail Desk Correspondence Box, circa 1910

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

Antique writing slope, notary desk or travel correspondence box in oak, dating to the Edwardian

Category

Early 20th Century English Edwardian Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Brass

English Writing Desk With Mother Of Pearl And Abalone
English Writing Desk With Mother Of Pearl And Abalone

English Writing Desk With Mother Of Pearl And Abalone

Located in Dallas, TX

An english wood Writing Desk inlaid with abalone and mother of pearl. The lock is signed by maker

Category

1860s English Antique Desk Sets

Materials

Leather, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

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Antique Desk Sets For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of antique desk sets is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, bronze and wood, all antique desk sets available were constructed with great care. There are all kinds of antique desk sets available, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique desk sets bearing Victorian or Art Nouveau hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Many antique desk sets are appealing in their simplicity, but Tiffany Studios, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Platerías Martínez produced popular antique desk sets that are worth a look.

How Much are Antique Desk Sets?

Antique desk sets can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $1,766, while the lowest priced sells for $95 and the highest can go for as much as $74,861.

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.

Questions About Antique Desk Sets
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    What antique desks are called depends on their design. A desk with chair cutouts on both sides is a partner desk, while one with a pull-down writing surface is a secretary. On a Davenport desk, the desktop lifts to reveal a storage area. Find a variety of antique, vintage and contemporary desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    An antique Davenport desk is a small writing desk, usually with four drawers on one side. The desk would have elaborately decorated supports and a recessed space for adequate legroom. Shop a collection of Davenport desks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
    1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A Davenport desk is a type of small desk with a distinct inclined desktop. The desktop covers a large storage compartment meant for keeping paper and other writing materials. Popular in the 19th century, Davenport desks are still sought after today. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique Davenport desks from some of the world’s top sellers.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 5, 2024
    To identify an antique tea set, look closely to determine who the manufacturer is. Locate the hallmark on the bottom of a saucer, teapot or cup. A maker’s mark on one of these items is the best indicator of the set’s origin. If you snap a photo with your smartphone or tablet, you can conduct a reverse image search to jump-start your research. Professionals recommend consulting auction catalogs, books and trusted online resources such as museum exhibition materials. With some research, you may be able to match the marking to the manufacturer's name and, from there, identify the pattern and age. 

    In 17th-century England, Chinese tea began to arrive at ports in London. Mass production of porcelain tea sets took place in the 18th century, and during the early 1800s, tea became widely affordable, and the concept of teatime took shape all over England

    Reputable soft-paste porcelain makers include Sèvres, Capodimonte and Chelsea, while Meissen was the first European maker of hard-paste porcelain. Bone china manufactories of note include Spode, Minton and Derby, which was later called the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company.

    Generally, a tea set is considered vintage if it’s at least 20 years old, while antiques are at least 100 years old. Although a maker’s mark is generally a helpful indicator of a given manufacturer, forgeries have occurred over the years. Look for other signifiers of a material, time period or style if you are uncertain of your piece’s origin. For help with identification, seek out a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer.

    Find antique tea sets on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    To tell if a roll-top desk is an antique, look closely at the materials. Real antiques feature hardwoods like cherry, mahogany and black walnut. If you detect the use of engineered woods, the desk is a reproduction. Also, early pieces show off irregular dovetail joints. Joints that appear perfectly uniform indicate that a roll-top desk is a more recent mass-produced piece. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted antique roll-top desks.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A variety of factors can determine the exact age of an antique roll top desk. Some things to look for is the type of wood and craftsmanship used to create the desk. Typically, older desks will be made from heavier wood. You can also check for a maker’s marks to determine the age. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your roll top desk. You’ll find a variety of expertly vetted roll top desks on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021
    An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.