German Steel Letter Opener with Spiral Bakelite Handle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful German Steel Letter opener with a unique persimmon Color Bakelite Swirled handle.
Steel
Unusual Unger Brothers Sterling Jester Letter Opener
By Unger Brothers
Located in Riverdale, NY
Rare and Unusual Unger Brothers Jester Sterling Letter Opener from the 1900's. Wonderful detailing and unusual subject matter. 1900 USA. 9.5" x 1.85" x 1.25".
Sterling Silver
Victorian Silver Eagle Page Turner
Located in Riverdale, NY
Elegant Victorian Silver Eagle Page Turner from the late 19th Century crafted of 800 silver with faux ivorene bakelite blade. Ornately detailed eagle's head in 3D on end cap. 1890's ...
Silver
Late 19th Century Regency Style "Greyhound" Letter Opener
By Madel & Son
Located in San Francisco, CA
Think 19th century when people actually received posted mail, a gentleman was sure to have a "letter opener" on hand. This would be the perfect piece - an exquisite "Greyhound head" ...
Bakelite, Polystyrene
Italian Silver and Bakelite Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian silver and Bakelite letter opener - a lovely addition to your sophisticated desk - the sides are a layered - see detail image.
Silver
Bakelike and Bamboo Ecuadorian Sea Turtle Leather Opener
Located in Oakland Park, FL
Bakelike and bamboo Ecuadorian sea turtle leather opener. Size: 7.25" L x 1.5" W.
Bamboo, Bakelite
Victorian Owl Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Owl Letter Opener crafted of 800 grade silver with celluloid and glass eyes. Charming figural, novelty motif from the late 19th Century. Beautiful detailing. Cap removes to...
Silver
Stylish English Solid Silver Letter Opener, c.1973
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A stylish 20th English solid silver letter opener, designed with a flat "S" shaped handle with reeded detailing finishing in a rounded point. Inscribed on one side of the letter open...
Silver
19th Century French Art Nouveau Brass and Bone Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Acquired in Paris, this lovely Brass and bone art nouveau letter opener has a beautiful patina that will give your desk or work space a new sense of sophistication. While the piece ...
Brass
$852Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.99 in W 14.57 in D 2.37 in
20th Cebtury Italian Big Sterling Silver Letter Opener
By Arval Argenti Valenza
Located in VALENZA, IT
Large, completely handmade, sterling silver letter opener. Perfect for a prestigious desk. The blade is smooth while the hand is embossed by hand on both sides with scrolls and fl...
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Sable Shaped Letter Opener
Located in Meer, VAN
Early 20th Century Sable Shaped Letter Opener. A letter opener with a very distinct sable style design - early 20th century or even late 19th century. Shows a nice patina. About O...
Brass
$220
H 1.63 in W 11.5 in D 0.5 in
Eagle Motif French Art Nouveau Letter Opener Antique 1900s signed Mauroy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
We are offering this wonderful and original heavy french art nouveau letter opener. The design dates back to the early 1900s to 1910s, the object is made of Bronze. We believe that t...
Bronze
Art Nouveau Bronze Letter Opener
Located in NYC, NY
An Art Nouveau bronze letter opener with beautiful carvings.
Bronze
$716Sale Price|20% Off
H 12 in W 1.25 in D 0.5 in
Victorian Sterling Silver Handle Page Turner, England, circa 1897
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Fabulous! Vintage 19th century letter opener or page turner with an ornate sterling silver handle and bone blade. Hallmark corresponds to: Birmingham, England, circa 1897.
Sterling Silver
Antique French Art Nouveau Bronze Letter Opener, 1910s or earlier
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique bronze letter opener dating to the 20th Century, crafted by an unknown sculptor. This beautiful Art Nouveau piece displays graceful, flowing lines and subtle scul...
Bronze
$700Sale Price|30% Off
H 1.97 in W 8.47 in D 8.47 in
Silver letter opener with wreaths and floral motifs embossed on the handle, engr
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Silver letter opener with wreaths and floral motifs in relief on the handle, engraved on the blade. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Brand: Eagle Head. Weight: 94....
Metal
$6,800
H 11.5 in W 1.5 in D 1 in
Antique Letter Opener Silver-Gilt & guilloché Enamel attr. to Fabergé Circa 1900
By Fabergé
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine Russian silver-gilt and guilloché enamel letter opener attributed to Fabergé, with illegible hallmarks , possibly Faberge cyrillic mark / 88". The finial in the form of a carv...
Jade, Silver, Enamel
George III Sterling Silver Skewer / Letter Opener, circa 1800
Located in San Francisco, CA
George III sterling silver skewer / letter opener, circa 1800 Estate of Vanderbilt Lehman Fine sterling skewer / letter opener with hallmarks and an etched stag at the handle....
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Sterling Silver Repoussé Early Fountain Pen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful Repousse sterling French pen with crystal holder - very elegant and signed at the tip. A complement to any desk or work station, especially those that use decor of the...
Sterling Silver
Substantial Letter Opener by Just Andersen, 1920s, Denmark
By Just Andersen
Located in Værløse, DK
Large Bronze Letter Opener designed by Just Andersen in the 1920s. A beautiful piece for an elegant desk. * Bronze letter knife * Designer: Just Andersen * Model: B216 * Year: 1925-...
Bronze
$240Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.03 in W 1.77 in D 0.39 in
1900s French Art Nouveau Iris & Maiden Heavy Silver Plated Letter Opener
Located in Honolulu, HI
An exceptionally fine French Art Nouveau letter opener, sculpted with a dramatic high-relief motif of an iris blossom embracing a serene maiden's profile. Originating from France, t...
Silver Plate
$900
H 12.5 in W 1.5 in D 0.5 in
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Bronze Letter Opener with Mercury Handle
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 19th century French Neoclassical gilt bronze letter opener with Mercury God motif on handle By: unknown Material: metal, bronze, copper, tin Technique: cast, molded, metalwork,...
Metal, Bronze, Copper, Tin
Pair of Victorian Pierced and Etched Brass Griffin Motif Gates
Located in Riverdale, NY
Pair of Victorian Pierced and Etched Brass Griffin Motif Gates from the late 19th Century, designed as openwork panels with swirls and griffins cut into the metal. Would be great rep...
Brass
Hand Painted Victorian Pin Dish
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming Hand Painted Victorian Pin Dish from the late 19th Century. Hand painted dish is mounted on to a bronze floraliform stem set into an albaster marble base. France 1880's.
Porcelain
Hand Beaded Bird of Paradise Stems, France
Located in Riverdale, NY
Set of Hand Beaded Bird of Paradise Stems made in the late 1990's in France. Custom made in the 1990's of antique and new Czech beads. Set of 2 each: Flowerheads/ Matte black and iri...
Glass
Italianate Baroque Revival Mid Century Yardage
Located in Riverdale, NY
Lovely Baroque Revival Mid Century Yardage from a high end upholsterer who carried a lot of Scalamandre textiles. On its original bolt, it is is marked 32-33 yards on end. Feels like...
Cotton
Art Deco Beverage Novelty Thermometer Drink Stirrers
Located in Riverdale, NY
Charming Art Deco Beverage Novelty Thermometer Drink Stirrers approx. 6.5" long made in Springfield Ohio dated 1940 all 8 in original box. Made by the Ohio Thermometer Company, with ...
Glass, Blown Glass
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.
The French sculptor shaped dense blocks into tactile forms meant to be used and held.
After synthetic dyes changed fashion, home goods and printed matter, it was only a matter of time till glass caught up.
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
It’s an excellent example of the sought-after ceramics coming out of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province.
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.
The free-form stoneware piece is inspired by the magnolia tree and its associations with home.