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
Antique 19th Century Lebanese Moorish Inkwells
Brass
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
Brass
Fantastic Gilt Bronze Brass and Cut Glass Horseman & Hound Dog Desk Inkwell Set
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Marvelously detailed French antique desk accessory inkwell made of gilt bronze and nickel plate
Bronze, Nickel
Onyx and Bronze Inkwell Desk Set
Located in Manhasset, NY
Onyx and bronze inkwell desk set depicting Louis Pasteur. A nicely cast bronze with double ink
$1,095Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Regency Rosewood Inlaid Writing Desk Set with Inkwells
Located in Suffolk, GB
A fine and early Regency period rosewood writing desk set beautifully decorated with delicate
Rosewood
2-Piece Victorian Gothic Iron Double Inkwell Desk Set
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian Gothic-style wrought iron double inkwell with (later) crystal wells and filigree
Crystal, Iron, Wrought Iron
$422Sale Price|48% Off
19th Century English Brass Inkwell & Writing Desk Set, c.1880
Located in Worcester, GB
19th Century English Brass Inkwell & Writing Desk Set, c.1880 A charming Victorian-era brass
Brass
Mid-Century French Alpine Deer Inkwell Desk Set on Walnut Base
Located in Dallas, TX
This striking vintage inkwell desk set was crafted in the French Alps, circa 1950, and reflects the
Spelter
Hand-Carved Wooden Inkwell Desk Set with Owl Figures, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Beautiful Black Forest style hand-carved wooden double inkwell with a majestic owl figure sitting
Metal
Antique English Presentation Inkwell & Desk Set with Horse Jockey Theme
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique desk set has no maker's signature, but is presumed to have originated from England and
Onyx, Brass
Victorian Marble Inkwell Sienna Yellow Inkstand Desk Set Antique Louis XVI
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
An Antique Sienna marble inkwell / inkstand Very well shaped and decorative Made Of yellow and
Siena Marble, Bronze
Antique Old Vienna Paris Porcelain Inkwell and Ink Blotter Desk Set - 2 Pc Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Old Vienna Paris Porcelain Inkwell and Ink Blotter Desk Set - 2 Pc Set. item features
Porcelain
Exquisite Rococo Gilt-Bronze Malachite Encrier Inkwell Desk Set ca. 1880
Located in Shippensburg, PA
Item # 404XKP19B An exceedingly fine malachite veneered encrier (inkwell), it features ormolu mounts
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
Art Deco Black Glass and Brass Inkwell With Letter Rack Desk Set
Located in Land O' Lakes, FL
This sophisticated Art Deco black and gold desk set is a stunning example of 1920s elegance
Brass
Crystal Inkwells and Pen Trays Desk Set by Jacques Adnet and Baccarat, France
By Baccarat, Jacques Adnet
Located in North Miami, FL
Early 20th century Art Déco crystal desk set of inkwells and pen Trays by Jacques Adnet
Crystal
Antique French Bronze D'ore & Cut Crystal Inkwell Desk Set on Stand, Circa 1900
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French bronze D'Ore and cut crystal inkwell desk set on stand, Circa 1900. Includes
Crystal, Bronze
$1,750 / set
Set of Two French Macassar Inkwells
By Jacques Adnet
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
French Macassar inkwell Art Deco ebony Macassar and crystal glass. Macassar ebony cover with a
Crystal
$700Sale Price|30% Off
Set of inkwells with wooden base - calendar
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Set of inkwells with wooden base and silver applications - calendar with removable
Silver
$1,450 / set
Vintage Boho Cut Glass Inkwells - Set of 3
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
desk or bookshelf, these inkwells evoke a sense of timeless artistry and craftsmanship. Their bohemian
Metal
4-Piece French Empire Bronze Inkwell Set with Swan
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) 4 piece bronze inkwell set with swan design. Inkwell
Bronze
Baroque Style Brass Inkwell Set and Letter Holder Stand
Located in Doylestown, PA
Baroque style solid brass double inkwell set with letter holder, c. 1900-1910. A gorgeous desktop
Brass
Meissen, Germany. Blue Onion pattern inkwell set in porcelain.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Meissen, Germany. Blue Onion pattern inkwell set in porcelain. Hand-painted. Late 19th century
Porcelain
19th Century French Bronze Green Opaline Glass Inkwell Set
Located in Guaynabo, PR
French Bronze Green Opaline Double Inkwells Set. It depicts a Japonisme style bronze tray with a
Bronze
4-Piece French Empire Bronze Inkwell Set with Swan
Located in Queens, NY
French Empire-style (19th Century) 4 piece bronze inkwell set with swan design. Inkwell
Bronze
$1,225Sale Price / set|30% Off
JOHN GRINSELL & SONS 1904 Edwardian Cut Crystal Inkwell Desk Tray In .925
By John Grinsell & Sons
Located in Miami, FL
An inkwell desk tray designed by John Grinsell & Sons. This is a very elegant desk inkwell tray
Silver, Sterling Silver
$316Sale Price / set|20% Off
French Set of Champleve Enameled Small Inkwell and Letter Opener
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a small bronze champleve enamel set of an inkwell and letter opener. Both of them depicts
Bronze
19th Century French Dore Gilt Gold Metal Double Inkwell Set
Located in Atlanta, GA
, common in antique desk accessories, symbolizes nobility and strength, possibly reflecting the high status
Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
Antique English Mahogany Inkwell Set with Black, Red and Copying Features
Located in New Orleans, LA
This inkwell set comes with three compartments and a glass tray.
Mahogany
French Bronze Louis Philippe Period Inkwell and Bell Set, circa 1840
Located in Atlanta, GA
housing two inkwells and a sandwell all with removable lids, extending outward from the stand is a hook
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
Bronze
$3,850Sale Price|30% Off
Silver inkwell with two tanks, bell, pen holder and set on three raised feet
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Silver inkwell with two reservoirs, bell, pen holder and set on three raised feet
Silver
Siena Marble and Ormolu Inkwell, c.1900
Located in Worcester, GB
Siena Marble and Ormolu Inkwell, c.1900 A good quality desk inkwell, circa 1900, set in warm Siena
Siena Marble
$4,200Sale Price|30% Off
Silver inkwell with rack, bell, two tanks, pen holder and set on four claw feet
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Silver inkwell with rack, bell, two reservoirs, pen stand and resting on four claw
Silver
Victorian gilt inkstand desk set in the Gothic style
Located in London, GB
Victorian gilt inkstand desk set in the Gothic style English, 19th Century Height 19cm, width 27cm
Brass
$1,786Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau Desk Set in Ceramic and Gilt Bronze, France, 1900s
By Louis Dage
Located in Lisbon, PT
French Art Nouveau desk set, circa 1900, composed of a ceramic and gilt bronze inkwell ensemble in fluid
Bronze
Early 20th Century Edwardian Double Inkwell with Horseshoe Pen Holder
Located in Middleburg, VA
Early 20th century Edwardian double inkwell with horseshoe pen holder This double inkwell desk set
Glass, Wood
Tiffany & Co. Studios New York Bronze and Abalone Desk Set
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning set of solid brass Tiffany & Co desk ink well notepad case and 4 corners for desk pad all
Bronze
Set of Lacquered Vellum Drawing Forms/Desk Accessories, Italy, 20th Century
Located in New York City, NY
Set of Lacquered Vellum Drawing Forms/Desk Accessories, Italy, 20th C. Elegant vintage drawing
Animal Skin, Wood
$522Sale Price / set|28% Off
Giant Art Deco Desk Set Extinguishing Cradle made of Serpentine, Germany 1920s
Located in Hannover, DE
This mighty desk set stood on the desk of a company director in the 1920s in an imposing office
Serpentine
Empire Gilt-Bronze & Variegated Green Marble Desk Set, c.1820
Located in Atlanta, GA
The base is composed of variegated green marble with a pen tray, ormolu trim and patarae motif. The ormolu well with lid is beautifully decorated with laurel wreath garland surround...
Marble
Very Nice Late 19th Century Bronze and Marble 3 Piece Desk Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Very Nice Late 19th Century Bronze and Marble 3 Piece Desk Set The large Chinese designed
Marble, Bronze
English Regency Desk Set in Form of British Sailors Defending a Fort with Mortar
Located in London, GB
An extremely rare and very unusual bronze desk set in the form of British sailors ( or Jack Tars
Bronze
19th Century Italian Siena Marble Ink Set
Located in Esbeek, NL
Italian Siena marble ink set, 19th century or earlier.
Siena Marble
$528Sale Price|22% Off
Continental Very Unusual Gilt Metal Rheinstone Set Globe Shaped Inwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Very unusual antique continental gilt metal pedestal Rheinstone set globe shaped inkwell dating
Metal
Japanese Calligraphy Set with a Red Lacquer Wooden Box 1990s
Located in Paris, FR
This is a calligraphy set with a wooden lacquer box. There is a pen, an indien ink, a porcelain pot
Stone
Antique Empire ink set, gold-plated bronze with swans, France
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Empire ink set, gold-plated bronze with swans, France Solid bronze, partially gold-plated
Bronze
Original Art Nouveau Brass & Copper Ink well set circa 1900
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A real nice looking Art Nouveau Ink Well set ,hand made and cast in Brass and with a Copper base
Brass
Spanish Art Deco Alabaster Desk Lamp and Inkwell Set
Located in Atlanta, GA
An unusual alabaster desk set with a working lamp, inkwell and blotter.
Alabaster
Art Deco Desk Set Inkwell In Alabaster and Bronze Elephant
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Beautifull Art Deco desk set in Alabaster and Bronze with large decorative Elephant, inkwell and
Alabaster, Bronze
Art Deco Lacquered Desk Set With Brass Bound Bevelled Glass Inkwell
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Art Deco Lacquered Desk Set With Brass Bound Bevelled Glass Inkwell. With Brass Mounts Raised On
Chrome, Brass
$1,320 / set
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
Zebra Wood
Fine 19th Century Ormolu Mounted KPM Porcelain Desk Set - Inkwell Candlesticks
By Berlin Royal Porcelain Factory
Located in Forney, TX
Porcelain Factory Berlin (KPM) porcelain five piece desk set. The breathtaking antique set features
Bronze
Antique Chinese Japanese Bronze Inkwell Male Bust Pair French Ormolu Desk Set
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Very stylish patinated bronze desk inkwell modelled as a bust of a Chinese or Japanese figure
Ormolu, Bronze
Antique 20th Century Edwardian Solid Silver Inkwell Desk Set, Chester c.1908
By George Nathan & Ridley Hayes
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 20th Century Edwardian solid silver inkwell desk set. Designed for both practicality and
Silver
Art Nouveau Foliage Silver Overlay Black Glass Inkwell Four Piece Desk set
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Rare silver overlay on black glass desk set containing an inkwell (2 pieces), blotter, double pen
Metal, Silver
Antique Chinese Japanese Bronze Inkwell Male Bust Pair French Ormolu Desk Set
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Very stylish patinated bronze desk inkwell modelled as a bust of a Chinese or Japanese figure
Ormolu, Bronze
$1,309Sale Price / set|35% Off
Victorian Ebonised Desk Set With Two Cut Glass Inkwells Decorated With Brass
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Lovely Victorian Ebonised Desktop Tidy With Two Cut Glass Inkwells, With Attractive Brass Rails
Chrome, Brass
Antique French Cloisonné Enamel & Gold Bronze 7 Piece Inkwell Desk Set, Ca. 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Cloisonné Enamel & Gold Bronze 7 Piece Inkwell Desk Set, Circa 1890. Includes
Enamel, Bronze
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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