Folio Blotter
Antique Late 19th Century English Victorian Desk Sets
Mother-of-Pearl, Paper
Antique 19th Century North American Desk Sets
Velvet
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Desk Sets
Leather
People Also Browsed
Antique 1860s English Victorian Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Italian More Desk Accessories
Leather, Wood
Antique 19th Century English Inkwells
Pottery
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Side Tables
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Crystal Serveware
Crystal, Ormolu
Antique Mid-19th Century English Campaign Desks
Brass, Gold Leaf
20th Century British Desks and Writing Tables
Leather, Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Regency Tableware
Wood
Antique Early 18th Century English Regency Decorative Boxes
Brass, Gold Leaf
Antique Early 1900s French Victorian Toys and Dolls
Paint, Paper
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
Tapestry, Mother-of-Pearl
Antique 19th Century English Chinoiserie Serving Pieces
Paper
Antique Early 1900s Other Inkwells
Porcelain
Early 20th Century American Queen Anne Desks and Writing Tables
Walnut
Vintage 1960s French Modern Desk Sets
Bronze
Recent Sales
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV More Desk Accessories
Leather
Early 20th Century American Desk Sets
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century English Chinoiserie Lacquer
Silk, Lacquer, Paper
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
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.
Paris Gallerist Sandy Toupenet Gets Fired Up over 20th-Century Ceramics and Inventive New Makers
Her space on the city’s Left Bank mixes mid-century pieces by the likes of Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso with whimsical contemporary creations.
These Soft Sculptures Are Childhood Imaginary Friends Come to Life
Miami artist and designer Gabriela Noelle’s fantastical creations appeal to the Peter Pan in all of us.
This Vivacious Teapot Has Agnes Martin on One Side and Jean-Michel Basquiat on the Other
Ceramist Roberto Lugo brings a street-art sensibility to a dainty serving vessel while paying homage to his artistic heroes.
This Rare Set of 100 Alessi Vases Includes Designs by Scores of International Artists
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.