Victorian Sterling Silver and Turquoise Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Martin & Hall
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Period, sterling silver and turquoise blue guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1866, R.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Letter Opener Sterling Silver Blue Enamel on Guillochè Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Shaped letter opener with rectangular base in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guillochè.
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Edwardian Sterling Silver and Enamel-Mounted Letter Opener-Mappin & Webb
By Mappin & Webb
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian, sterling silver and guilloche enamel-mounted letter opener, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1921, Mappin and Webb - makers.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 1 in W 10 in D 1.5 in
Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Fabergé
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener, with a horse head, in original fitted box.
Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 1 in W 10 in D 1.5 in
Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Fabergé
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Purple Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener, with a horse head, in original fitted box.
Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 1 in W 10 in D 1.5 in
Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Fabergé
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Russian silver-gilt, diamonds, nephrite, and blue Guilloche enamel letter opener, with a Russian double eagle, in original fitted box.
Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 1 in W 10 in D 1.5 in
Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Fabergé
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Russian silver-gilt, diamonds, nephrite, and purple guilloche enamel letter opener, with a Russian Imperial eagle, in original fitted box.
Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 1 in W 10 in D 1.5 in
Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Fabergé
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Russian Silver-Gilt, Diamonds, Nephrite, and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener, with a Russian Double Eagle, in original fitted box.
Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 1.19 in W 4.93 in D 0.63 in
Antique 20thC Austrian Solid Silver & Guilloché Enamel Letter Opener, Vienna
By Georg Adam Scheid
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique 20th Century Austrian solid silver letter opener of flat form with a gently curved handle, terminating in a yellow guilloché enamel heart.
Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 8.86 in W 0.52 in L 8.86 in
Mid-20th Century Solid Silver & Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener, c.1940
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Stylish mid-20th English solid silver & guilloche enamel letter opener, flat rounded shaped handle, beautifully decorated with translucent blue enamel applied over engine turned deco...
Silver, Enamel
Antique French 18-Karat Gold and Enamel Letter Opener, circa 1820
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early-19th French 18-karat gold and guilloche enamel letter opener, quiver shaped handle, beautifully decorated with translucent enamel applied over engine turned decoration ...
Gold, Enamel
Sold
H 4.34 in W 0.4 in D 0.79 in
20th Century Russian Faberge Enamel on Gold Pencil and Letter Opener, circa 1910
By Fabergé, Vladimir Soloviev
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early 20th century Imperial Russian Faberge gold and pink guilloche enamel pencil holder and letter opener, of flattened elongated-oval form, enameled in vibrant translucent ...
Gold, Enamel
Art Deco Jade and Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
Located in Greenwich, CT
Open your daily correspondence in grand style with this Art Deco letter opener. Designed of precious jade, with a cobalt blue and white guilloche enameled handle trimmed in 18K yell...
Jade, 18k Gold
Victorian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel letter opener, Sheffield, England, year hallmarked for 1888, W.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.5 in W 9.75 in D 1 in
Large Victorian Sterling Silver and Light Green Guilloche Enamel-Letter Opener
By Gibson & Langman
Located in New York, NY
Large, Victorian, all sterling silver and light green guilloche enamel letter opener, Sheffield, England, year hallmarked for 1889, William Gibson and John Lawrence Langman (Gibson a...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 9.5 in W 0.5 in D 0.5 in
Edwardian Period, sterling silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Allen & Darwin Silver 1
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian Period, sterling silver and light blue guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1905, Allen and Darwin - makers.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8.5 in D 1.25 in
Victorian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener Paper Knife
By Joseph Gloster
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel letter opener paper knife, Birmingham, England, 1857, Joseph Gloster maker.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8 in D 1 in
Edwardian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener/Paper Knife
By Martin & Hall
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian, sterling silver letter opener/paper knife with blue guilloche enamel handle, Sheffield, England, 1905, Martin and Hall - Makers.
Enamel, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.25 in W 8 in D 0.75 in
Edwardian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener/Paper Knife
By Allen & Darwin Silver 1
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, Sheffield, England, 1908, Allen and Darwen - makers.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.13 in W 8 in D 1 in
Edwardian Style Sterling Silver and Pink Guilloche Enamel-Mounted Letter Opener
By Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd.
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian style, sterling silver and pink guilloche enamel - mounted letter opener/paper knife, London, 1912, Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co., Ltd. - makers.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8 in D 1.25 in
William IV Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener/Paper Knife
By William Eaton
Located in New York, NY
William IV, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, London, year hallmarked for 1833, William Eaton - maker.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.5 in W 10.13 in D 1 in
Victorian Sterling Silver and Mint Green Guiloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Joseph Gloster
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and mint green guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, Birmingham, England, 1857, Joseph Gloster - maker.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.25 in W 9 in D 0.75 in
Edwardian Sterling Silver and Blue and Black Enamel, Mounted Letter Opener
By Walker & Hall
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian, sterling silver and blue and black guilloche enamel-mounted letter opener/paper knife, Sheffield, England, year hallmarked for 1903, Walker and Hall - makers.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8.75 in D 1.25 in
Victorian Sterling Silver and Blue Enamel, Mounted Letter Opener / Paper Knife
By Henry Harrison
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel - mounted letter / opener paper knife, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1889, Henry Harrison - maker.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
$185,000 / set
H 12 in W 12 in D 10 in
A 200 Plus Set of 19 Century Imperial Russian Silver Flatware by Andrei Bragin
By Andrei Bragin
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An exceptional and extremely rare set of a combination of silver and vermeil (gilded silver) flatware designed and crafted in St Petersburg Russia by Andrei Stepanovich Bragin d...
Silver, Vermeil
$403,872
H 86.03 in Dm 51.97 in
Extremely Rare Victorian Chandelier of Exceptional Quality and Size by F&C Osler
By F. & C. Osler
Located in Steyning, West sussex
An extremely rare early Victorian 20-light cut-glass silvered mounted chandelier of exceptional quality the baluster thumb and radial cut shaft with lower shaft canopy and draping pa...
Silver Plate
$437,528
H 70.87 in W 125.99 in D 2.17 in
Giant Crocodile Fossil Wall Plate, Germany. 180 Million Years Old.
Located in London, GB
This outstanding fossilised skeleton is that of the ancestral crocodile species Steneosaurus bollensis that lived during the early Jurassic period. The skeleton, complete with armour...
Other
Fabergé Silver Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary 128-piece service by Fabergé is a rare treasure in more ways than one. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and in pristine c...
Silver
$95,950 / set
H 12 in W 18 in D 18 in
Chrysanthemum Tiffany Sterling Silver Flatware Set Service 255 pcs Fitted Chest
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Big Bend, WI
Chrysanthemum (c1880) originally called Indian Chrysanthemum .Tiffany's luxurious Chrysanthemum silver was designed in 1880 by Charles Grosjean. With its flowing curves, swirling ve...
Sterling Silver
Venetian Monumental Seated Bird Cage
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Venetian style (20th Cent) octagonal shaped painted and decorated metal and wood bird cage with 8 upholstered seat and back cushions around base. (Franco Zefferelli Collection)
Metal
Fabergé Silver Flatware Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional 77-piece complete service by Fabergé is a rare treasure from the world-renowned firm. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and ...
Silver
$347,200
H 29 in W 60 in D 32 in
Alexandre Chevrie, Museum French Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Royal Executive Desk
By Alexandre Chevrié, Paris 1
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Alexandre Chevrie, a museum quality French ormolu mounted mahogany Royal Executive "Empire" Desk, circa 1875. Double sided desk with six solid bronze lions paw feet, framed ormolu...
Ormolu
$1,900,000
H 9 in W 2 in D 2 in
"Pearl Royale" Platinum Sculpture 9' x 2' in Edition of 3 by Colin Burn
By Colin Burn
Located in Culver City, CA
"Pearl Royale" Platinum Sculpture 9' x 2' in Edition of 3 by Colin Burn Pure Platinum, Diamond & Pearl Sculpture Limited Edition - 3 Only Edition: Artist Proof 1/1 NOTE: pr...
Platinum
Duke and Duchess of Windsor Gold Snuff Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This important Louis XV gold snuff box is from the prestigious collection of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The engine-turned gold box originally sold at Sotheby’s historic sale Th...
Gold
$518,302 / set
H 114.5 in W 35.5 in D 5 in
19th Century, Monumental Carved Boiserie Panels from Lartington Hall
Located in London, GB
The Lartington hall carved Boiserie panels by Signor Anton Leone Bulletti. A highly important suite of eight carved and patinated wood panels commissioned by Monsignor Thomas Edw...
Wood, Pine
Amazing Desk Art Deco 1930 France Wood Zebrano
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Ebony, Zebra Wood, Wood
$21,342Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.09 in Dm 5.32 in
Glass Vase Loetz PG 358 Decoration circa 1900 Art Nouveau Jugendstil Bohemia
By Loetz Glass
Located in Klosterneuburg, AT
Bohemian glass vase, manufactured by Johann Loetz Witwe, PG 358 decoration (world exhibition decoration), ca. 1900, orange, brown, ochre, silver, white, Bohemia, Viennese Art Nouveau...
Glass
$1,008,464
H 33.47 in W 44.49 in D 24.81 in
Russian Malachite and Silver Table by Imperial Silversmiths the Grachev Brothers
By Grachev Brothers
Located in London, GB
Russian malachite and silver table by Imperial silversmiths the Grachev Brothers Russian, 1884 Measures: Height 85cm, width 113cm, depth 63cm This beautiful silver table was man...
Malachite, Silver
Pink Fluorite on Smoky Quartz, Switzerland
Located in New York, NY
PINK FLUORITE ON SMOKY QUARTZ Tiefengletscher, Furka, Uri, Switzerland 28.5 cm tall x 12.7 cm wide In the mineral kingdom there are hierarchies, not all of them actually correct. Bu...
Other
Sterling Silver Globe Inkwell Centerpiece by Tiffany & Co.
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
This superb inkwell centerpiece dating to the Edwardian era was designed by the legendary Tiffany & Co. Crafted from sterling silver and bronze, this stunning inkwell boasts a co...
Sterling Silver, 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.
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.