Letter Opener Fish
20th Century French Art Deco Letter Openers
Metal
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Letter Openers
Metal
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Letter Openers
Metal
20th Century American Letter Openers
Brass, Aluminum
Recent Sales
20th Century British Other Letter Openers
Sterling Silver
20th Century Mexican Mid-Century Modern Barware
Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Letter Openers
Brass
Vintage 1960s German Mid-Century Modern Barware
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Danish Letter Openers
Sterling Silver
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2010s Italian Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Murano Glass
2010s Italian Renaissance Wall Mirrors
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20th Century Danish Victorian Books
Gold Leaf
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
Leather, Wood, Cowhide
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and...
Brass
Antique 1880s French Stairs
Oak
Late 20th Century French Beds and Bed Frames
Fabric, Fruitwood, Walnut
Antique Late 18th Century Italian Baroque Cabinets
Metal, Wrought Iron
1970s Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century English Tableware
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2010s Mexican Post-Modern Fireplace Tools and Chimney Pots
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20th Century English Georgian Tableware
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Mounted Objects
Limestone
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Bronze
20th Century French Art Deco Desk Sets
Bronze
Vintage 1930s Finnish Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal, Brass
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.
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