Memo Pad Holder
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Leather, Wood
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Sets
Onyx, Stone, Metal
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Sets
Onyx, Stone, Metal
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Sets
Stone, Onyx, Metal
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Sets
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Vintage 1970s Hong Kong Space Age Desk Sets
Plastic
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Leather
20th Century French Country Barware
Chrome
Early 20th Century Desk Sets
Gold
20th Century English Victorian Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Metalwork
Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Jewelry Boxes
Bronze
Late 20th Century Russian Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Ceramic
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Murano Glass
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Sets
Brass
20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Paintings
Wood, Paper, Fiberglass
Mid-20th Century Italian Decorative Dishes and Vide-Poche
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Japanese Post-Modern Desk Sets
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Platters and Serveware
Metal
Recent Sales
Vintage 1930s French Desk Accessories
Leather
Early 2000s French Miscellaneous
Vintage 1980s Italian Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s French Desk Sets
Vintage 1970s Desk Sets
Brass, Chrome
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Brass, Steel
20th Century Desk Accessories
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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