French Enamel Inkwell
Antique Mid-19th Century Inkwells
Bronze, Enamel
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Inkwells
Brass
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Inkwells
Bronze, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Inkwells
Bronze, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Inkwells
Bronze
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Inkwells
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Inkwells
Crystal
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Inkwells
Brass, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Inkwells
Brass, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Inkwells
Metal, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Inkwells
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Inkwells
Bronze, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Inkwells
Enamel, Bronze
Early 20th Century French Inkwells
Enamel, Silver
Late 20th Century French Modern Inkwells
Crystal
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century French Inkwells
Ormolu, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Inkwells
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
Antique 1880s French Desk Sets
Bronze, Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Desk Sets
Bronze, Enamel
Antique 1870s French Victorian Desk Sets
Brass
20th Century French Historical Memorabilia
Gold, Pewter, Gold Plate
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Inkwells
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Sterling Silver
Silver, Enamel
Vintage 1910s French Inkwells
Enamel, Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century French Rococo Revival Inkwells
Porcelain
Antique 1870s Inkwells
Bronze, Enamel
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Bronze, Enamel
Antique 1860s French Inkwells
Enamel, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Rococo Inkwells
Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Napoleon III Inkwells
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Inkwells
Enamel, Bronze
Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Inkwells
Bronze
Antique 1780s French Louis XVI Inkwells
Enamel
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Inkwells
Porcelain
Early 20th Century French Inkwells
Silver
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Desk Sets
Onyx, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Inkwells
Brass, Enamel
Antique 1850s French Moorish Inkwells
Bronze
Antique 1850s French Napoleon III Inkwells
Enamel
Antique Late 19th Century French Japonisme Inkwells
Enamel, Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Belle Époque Inkwells
Porcelain
Vintage 1930s French Inkwells
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Inkwells
Enamel, Sterling Silver
French Enamel Inkwell For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Enamel Inkwell?
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.
- What is French enamel?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022French enamel is a type of decoration produced by applying liquid glass to metal. The French company Limoges popularized the technique during the 16th century, producing jewelry and decorative objects with intricately painted portraits, flowers and landscape scenes. You'll find a collection of French enamel furniture, jewelry and art on 1stDibs.
Read More
Kazuyo Sejima’s Flowering Tree Blooms Year-Round
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
He Wrote ‘Oedipus Rex,’ but Do You Know What He Looked Like?
The Greek tragedian is said to have been handsome in his day.
Cigar Culture Was Once the Peak of Masculinity. Now, It’s a Compelling Curiosity
Even for those who don’t indulge, elegant smoking accessories and audacious art portraying cigar enthusiasts hold a nostalgic allure.
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.