Paper Holders
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Magazine Racks and Stands
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Metal
Antique Early 1900s Great Britain (UK) Edwardian Sterling Silver
Silver, Sterling Silver
20th Century Paperweights
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern More Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Leather
Vintage 1970s French Modern Sheffield and Silverplate
Silver Plate
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Brass
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Metal
Vintage 1950s French Paperweights
Bronze
Antique Early 1900s Paperweights
Bronze
Vintage 1950s American Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
Vintage 1950s Italian Art Deco Desk Sets
Art Glass
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Lucite
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Chrome
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Paperweights
Bronze
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Table Lamps
Bronze
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
Late 20th Century French Folk Art Paperweights
Brass
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Sets
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Desk Sets
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Chrome
Antique Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau More Desk Accessories
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Crystal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desk Sets
Marble, Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Paperweights
Chrome
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Animal Sculptures
Marble, Bronze
2010s American Modern Paperweights
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Modern Paperweights
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Adirondack Desk Sets
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Games
Paper
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Stainless Steel
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
20th Century Asian Art Deco Paperweights
Crystal
Vintage 1980s Italian Post-Modern Desk Sets
Lucite
2010s Turkish Desk Sets
Leather
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Lucite
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Letter Openers
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Bathroom Fixtures
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Modern Paperweights
Granite, Bronze
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Leather
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern More Desk Accessories
Gold
Late 20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Ashtrays
Blown Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern More Desk Accessories
Brass
Vintage 1910s British Paperweights
Sterling Silver, Silver
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Paperweights
Marble, Copper, Metal, Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century French Inkwells
Bronze
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Desk Sets
Bronze
Vintage 1980s Italian Desk Sets
Brass
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Globes
Metal
Antique 1890s European Late Victorian Cigar Boxes and Humidors
Brass
Vintage 1970s Italian Desk Sets
Leather
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Leather
- 1
Paper Holders For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Paper Holders?
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.