Retro Letter Opener Knife
French Brass Duck’s Head Letter Opener, Paper Knife
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French brass duck’s head letter ppener, paper knife
A great desk piece, the knife sits neatly on
Category
Mid-20th Century Beaux Arts Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass
Italian Leather Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
An Italian black leather gold embossed resin letter opener, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Piece is
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Leather, Resin
Hermes, Paris, Equestrian / Horse Head Letter Opener, c.1960
By Hermès, Ravinet D' Enfert
Located in Bath, GB
A highly collectable letter opener or paper knife made by silver plated bronze and dating to c.1960
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver Plate
Hermes, Paris, Equestrian / Horse Head Letter Opener, c.1960
By Hermès, Ravinet D' Enfert
Located in Bath, GB
A highly collectable letter opener or paper knife made in gilded bronze and dating to c.1960; a
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Bronze
Austrian Midcentury Golden Brass Dachshund Letter Opener by Walter Bosse
By Walter Bosse, Herta Baller
Located in Vienna, AT
This charming Austrian Midcentury golden solid brass letter opener or paper knife has been designed
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass
Free Shipping
H 1.19 in W 8.67 in D 0.79 in
Hans Hansen, Letter Knife in Rosewood with Silver Inlay, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Hans Hansen. Letter knife in rosewood with silver inlay.
Danish Modern.
About 1960.
Measurements
Category
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver
Vera Jardin Antique Styled Sterling Silver Italian Knife & Scabbard Desk Set
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
decorative and may have been produced as a letter opener desk set, or as a decorative knife set for display
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver, Stainless Steel
H 1.25 in W 2 in D 14.25 in
Paul Dupre-Lafon Hermes Paris Scissors, Paper Knife in Leather Scabbard, Signed
By Paul Dupré-Lafon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A pair of scissors and letter opener in a handstitched, elephant gray leather scabbard by Paul
Category
1950s French Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Steel
H 10 in W 2.94 in D 1 in
Elegant Red Leather Desk Set by Le Tanneur, France, 1950s
By Le Tanneur
Located in Paris, FR
11cm depth 5cm
Pencil case L 23cm x L 8cm depth 2.5cm
Letter-Openers with scissors and knife case L
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Stainless Steel
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Antique English Dragon Letter Opener in Brass
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A circa 1920-30 fine quality English brass dragon letter opener or paper knife. It depicts the dragon from the legend of 'St. George and the Dragon'. The lion just below the main orn...
Category
1920s English Hollywood Regency Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass
A 19th century Indian silver inlaid dagger with a Damascus steel blade, C 1870
Located in Central England, GB
A fine 19th-century ornate Indian dagger superbly made from hand forged folded steel known as Damascus which shows on the blade with a pattern almost like wood grain.
The whole knif...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo Raj Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver, Steel
H 1.97 in W 10.24 in D 0.79 in
Carousel Galloper's Horses Head Carved Mahogany Bust
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Kindred to a carousel galloper, a distinguished and elegant mahogany Italian horses head on pedestal
Collectible piece of object d'art for the equine devotee
Circa 1960's
Height 14 i...
Category
1960s Italian Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Mahogany
Art Deco Onyx Horse Head Paperweight
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Art Deco stylized horse head paperweight.
Midcentury marble horse head bookend.
Vintage hand carved in onyx in a shade of ivory, honey cream in color with caramel veined marble.
B...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Marble
Antique Engliah Sterling Silver Canteen of Cutlery for Twelve Persons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, comprehensive George V English sterling silver flatware service for twelve persons - boxed; an addition to our flatware collection
The pieces ...
Category
1930s British Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver-Mounted Dark Gray Agate Letter Opener-Mappin and Webb
By Mappin & Webb
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Period, sterling silver-mounted dark gray agate letter opener/paper knife, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1900, Mappin and Webb - makers. Measures 8 1/2 inches lon...
Category
Early 1900s English Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Agate, Sterling Silver
H 0.5 in W 8.5 in D 1.75 in
Academical Plaster Horse Sculpture From The Parthenon Marbles at British Museum
Located in Roma, IT
An Academic plaster sculpture study from the Marble statue from the East pediment of the Parthenon that showed the miraculous birth of the goddess Athena from the head of her father ...
Category
20th Century Other Art Style Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Plaster
H 25.6 in W 33.47 in D 11.82 in
Art Deco Gilt Silver Letter Opener
Located in Miami, FL
Art Deco fluted and partially gilt letter opener. The knife shaped silver opener features a fluted handle with gilt band and a tapering blade. An elegant and truly stylish desk acces...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver Plate
Victorian Sterling Silver and Enamel Vesta Case
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and enamel vesta case; an addition to our range of collectable silver cases
This exceptional antique Vi...
Category
1890s British Victorian Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage Fireplace Tools in Brass Metal Plated with Duck Heads
By Maison Jansen
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Fireplace tools in brass metal plated color with duck Mallard heads, circa 1980.
Vintage fireplace tools in brass lacquered with duck heads, French style.
Five-pieces, firepl...
Category
Late 20th Century French Provincial Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Metal
Antique George V Sterling Silver Letter Opener / Bookmark (1912)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique George V English sterling silver paper knife/letter opener/bookmark; an addition to our silver flatware collection.
This exceptiona...
Category
1910s English Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Sterling Silver
Single Damascus Knife Set with 3000-5000 Year-Old Bog-Oak Display Box
Located in London, GB
DOVEDALE’S debut project is a set of Japanese inspired Damascus steel knives. The folded blue paper steel blades are set in wooden handles and arranged in a presentation box both cra...
Category
2010s Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Steel
Rustic Horse Silhouette Metal on Pine Board Triptych Equestrian Wall Art 42"
Located in Dayton, OH
The rustic silhouette of this gallant steed is a bold design for any space! With three wooden panels, each piece features a weathered finish and bronze metal rivets.
Dimensions:
19....
Category
Late 20th Century Rustic Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Metal
H 42 in W 1 in D 58.5 in
American Fantasy Knight Chess Table After William ‘Billy’ Haines Circa 1960
By William Billy Haines
Located in Southampton, NJ
A unique and fanciful knight chess table in blended woods, the top is supported by a mahogany pedestal carved in the form of a pair of opposing horse's heads that rests on a square b...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Mahogany
Vintage Hand Carved Wooden Art Deco Horse Head Bookends a Pair
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage pair of hand carved wooden Art Deco style horse head bookends.
Large heavy wood vintage hand carved Art Deco style Folk Art horse bust book ends on a pedestal-type base.
Ea...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Wood
Art Deco Period Sterling Silver-Mounted Blue Enamel Letter Opener/Paper Knife
By Herbert Edward Barker & Frank Ernest Barker 1
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco period, sterling silver-mounted blue enamel letter opener/paper knife, Chester, England, year-hallmarked for 1922, H.E. and F.E. Barker of Barker Brothers, Ltd - makers. Mea...
Category
1920s English Art Deco Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
H 0.5 in W 8.75 in D 0.75 in
Recent Sales
Carl Auböck II Letter Opener Knife Cane Wrapped Model '4828', Austria 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Carl Auböck II Letter Opener Knife Cane Wrapped Model '4828', Austria 1950s. Beautifully sculpted
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Stainless Steel
H 8.67 in W 1.19 in D 0.4 in
Letter Opener by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful letter opener / paper knife, no. 4727
Designed circa 1950 by Carl Auböck.
Horn with
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Horn, Leather
Letter Opener on a Tray by Carl Auböck
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Beautiful letter opener / paper knife on a tray by Carl Auböck
Length of the knife: 20.6 cm, 8.11
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Horn, Leather
Mid Century Sterling and Rosewood Letter Opener New Aztec
By Tane Orfebres
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant large Mexican Mid Century sterling letter opener made as a replica of an Aztec Knife. This
Category
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Sterling Silver
Vintage Hermès Paper Knife with 2 French Coins Made in Metal Argenté
By Hermès
Located in Milan, IT
Step into a world of refined elegance with the 80's Vintage Hermès Letter Opener. Crafted with the
Category
1980s French Retro Letter Opener Knife
Sphere Letter Opener in Bronze
Located in Richmond, VA
Bronze letter Opener knife in 'Sphere' pattern. Features an undulating handle and hammered textured
Category
Late 20th Century American Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Bronze
1960s-1970s Rolls Royce Sprit of Ecstasy Mascot Paper Knife/ Letter Opener
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
1960s-1970s Rolls Royce Sprit of Ecstasy Mascot paper knife/ letter opener
Rolls Royce letter
Category
Mid-20th Century Art Deco Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Aluminum
Carl Aubock Brass Letter Opener
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
Carl Auböck letter opener in brass with dark brown handle in ostrich leather hand-stitched with
Category
1950s Austrian Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass
Brass and Ostrich Leather Letter Opener
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in London, GB
Carl Auböck letter opener in brass with dark brown handle in ostrich leather hand-stitched with
Category
1950s Austrian Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass
Daum Pate de Verre & Gilt Bronze Letter Opener
By Daum
Located in New York, NY
Daum letter knife, the blue and orange pate de verre glass handle in the form of a merhorse
Category
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Glass
Vintage Henning Koppel Letter Opener for Georg Jensen, 1990s
By Henning Koppel
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A stylish minimalist organically shaped paper knife in brushed stainless steel. Designed by Henning
Category
1980s Danish Minimalist Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Stainless Steel
Free Shipping
H 5.12 in W 0.99 in D 0.12 in
Patek Philippe Sapphire Lapis 18 Karat Gold Horse Head Letter Opener
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
Very fine and rare letter opener by Patek Philippe, cicar 1960-70s. The letter opener is designed
Category
Mid-20th Century Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Sapphire, 18k Gold
Italian Desk Set by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte
By Pietro Chiesa, Fontana Arte
Located in Hanover, MA
.
Letter holder, blotter pad, pen holder with tray and knife blade letter opener.
Category
1950s Italian Retro Letter Opener Knife
French Brass Hunting Dog Letter Opener, Paper Knife
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French brass hunting dog letter opener, paper knife
A great desk piece, the knife sits neatly on
Category
Mid-20th Century Folk Art Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass
Carl Auböck Nickel-Plated Brass Leather Letter Opener, Paper Knife, 1950s
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and solid nickel-plated brass letter opener or paper knife with black leather handle
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Italian Leather Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
An Italian leather gold embossed and resin letter opener, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Piece is
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Leather, Resin, Acrylic
Art Nouveau Letter Opener with Mermaid, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful knife form Art Nouveau style letter opener with female mermaid repousse, circa
Category
1990s American Art Nouveau Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Metal
Danish Silver, Art Deco Letter Knife
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Danish silver (0.830), Art Deco letter knife.
Measures 22 cm.
In very good condition.
Stamped.
Category
1950s Danish Art Deco Retro Letter Opener Knife
Vintage Hand Engraved Israeli Letter Opener in Bronze
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A Bezalel styled middle eastern type paper knife in partially hand engraved and patinated bronze
Category
1970s Israeli Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Vintage Swiss Made Pierre Cardin Fountain Pen Letter Knife Gold Tone
By Pierre Cardin
Located in Sofia, BG
Les Plus De Pierre Cardin
Stunning vintage swiss made Pierre Cardin fountain pen and letter knife
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Vintage Sterling Silver Letter Opener Paper Knife, 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant vintage sterling silver letter opener with tassel, perfect for opening your
Category
1980s English Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Sterling Silver
1980s Gucci Interlocking Logo Paper Knife Steel Letter Opener
By Gucci
Located in London, GB
Gucci letter opener, interlocking logo on handle, Made In Italy
Condition: vintage, 1970s/1980s
Category
1970s Italian Retro Letter Opener Knife
Allan Scharff Solid Silver Georg Jensen Paper Knife Letter Opener
By Allan Scharff, Georg Jensen
Located in Brussels, BE
A paper knife (letter opener) designed in the nineties by Allan Scharff for Georg Jensen.
The
Category
1990s Danish Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver
Vintage 1969 Sterling Silver Fox Head Letter Opener / Paper Knife
By J. B. Chatterly & Sons, Ltd.
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
sterling silver paper knife has a plain tapering blade.
This vintage letter opener is embellished with a
Category
1960s English Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Vintage Sterling Silver Paper Knife Letter Opener Gift, 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is an elegant vintage sterling silver paper knife perfect for opening your letters in style
Category
1980s Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Sterling Silver
Cartier Letter Opener / Clock Ltd. Ed
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Platinum finished limited edition clock/letter opener by Cartier features a tonneau-shape quartz
Category
1990s Swiss Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Other, Platinum, Base Metal
Midcentury Steuben Style Excalibur Paperweight
Located in Dallas, TX
. The Silver and brass sword (which acts as a practical letter opener) sits in the hole.
The crystal
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Gucci Vintage Faux Bamboo Paper Knife, 1970s
By Gucci
Located in Munich, DE
Gucci Vintage faux bamboo letter opener in chrome signed with Gucci and in very good vintage
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Georg Jensen Copper Grape Scissor and Letter Knife
By Georg Jensen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Georg Jensen copper grape scissor and letter knife.
A beautiful pair of scissor and letter knife
Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Copper
Dunhill Sylph Lighter and Letter Opener
By Dunhill
Located in New York, NY
A silver plated Dunhill "Sylph" lighter and integral letter opener in the original Dunhill box
Category
1950s English Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Silver Plate
Excalibur
Located in SouthPort, CT
Excaliber in lucite with chrome and brass letter opener. Design inspired by King Arthur's legend
Category
1970s American Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Chrome, Brass
Cartier Gold Letter Opener
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
A solid gold Cartier signed letter opener with stainless steel retractable bladed pocket knife set
Category
1960s British Retro Letter Opener Knife
Materials
Gold
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Retro Letter Opener Knife For Sale on 1stDibs
With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the retro letter opener knife you’re looking for. A retro letter opener knife — often made from metal, silver and animal skin — can elevate any home. Your living room may not be complete without a retro letter opener knife — find older editions for sale from the 20th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A retro letter opener knife is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in mid-century modern, modern and Art Deco styles are sought with frequency. A well-made retro letter opener knife has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Hermès, Ravinet d'Enfert and Werkstätte Carl Auböck are consistently popular.
How Much is a Retro Letter Opener Knife?
The average selling price for a retro letter opener knife at 1stDibs is $790, while they’re typically $138 on the low end and $25,000 for the highest priced.
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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