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Desk Accessories For Sale
Mid-Century Modern Onyx and Marble Desk Accessory, Box, Pen Holder, Ruler, 3 pc
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare functional Mid-Century modernist desk accessories set crafted in Italy in the 1960s. The set comprises three pieces: a pen holder, a box, and a ruler. The refined shape boasts...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Antique Ladies Dress Gentlemans Cane Walking Stick Bovine Horn Crook Handle 19Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Very Unusual Fine Quality English Ladies or Gentleman’s Walking Stick or Dress Cane of outstanding quality and unusual design, last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. The entire s...
Category

Late 19th Century British Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver, Brass

Murano Salviati Sommerso Sapphire Blue Italian Art Glass Snail Figure Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and large, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso cobalt blue snail, with light blue shell Italian art glass sculpture. The piece is documented to the Salviati company, and at...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Uranium Glass

Vintage Islamic Dagger Style Letter Opener in Hand-engraved Brass
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Large artisan made hand-tooled/engraved dagger style paper knife in solid brass. It comes in a decorative sheath also in hand-engraved solid brass. It was made in either Turkey or an...
Category

20th Century Turkish Islamic Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Beautiful Highly Decorative Cast Iron Letter Scale Antique, German, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Decorative German Letter Scale with Porcelain Enamel Face, Marked D.R.G.M. An elegant and highly decorative German letter scale, beautifully crafted and inscribed entirely in German...
Category

Early 1900s German Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Pierre-Adrien DALPAYRAT French Art Nouveau Stoneware Inkwell, 1890
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Art Nouveau Inkwell by Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, France, circa 1890. A rare and exquisite Art Nouveau inkwell by renowned French ceramist Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910). This finely crafted piece showcases Dalpayrat’s signature red copper-glazed stoneware, especially rich and luminous near the base. Elegantly mounted in pewter, the design exemplifies the organic flow and refined detail of the Art Nouveau period. Dimensions: Height: 3.54 in. (9 cm) Diameter: 5.12 in. (13 cm) Materials: Stoneware with pewter mount Condition: Excellent+++++, museum-quality preservation Markings: Incised signature "Dalpayrat 1500" under the base (see photo) This inkwell is a collectible example of French ceramic art at the turn of the century—perfect for collectors of Art Nouveau, 19th-century French ceramics, or the works of Dalpayrat. Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910): A Pioneer of French Ceramic Innovation Adrien Dalpayrat was a French ceramicist and researcher who played a key role in the revival of stoneware at the end of the 19th century. Born in 1844 in Limoges, Dalpayrat studied drawing and porcelain painting in his hometown before beginning his professional career at the Jules Vieillard faience factory in Bordeaux. There, he met his wife, Marie Tallerie, with whom he had two sons—Albert and Adolphe—who would later become his primary collaborators. Throughout his early career, Dalpayrat worked for several major ceramic manufacturers, including Ashwin (Valentine), Fouquet (Toulouse), François Blanc (Monaco), and Léon Sazerat (Limoges). In 1889, seeking greater independence, he moved to the Paris region and established his own studio in Bourg-la-Reine. Collaborations and Artistic Evolution Dalpayrat’s creative vision expanded through his collaboration with sculptor Alphonse Voisin-Delacroix. Together, they explored neo-Gothic and Palissy-inspired motifs, creating a remarkable ceramic bestiary. Following Voisin-Delacroix’s death in 1893, Dalpayrat partnered with Adèle Lesbros, which marked a shift in his work toward simpler, more refined vase forms influenced by Japonism. Japanese art had been introduced to France during the 1867 Universal Exhibition, but it wasn’t until the 1878 Exhibition, particularly through the ceremonial stoneware used in the Japanese tea ceremony, that Japonism truly captivated French artists. This influence led Dalpayrat to create vessels with organic, vegetal, and animal-inspired forms. Technical Mastery: The Secrets of Copper Red Among all the ceramists of his time who sought to replicate the elusive Chinese “sang de boeuf” (oxblood) glaze, Adrien Dalpayrat was arguably the most successful. He didn’t simply reproduce the legendary copper red—he transformed it. By manipulating glaze thickness, firing temperature, atmosphere, and copper oxide content, he developed a unique palette of flamed and mottled red glazes that became his signature: the renowned Dalpayrat red. He further enriched his pieces by introducing streaks and inclusions of turquoise, blue, green, and yellow—freeing the red glaze from monochromy and turning it into an expressive, living surface. His work pushed stoneware beyond function into expressive art, merging form and glaze in bold, sculptural harmony. Beyond Ceramics: Bronze Mounts and Architectural Works Dalpayrat also collaborated with renowned jewelers such as Ernest Cardeilhac and Keller to produce pieces mounted in gilt bronze, blending ceramics with decorative arts at the highest level. In an effort to make his work more accessible, he opened a second faience workshop focused on simpler, more affordable pieces inspired by Nevers and Rouen ware. However, this venture faced financial difficulties and closed by 1900. The main family studio followed in 1906 as the popularity of Art Nouveau declined. Dalpayrat then returned to Limoges, devoting his final years to painting and drawing until his death in 1910. Legacy and Recognition Despite financial struggles during his lifetime, Dalpayrat’s ceramics were widely acclaimed at major international exhibitions: Bronze medal, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago (1893) Silver medal, Antwerp International Exhibition (1894) Gold medal, Exposition Universelle, Paris (1900) Today, his work is part of prestigious museum collections. In 2020, the Petit Palais in Paris acquired a large bird motif vase created in collaboration with Voisin-Delacroix, now on view in Room...
Category

1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Large Malachite Box Gemstone Box Turkey Tail
Located in Somis, CA
This beautiful large gemstone box is finely crafted with the finest malachite in brilliant green displaying spectacular turkey tail pattern, concentric ri...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Malachite

Annemarie Davidson & Blaine Rath Walnut & Enamel Letter Tray, California, c.1970
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Annemarie Davidson & Blaine Rath Walnut & Enamel Letter Tray, California, c.1970
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Enamel

Walter Bosse Cat Vienna Metal Letter Opener, Vintage Austria 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
We are offering this wonderful Cat letter opener. The design dates back to the 1950s, the object is still handmade in Austria and is not marked. We believe that this one dates from t...
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Modernist Wood and Chrome Desk Accessory Letter Holder, circa 1930
Located in Atlanta, GA
Make a bold statement with this exceptional Art Deco modernist letter holder, a masterpiece of French craftsmanship, circa 1930. Defined by its stunning concentric half-circle silhou...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Russian 88 Silver And Jade Amethyst Letter Opener
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Russian Neoclassical paper knife or letter opener in the style of a Roman gladius sword. The blade is made of polished nephrite jade stone. Pink guilloche enamel handle with gilt a...
Category

19th Century Russian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Jade, Silver

Art Deco French Writing Desk Set with Greyhound in Portoro Marble, 1930s
Located in Bochum, NRW
An outstanding desk set made of beautiful Italian black Portor rmarble. Comprising: - Pen tray with inkwell - Letter holder - Blotter - Paper knife All the pieces are original and i...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

Midcentury Modern Porcelain Jewely Dish Rosenthal Bjorn Wiinblad
Located in New York, NY
A German white, gold and copper porcelain jewelry dish by Danish Designer Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio-Line, Germany, 20th century. A rectangular white porcelain dish with abs...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Anglo-Indian Fluted Writing Box With Secret Drawers. Early 19th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful writing box made from a tropical hardwood Fabulous shape and plain fluted carving. It gives it a modernist appearance Probably Sri Lankan 3 secret drawers* Replaced lea...
Category

Early 19th Century Sri Lankan Anglo-Indian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Bohemian Moser Art Deco Oroplastic Amazons Purple Glass Vase, 1920
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Stunning Art Deco signed Moser purple Oroplastic vase in the shape of a short baluster. Vase The oroplastic design features battling Amazons with shields and full length spears - Th...
Category

1920s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

1960s Catchall / Vide-Poche in Porcelain "La Gioconda" by Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Original astonishing porcelain catchall / vide-poche "La Gioconda" by Piero Fornasetti. Heavy porcelain construction for use as beautiful desk accessories. Marked on the bottom...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Royal Standard Typewriter with Ribbon Covers c.1938
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An antique Royal Standard typewriter with nickel and black keys with gold letters. The space bar and the carriage function properly. All the keys strike properly. Metal pop up...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Steel, Nickel

Antique Victorian Brass Bound Traveling Desk Walnut Wooden Writing Slope Box 19C
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine early English Well Figured Solid grained Walnut Ladies or Gents Travelling Writing Slope of outstanding quality and compact proportions. Last quarter of the Nin...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century West German Space Age Desk Utensilo, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century West German Space Age Desk Utensilo, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Plastic Color: Green Styles: Mid-Century M...
Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Venezia Mestre Set of 2 Bookends by Morici
Located in Milan, IT
A splendid way of adorning both a clean and minimalist or traditional bookcase, this pair of bookends is a veritable objet d'art entirely crafted and veneered by hand. Fashioned of w...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Egyptian Revival Bronze Scarab Paperweight with Hieroglyphic Inscription
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Egyptian Revival Bronze Scarab Paperweight with Hieroglyphic Inscription, Early 20th Century A finely cast Egyptian Revival scarab paperweight in p...
Category

20th Century French Egyptian Revival Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design
Located in Hamburg, DE
Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design for Ritzenhoff, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional inf...
Category

20th Century Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Salviati Murano Sommerso Blue Green Italian Art Glass Snail Figure Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and large, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso emerald green with bubbles, and sapphire blue Italian art glass snail sculpture. The piece is documented to the Salviati comp...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Uranium Glass

Macassar, Chrome and Lucite Desk Accessory Letter Holder, circa 1940
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exceptional French Art Deco Desk Accessory in Macassar, Chrome, and Lucite, circa 1940 A rare and refined embodiment of Art Deco modernism, this exquisite desk accessory was crafted ...
Category

1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Italian Pietra Dura Butterfly Paperweight Specimen Plaque
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique pietra dura paperweight. Butterflies. Marble inlaid with lapis lazuli, malachite, and other semiprecious stones. large
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Lapis Lazuli, Marble, Carrara Marble

Mid Century Italian Marble Brass Italian Cheetah Marble Paperweight
Located in Toronto, CA
Elevate your desk or decor with this exquisite Mid-Century Italian Marble and Brass Cheetah Paperweight. A striking fusion of luxury and craftsmanship, t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Brass

19th Century French Grand Tour Patinated Iron Napoleon’s Tomb Inkwell
Located in Stamford, CT
A mid 19th century Grand Tour, French, Inkwell in the form of Napoleon’s tomb. The patinated black iron tomb with removable lid revealing a sand sifter a...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Antique Regency Brass Bound Traveling Desk Wooden Mahogany Writing Slope Regency
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Quality English Well Figured Solid grained Mahogany Officers Campaign Style Traveling Writing Slope of outstanding quality and unusually large size. First quart...
Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Tapio Wirkkala Stainless Steel Puukko Knife with Leather Sheath Hackman Finland
Located in London, GB
Tapio Wirkkala Puukko Knife by Hackman Finnish Design This vintage Puukko knife, designed by renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala and produc...
Category

1960s Finnish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Classic Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Vendome Trinity Rollerball Pen
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Vintage Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Vendome Trinity Oval Rollerball Pen Complete With Cartier Box & Guarantee Card. Made in Paris, France Cartier pens are designed by Cart...
Category

Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Plate

Onyx Catchall
Located in New York, NY
A substantial green and brown onyx marble catchall, circa mid-20th century. Use to hold pens, jewelry, etc., on a desk, vanity, nightstand, walk-in-closet, etc. Dimensions: 2.63" Hei...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Onyx, Marble

Beautiful Fish Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium design Italian art glass paper weight. Showing two fish inside, in orange colors. Colors are orange, blue, ...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Mid Century Glass Golf Ball Paperweight by Orrefors Sweden 1960s
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
A mid-century glass golf ball paperweight made by Orrefors, circa the 1960s. The Orrefors Sweden sticker is attached to the base.
Category

1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Jean Gerbino For Vallauris, France, Ceramic Glazed Sage Mosaic Lidded Pot 1960's
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Jean Gerbino for Vallauris, France, ceramic glazed mosaic lidded pot Sage green, terracotta and cream shades, beautifully crafted Circa 1960's Signed Gerbino to base Height 2.5 inch...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Tronador Square Cream Onyx Stone Box
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx

Louis Vuitton Solid Bronze and Gold-Plated Storefront Plaque, “Malletier à Paris
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Louis Vuitton Solid Bronze and Gold-Plated Storefront Plaque, “Malletier à Paris”—Mid-20th Century A rare and impressive Louis Vuitton architectural nameplate, cast in solid bronze ...
Category

20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Art Nouveau Victorian Steel Office Stapler Paper Fastener Rarity
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1920. We offer this Art Nouveau Victorian Steel Office Stapler Paper Fastener Rarity, fantastic patina.
Category

Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel

Antique Tiffany & Co. Waldorf Astoria USS Maine Bronze Letter Opener
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and historical antique bronze letter opener by luxury maker Tiffany & Co. originally issued in limited numbers on December 21st, 19...
Category

Early 20th Century American Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Murano Glass Paperweight With Swirl Tornado Mid-Century Modern, Italy 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass paper weight. A beautiful nice addition to your desktop. Found at an estate sale in Verona, Italy....
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

1990s Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "Deluxe" With The Original Box. Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1990s Gorgeous Swatch twin phone "Deluxe" in excellent condition with the original box. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its ama...
Category

1990s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Large Malachite Box 7" Gemstone Jewelry Box
Located in Somis, CA
This magnificent, large 4.15 lb malachite box is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and the inherent beauty of fine-grade gemstone malachite. The carefully selected stone displ...
Category

2010s Congolese Desk Accessories

Materials

Malachite

Georg Jensen Bernadotte Sterling Letter Opener 301
Located in Hellerup, DK
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Letter Opener – Bernadotte Pattern (#301) A rare all-silver letter opener in the iconic Bernadotte pattern, designed in 1938 by Sigvard Bernadotte. This...
Category

1940s Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Gentlemans Ladys Gadget Measuring English Bamboo Walking Stick Cane RARE
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Superb Rare Polished Victorian Bamboo Wood Ladys or Gentlemans Walking Stick of outstanding quality by Charles Cook who also worked for renowned Stick makers Brigg & Sons in Lond...
Category

19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

TRAVERTINE SPHERE, Sahi Natural Stone Ball, Book Shelf and Coffee Table Decor
Located in St Petersburg, US
SAHI by Haand: 10 cm (4") travertine sphere, crafted with exceptional hand quality. This elegant decorative object seamlessly blends natural beauty with versatility, making it an ide...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Minimalist Desk Accessories

Materials

Travertine, Marble

Geometric Sculpture in Polished Pearl Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Geometric sculpture made in polished resin in variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. This sculpture is very versatile and fun! You can cr...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Georgous Big Dolphin and Fish Sea Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing some blue dolphins and fishes with a Coral Reef inside, floating on controlle...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Olivetti Typewriter Vintage Model "Valentine" 1969 Pop Art Icoon
Located in Antwerp, BE
The Olivetti Valetine is an icon for its expressive design and practical usability portable, manual typewriter known for its typical red ABS plastic housing and matching red case. Th...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Cuyo Large Alpaca Silver & Blue Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library. Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

A Pair of Ketland and Co. Flintlock Pistols
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of 18th century English flintlock pistols by Ketland and Co. having proof-marked brass barrels, walnut stocks and engraved steel locks, both with original ramrods and both in ...
Category

18th Century English George III Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Walnut

Solid Carved Malchite Head Sculpture or Paperweight
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Very heavy Solid carved Malchite head sculpture Paperweight.
Category

1950s Beninese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Malachite

Set Aimara Rectangular Alpaca Silver Trays
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Set / Dimensions : 30x15x3.5 cm / 12" x 6" x 1.4" 40x22x3.5 cm / 16" x 9" x 1.4" 50x26x3.5 cm / 20" x 10.2" x 1.4" The waves on a choppy lake, rough by the wind, inspire the design...
Category

2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Jewelry Box Rhodonite Quartz Bronze
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful and rare pink and black rhodonite quartz jewelry box with bronze/brass frame and a midnight blue velvet interior, circa early-20th ...
Category

Early 20th Century European Desk Accessories

Materials

Quartz, Brass, Bronze

Jewelry Box Rhodonite Quartz Bronze
Jewelry Box Rhodonite Quartz Bronze
$2,280 Sale Price
20% Off
1960 Lino Sabattini Christofle Design Silver Metal Paperweight
Located in Brescia, IT
Paperweight Lino Sabattini for Christofle France 1960 Silver Metal Mark manufacture impressed Very good condiction
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Atomic Space Age Perpetual Flip Calendar, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Often seen in 1960s-70s American movies this atomic perpetual flip calendar with manually set day and month has become an iconic desk piece amo...
Category

1970s Asian Space Age Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Brass Shell Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist shell keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Length including...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Italian Alabaster Marble Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
An Italian dark brown alabaster marble jewelry box with a blue matte metal hinge. Box can hold jewelry or other small items. A great piece for a...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Alabaster, Marble, Metal

Luxury Art Deco Desk Set in Swedish Black Marble, 1930's
Located in Stockholm, SE
A luxurious Art Deco desk set in Swedish black marble with elegant white veining, dating from the 1930s. This refined ensemble includes a letter opener, rocker blotter, inkwell, lett...
Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Daum Crystal Marly Car Relief Paperweight or Decorative Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning crystal car paperweight or decorative sculpture is by Daum, France, and was hand-made in the 1980s. The design is from artist and sculptor Xa...
Category

1980s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Frosted Crystal Owl Sculpture Paperweight by Lalique of France
Located in San Diego, CA
A beautiful, frosted crystal owl sculpture paperweight by Lalique of France, circa 1990s. This gorgeous piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 2...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Art Deco Bakelite Desk Writing Accessory, 5 pieces in box, France 1930s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning Art Deco Bakelite desk accessories writing set dates from the 1930s. The set is built of five pieces in its original box: a letter opener, paper cutter, pen holder, mec...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Brass

Antique, New and Vintage Desk Accessories

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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