Desk Accessories
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Bronze
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Walnut
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather
2010s Brazilian Minimalist Desk Accessories
Steel
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
2010s Brazilian Minimalist Desk Accessories
Steel
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Bronze
Early 20th Century Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Desk Accessories
Glass
20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
1930s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Tin
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s Unknown Desk Accessories
Malachite
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Bronze
20th Century European Desk Accessories
Shagreen
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum, Chrome
20th Century Chinese Desk Accessories
Metal, Other
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Horn
Late 20th Century Unknown Rustic Desk Accessories
Metal
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Lucite
Early 20th Century South African Desk Accessories
Bone, Wood
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Travertine
Late 19th Century European Gothic Revival Antique Desk Accessories
Brass, Bronze
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Desk Accessories
Steel, Nickel
Mid-20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Brass, Gold
1930s British Other Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
1870s European Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Lucite
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
20th Century Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Copper
Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Brass
1980s Brazilian Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Desk Accessories
Glass
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Teak
1910s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Pewter
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
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.