Desk Accessories
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Late 20th Century Canadian Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Wood
20th Century Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories
Crystal, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Gold Plate
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Ceramic
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Concrete
Late 19th Century British Antique Desk Accessories
Silver
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Glass, Mirror
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Porcelain
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic, Acrylic
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desk Accessories
Silver
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver, Silver Plate
1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
1980s Italian Organic Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Gold
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Gold Plate
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Bakelite
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Chrome
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Stone, Agate
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Swedish Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Teak
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1890s French Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Asian Islamic Desk Accessories
Fruitwood
1860s English Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Travertine, Marble
2010s American Brutalist Desk Accessories
Concrete
Early 20th Century Dutch Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Copper
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Walnut
Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories
Zinc
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.