Desk Accessories
1970s Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Crystal
1920s Moroccan Folk Art Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass, Tin
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Suede, Wood
1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal, Aluminum
20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Stoneware
20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Stoneware
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Shell, Epoxy Resin
2010s Danish Modern Desk Accessories
Cast Stone
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 19th Century English Empire Antique Desk Accessories
Pewter
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1940s North American Industrial Vintage Desk Accessories
Steel
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century Scottish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Porcelain
2010s Danish Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Crystal
1890s German Black Forest Antique Desk Accessories
Wood
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Pewter
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass
19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Leather, Paper
2010s American Desk Accessories
Soapstone
2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Enamel, Pewter
1980s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
1880s Swiss Black Forest Antique Desk Accessories
Walnut
2010s Turkish Minimalist Desk Accessories
Copper, Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Nickel
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1980s Taiwanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1980s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Paper
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
PVC
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
PVC
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Marble
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Marble, Metal, Brass
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Marble, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Iron
20th Century Scottish Modern Desk Accessories
Blown Glass
2010s Desk Accessories
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Marble
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass, Stainless Steel
21st Century and Contemporary American Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum
15th Century and Earlier Malagasy Prehistoric Antique Desk Accessories
Stone
Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal, Iron
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Aluminum
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Leather
1990s American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-19th Century Norwegian Neoclassical Antique Desk Accessories
Porphyry
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Marble, Metal
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
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.