Desk Accessories
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Fruitwood
Mid-20th Century Austrian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Bronze
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Marble
1960s German Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Wood
Mid-20th Century English Folk Art Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Lucite
Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories
Metal, Enamel
1910s Asian Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 2000s Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Concrete
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather, Suede
1920s English Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Iron
Late 20th Century Swiss Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Minimalist Desk Accessories
Iron
Early 2000s American Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Steel
1950s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Marble
1910s Scottish Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Rubber
Early 1900s Italian Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Wood
2010s Chinese Desk Accessories
Crystal
Mid-20th Century German Country Desk Accessories
Wood
1880s Swiss Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Softwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Anglo-Indian Desk Accessories
Spelter
Early 20th Century Industrial Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Chrome
Early 20th Century Industrial Desk Accessories
Copper, Tin
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 20th Century Desk Accessories
Gold
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
15th Century and Earlier American Mid-Century Modern Antique Desk Accessories
Petrified Wood
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Ceramic
20th Century Honduran Art Deco Desk Accessories
Wood
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass, Chrome
1930s German Vintage Desk Accessories
Beech
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Walnut
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Onyx, Marble
21st Century and Contemporary French Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal, Sterling Silver
Early 19th Century Swedish Empire Antique Desk Accessories
Marble
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Silver Plate, Brass
Mid-19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal, Brass
2010s Austrian Desk Accessories
Brass
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver, Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Mid-19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 20th Century English Empire Revival Desk Accessories
Onyx, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Desk Accessories
Leather, Fabric
1930s German Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 2000s Canadian Minimalist Desk Accessories
Wood, Willow
Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Pewter
Mid-20th Century French Desk Accessories
Chrome
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
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.