Desk Accessories
Mid-20th Century Greek Revival Desk Accessories
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Resin
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Ukrainian Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 20th Century Belgian Desk Accessories
Crystal
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
20th Century Hungarian Desk Accessories
Porcelain
17th Century Italian Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Oak
Late 20th Century Canadian Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic, Acrylic
Late 19th Century Antique Desk Accessories
Bone
2010s Chinese Desk Accessories
Wood, Wenge
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Metal
1930s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Blown Glass
2010s Austrian Desk Accessories
Brass
1950s Czech Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather
1950s Czech Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather
19th Century American George III Antique Desk Accessories
Leather, Paper
19th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Accessories
Glass
2010s American Minimalist Desk Accessories
Soapstone
1890s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Horn, Felt
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Teak
20th Century American Desk Accessories
Plastic, Teak
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Brass, Copper, Steel
1880s Italian Antique Desk Accessories
Agate, Amethyst, Malachite, Onyx, Marble
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desk Accessories
Wood
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Leather
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather
Mid-19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Iron
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Aluminum
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Blown Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Marble, Alabaster
2010s Dutch Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum, Brass, Iron
1960s Vintage Desk Accessories
Rosewood
Late 20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Crystal
1930s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
2010s Austrian Desk Accessories
Brass
20th Century Chinese Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Early 20th Century European Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories
Brass
19th Century European Antique Desk Accessories
Wood
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Leather
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
1890s French Antique Desk Accessories
Porcelain, Wood
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Leather
2010s Austrian Desk Accessories
Brass
19th Century Italian Antique Desk Accessories
Metal
Late 20th Century German Country Desk Accessories
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Industrial Desk Accessories
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Iron, Brass
1890s British Late Victorian Antique 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.