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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Color:  Silver
Letter Opener or Paper Cutter in Silver Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Letter opener in silver bronze Silver plated bronze letter opener 35/42 microns Measures: L: 218 mm, weight: 118 gr This letter opener is the handmade work of French designer...
Category

2010s French Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Silver Dog of Roberto Rigon Made in Italy, Art
Located in Foggia, FG
Cane Argento di Roberto Rigon Made in Italy - Art - Anno: 1950 Materiali: Ceramica firmata e smaltata, color bianca Condizioni: Buonissime Misure: Cm 39 L x 5 P x 6 H ...
Category

1950s Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Silver Chiseled Round Box, Hommage Collection, Canning Pattern
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This round box is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics highlights ...
Category

2010s French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Silver Photo Frame with Pink Quartz Flowers, Gratitude Round
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Gratitude round is a unique wonderful photo frame recto-verso, decorated both front and back, design signed Laura G Art with Heart. The photo frame is hand braided in golden silver and it carries pink quartz flowers...
Category

2010s Italian Romantic Desk Accessories

Materials

Quartz, Silver

Mauro Manetti Style Boar Head Stirrup Cups
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mauro Manetti classic style stirrup cup, is of plain beaker form with a cast boar head to one end. Playful stirrup cup from the 1970s in brass and silver plate. Gorgeous stirrup cup ...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Elizabethan Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Silver Plate, Pewter

Antique Sterling Silver Gimbal Table Lighter (1910)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine, and impressive, antique George V English sterling silver gimbal table lighter; an addition to our smoking related silverware collection This exceptional antique George V sterling silver table lighter has a globular form to a rounded composite handle. The surface of the piece is plain and embellished with the contemporary bright cut engraved initial 'H' beneath a Baron's coronet. The center of this antique silver table lighter...
Category

1910s English Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Agate, Sterling Silver

Walker & Hall Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver Inkwell
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver and glass inkwell made by Walker and Hall, part of our antique silver and glassware collection. This exceptional antique George V English sterling silver inkwell has a hexagonal shaped, waisted form. The shaped surface of this impressive antique inkwell is plain and unembellished, with applied iconic Art Deco style tiered designs to the either side of the base. The elevated anterior edge of the base composes a pen receiver. This Walker and Hall inkwell is fitted with an impressive flat topped hinged hallmarked sterling silver cover. The cover opens to reveal a sunken well and removable glass ink liner. The underside of the inkwell is fitted with the original wood base. Condition This antique Walker...
Category

1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

19th Century Chinese Silver and Jade Magnifying Glass, circa 1880
Located in Central England, GB
A Rare 19th century chinese silver and jade magnifying glass. This finely worked and intricately designed hand magnifying glass dates to circa...
Category

19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Tiffany & Co. Silver-Soldered Stamp Box and Cover
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tiffany & Co. Silver-soldered stamp box and cover. Early 20th. Century. Of slightly-curved rectangular form. 3 by 2 1/4 in., Weighted.
Category

20th Century Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Very Rare Edwardian Sterling Silver & Shagreen Desk Set, London, 1910
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1910 by Samuel Jacob, this incredible antique sterling silver & Shagreen desk set, comprises a pair of candlesticks, an ink stand and a pen tray, all featurin...
Category

1910s English Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

English Art Nouveau Sheffield Sterling Silver Mounted Large Magnifying Glass
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century desk accessory with Art Nouveau organic decor of chased flowers and leaves embraced in scrolls, this magnifying glass has its handl...
Category

Early 20th Century British Art Nouveau Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel, Silver

Silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel Russian writing set
Located in London, GB
Silver-gilt and cloisonné enamel Russian writing set Moscow, 1899-1908 Case: 3.5cm high x 23 cm wide x 7.5cm deep. Pencil: length 13cm, 0.5cm in diameter...
Category

Late 19th Century Russian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver desk standish; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver desk standish has a naturalistic-shaped form. The surface of the stand is embellished with impressive bright cut engraved scrolling leaf and floral ornamentation, incorporating a scroll bordered cartouche bearing the contemporary bright cut engraved crest of an elephant's head. The stand is further ornamented with scrolling designs encompassing an oval recess, composing a pen well. The rim of the body of the sterling silver inkstand...
Category

1840s British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Glass and Sterling Silver Match Striker / Paperweight
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver and glass match striker; an addition to our ornamental coll...
Category

1910s English Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Glass Inkstand / Desk Standish
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass inkstand / desk standish; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular shaped form. This Victorian inkstand...
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver Tape Dispenser
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We love offering novelty, whimsical sterling silver pieces! For the person who thinks they have it all or of that person who loves to have rare and unusual items… This tape dispenser...
Category

1940s American Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver Paper Clip
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A sterling silver paper holder/clip; does it get any more unique than this? Have you ever seen one before? We haven’t and we’re thrilled to be offering it. A practical and chic way ...
Category

1950s American Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set Tronador Medium Mini Boxes, Onyx Stone and Silver Alpaca
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx

WMF German Jugendstil Silver Plated Large Hound by Fritz Diller
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A scarce German Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik WMF Jugendstil silver plated model of a large standing hound by Fritz Diller and dating from circa 1906...
Category

Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Aesthetic Ornate Grape Shears, Sterling Silver by Gorham Silversmiths, circa 1
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic ornate grape shears -- sterling silver by Gorham Silversmiths, circa 1870. Steel reinforcement blades are attached to the sterling blades. Measures: length: 6 1/2"; width, 2 1/2" at handles. Weight: 5.8 troy ounces, approximately. These heavy cast shears were carefully maintained, with all of the intricate detailing still intact. During the heyday of American silver manufacturing, Gorham was highly influential. The White House has used Gorham silver services during many administrations. Mary Todd Lincoln...
Category

1870s American Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Cranberry Glass Inkwell
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, antique Victorian English sterling silver and red cranberry glass inkwell; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver inkwell has a circular shaped domed form. The body of this exceptional antique inkwell is embellished with impressive pierced and embossed scrolling leaf decoration, accented with pensile, baluster style bead motifs. The ornamentation to the body incorporates five oval cartouches; four are ornamented with an embossed male profile: two bearded males and two in a soldier's helmet. The cartouche to the anterior surface of the inkwell features the contemporary engraved crest of a stag encompassed with a garter and the motto 'God and my Honour'. The intricate sterling silver body of the inkwell incorporates five conical shaped pen receivers. The swept waisted upper portion of this antique inkwell is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover, ornamented with engraved simplified leaf decoration. The cover is surmounted with an impressive embossed three-dimensional bust of a male figure in robes. This antique inkwell retains the original and substantial red cranberry glass ink bottle liner, with a cut glass star motif to the underside; the cranberry glass liner is highly desirable. This exceptional silver and glass inkwell is supported by five swept feet, ornamented with a continuation of scrolling leaf and circular motif decoration from the body. This exceptional example of Victorian silverware, crafted by the renowned London silversmith Joseph Angell II, is the finest example of its type Condition This antique ink bottle...
Category

1850s British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Art Noveau Inkwell, France, 1900
Located in Milan, IT
Glass inkwell with silver art nouveau iris flowers. France 1900 ca.
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Hermes, Paris, Equestrian Horse Head Magnifying Glass c.1960
Located in Bath, GB
A magnificent and grand vintage desk-top magnifying glass / loupe made with it's beautifully cast Hermes Horse head handle, lovely quality to be expected from this most famous of lux...
Category

1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Naturalistic Victorian Sterling Silver Ink Stand, Charles & George Fox, 1846
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1846 by Charles & George Fox, this charming, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver ink stand, features an ornate scroll ...
Category

1840s English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

20th Century Silver Plate Pocket Emptier
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful 20th century silver plate pocket emptier. Refined finely chiseled decorations. Perfect for embellishing a desk with class.
Category

1930s English Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Desk Bell
Located in VALENZA, IT
Desk bell in sterling silver. The bell is smooth with beaded decorations both on the body and on the knob. The body is perforated to make the bell sound (br...
Category

1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver, Brass

Thomas Wheatley Newcastle Sterling Silver Inkstand
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique George IV Newcastle sterling silver inkstand made by Thomas Wheatley; an addition to our orn...
Category

1820s English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Modernist Italian 800 Silver Desk/Jewellery Box c.1960
Located in Bath, GB
A great looking box, Italian in origin made from 800 silver wrapped around a wooden interior. Both the base and lid are hallmarked "800" together with an additional mark "833 F1"....
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Italian Brass Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A simple and elegant Italian Brass letter opener with a silver plate blade. The styling of this piece is very simple and sophisticated - a compliment to any desk or work station and ...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Edwardian Sterling Silver 'Anvil' Inkwell by George Unite & Sons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare and unusual antique Edwardian English sterling silver anvil inkwell; part of antique silver and glassware collection. This exceptional an...
Category

Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

20th Century Novelty Smokers Compendium Plane J A Henckels Germany Circa 1930
Located in London, GB
20th Century Novelty Smokers Compendium Plane J A Henckels Germany Circa 1930. A wonderful smokers compendium in the form of an aeroplane by maker J.A Henckels. A beautiful showp...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Nickel

Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
Silvered metal letter opener with handle mimicking deer antlers.
Category

1960s French Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Metal

20th Century English Solid Silver Music Sheet Stands, Carrington & Co, c.1910
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
20th Century English pair of cast silver music sheet stands, each modelled with a Classical maiden playing a lyre standing above scrolling acanthus leaves with a frieze of leaves bel...
Category

20th Century British Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Table Bell
Located in VALENZA, IT
Elegant table bell in solid 925 sterling silver. The bell is smooth and features some circular lines that make the object balanced and increase the sound of the bell. The wooden h...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Other Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian 1898 Sterling Silver Gallery Inkstand by John Grinsell & Sons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver fox inkstand; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular form. This inkstand is fitted with a gallery, embellished with impressive pierced and applied scrolling foliate ornamentation. The shaped, incurved rims of the body and anterior rim of the sterling silver inkstand are ornamented with a paralleling applied gadroon decorated border. The surface of the fox silver inkstand incorporates a concave oval pen receiver. The body of the inkstand incorporates two ink bottle receivers flanking a rectangular stamp box. The impressive hallmarked ink bottles each have a tapering cylindrical form and are embellished with further pierced scrolling foliate ornamentation; these ink bottles secure to the stand with a screw fitment to the underside. Each ink bottle is fitted with a plain domed hinged cover and opens to allow access to the original glass liner. The central sterling silver stamp box...
Category

1890s British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Silver Plated and Clear Glass Ink Well by Walker and Hall
Located in Cheshire, GB
A silver-plated and clear glass ink well and stand, shaped square plated Stand with gadroon borders raised on four claw and ball feet supporting square ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Monumental Edwardian Sterling Silver Ink Stand - Egyptian Revival - Garrard 1908
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1908 by Garrard & Co., this monumental Antique, Sterling Silver Ink Stand, is the epitome of Egyptian Revival taste, ...
Category

Early 1900s English Egyptian Revival Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of Two Handcrafted Silver Plate Scissors with Steel Blade, Sweden
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful silver plated set off two Scissors, vintage Sweden. Nice addition to every table. Some patina, but this is old-age. Found at an Estate sale in Stockholm, Sweden.
Category

20th Century Swedish Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate

1870 T. Elkington Silver Plated Victorian British Inkwell
Located in Catania, Sicilia
Amazing silver plated inkwell by T. Elkington, marked on the bottom, good conditions overall, original glass.
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Edwardian Period Sterling Silver Card Tray, J.E. Caldwell
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian period, sterling silver card tray, J.E. Caldwell and Company, Philadelphia, circa 1915. Fluted design. Vacant cartouche. Measures 6...
Category

1910s American Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Letter Knife Produced in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Letter knife by unknown designer. Produced in Sweden.
Category

20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Glass and Sterling Silver Match Striker / Paperweight
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver and glass match striker; an addition to our ornamental collection. This exceptional antique glass and silver match striker...
Category

1910s British Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Jean Filhos for Christofle Silvered Bronze Erotic Letter Opener Nude, 1974 Franc
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury silvered erotic letter opener or bookmark with nudes by the French artist Jean Filhos, (1921-2002) This model was created as the official 1974 ...
Category

1970s French Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Three Metal Signed Copper, Brass and Silver-Plate Small Bowl Mid Century Modern
Located in North Miami, FL
This Mid-Century Modern handvwrought Mexican 3 metal bowl is sliced in metals like a pie. Brass, copper and silver-plate. it has copper footed 3 ball feet. It was professionally poli...
Category

1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper, Brass, Silver Plate

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Glass Inkstand / Desk Standish
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass inkstand / desk standish; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular shaped form. This Victorian inkstand is plain and embellished with an applied moulded border to the rim. The surface of this exceptional example of antique silverware incorporates two elongated oval recesses, composing pen wells. This antique hallmarked silver inkstand is supported by four impressive cast bracket style feet embellished with scroll and leaf decoration. The body of the inkstand incorporates two circular ink bottle receivers protruding from either side and conjoined with a central rectangular stamp box via two impressive elevated scrolling leaf decorated brackets. The impressive large glass ink bottles each have a compressive spherical form, ornamented with cut glass decoration. The lower portion of each bottle is fitted with a hallmarked sterling silver mount/foot, accented with a screwfit attachment, allowing the piece to stand securely in situ; this fitment is a fine feature and indicates the high quality of the piece. The upper portion retains the original hallmarked mount and hinged cover encircled with chased volute scrolling leaf motifs. Each ink bottle is surmounted with an impressive cast finial modelled in the form of two opposing masks. The central sterling silver stamp box...
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set Four Turn-Dishes Silver Plated Leaves
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
What to put in place of the usual placemats to embellish the table ? Four ivy garlands, but silvered ! to illuminate the table and make it more precious. Invented by an Italian. ref...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian International Style Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

French Trophy Style Cup on Marble Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful Silver cup with a brass band detail on a marble or granite base. The cup, while perfectly suited for a small gathering of flowers or to store pencils on a desk, is actually a small trophy. While it isn't prominent, a small brass icon...
Category

20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Granite, Carrara Marble, Silver Plate

Antique Victorian Silver Plated Monogramed Inkwell, Scotland 1897, H552
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Victorian Silver Plated Monogramed Inkwell, Scotland 1897, H552 Scotland "1897" Shaped pen holder on the back Cut glass inkwell with silver plated lid Standing on a square b...
Category

1890s Scottish Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

20th Century Silver Plated Italian Tea Tray By Broggi
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
With its rope-tie handles, it is easy to picture this tray being used in one of the luxurious liners for whom they produced dining room accessories...
Category

20th Century Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Silver Desk Writing Set, Platerías Martínez, Madrid, Spain, 1845
Located in Madrid, ES
Scribe with three inkwells. Silver. Real Martínez silver factory, Madrid, 1845. With contrast marks. Notary of silver in its color composed of a rectangular tray with raised and op...
Category

1840s Spanish Neoclassical Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Vintage English Solid Silver Novelty Golf Club Letter Opener, London 1984
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous twentieth century solid sterling silver letter opener, English in origin and made from solid sterling silver fully hallmarked for London 1984. Cast in the form of a gol...
Category

1980s English Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Magnifying Glass
Located in New York, NY
Silvered magnifying glass with handle mimicking deer antlers.
Category

1960s French Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Metal

Henry Chawner Georgian Sterling Silver Ladies Inkstand
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Georgian English sterling silver and glass ladies inkstand; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This exceptional antique George III sterling silver desk Standish has a navette shaped form onto four bracket feet. This inkstand is encompassed with an applied thread decorated border, in addition to the contemporary engraved initials 'WW'. The rim of the body of the sterling silver inkstand is ornamented with a paralleling applied reed decorated border. The internal wirework style frame of the stand is divided into three rounded supports. Each internal compartment retains the original rounded glass bottles with cut glass ornamentation in addition to impressive scalloped bases. The ink, pen/quill and pounce bottles retain the original plain silver cylindrical mounts fitted with push fit hallmarked covers. The rim of each circular cover is encircled with applied moulded borders and bears the corresponding functional pierced decorated holes. This large silver ink Standish was crafted by the renowned London silversmiths Henry Chawner. Such original ladies examples, in perfect condition, are becoming increasingly difficult to locate. Condition This antique inkstand...
Category

1780s English George III Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

20th Century Edwardian Solid Silver & Glass Inkwell with Clock, Chester, c.1907
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
20th century Edwardian silver capstan shaped inkwell with an 8 day goliath clock. The hinged cover is set with a silver plated clock, with a white dial w...
Category

20th Century British Edwardian Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Antique English Edwardian Cut Crystal & Sterling Silver Inkwell, Circa 1900's
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fine antique English Edwardian Hallmarked cut crystal and sterling silver inkwell, Circa 1900's.
Category

20th Century English Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

20th Century Arts & Crafts Large Solid Silver Photo Frame, c.1907
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
20th century Arts & Crafts, hand hammered silver photograph frame, mounted on a leather bound easel support and set with glass, top with a shield shaped cartouche, engraved with elab...
Category

20th Century British Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Open Letters Caucasian Rusian
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Open letters Caucasian Rusian Circa 1900 Silver Solid Islamic inscriptions with Niele enamel.
Category

Early 1900s Belarusian Islamic Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Enamel

Antique English Sterling Silver Victorian Inkstand
Located in New Orleans, LA
A very handsome double inkwell from the Victorian era.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

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.

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