Desk Accessories
Mid-19th Century Irish Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Naugahyde, Walnut
Early 20th Century Chinese Qing Desk Accessories
Ceramic
Early 1900s Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Iron
2010s Unknown Desk Accessories
Malachite
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Glass
2010s Australian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Late 20th Century French Folk Art Desk Accessories
Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
1980s Italian Colonial Revival Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Walnut
20th Century British Art Deco Desk Accessories
Glass
Late 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
1990s French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Crystal
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass, Metal
20th Century American Desk Accessories
Leather
Early 20th Century European Desk Accessories
Metal
Late 19th Century Antique Desk Accessories
Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Travertine
1960s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Resin
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century Desk Accessories
Wood
1930s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Iron
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 1900s European Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Desk Accessories
Glass
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass
Early 20th Century Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Desk Accessories
Glass
20th Century Chinese Desk Accessories
Metal, Other
1980s Brazilian Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Petrified Wood
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Rustic Desk Accessories
Metal
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Lucite
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Hardwood
1930s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Tin
1970s Hong Kong Space Age Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Lucite
20th Century Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Copper
20th Century Desk Accessories
Stone, Rock Crystal, Silver Plate
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Silver Plate
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Brass
1910s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Pewter
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
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.