Desk Accessories
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Stone, Marble
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
Late 20th Century North American Bohemian Desk Accessories
Stone
1880s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
1990s Italian Desk Accessories
Murano Glass, Paper
1850s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Enamel
1930s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Tin
20th Century Scottish Desk Accessories
Glass
Early 2000s German Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Leather, Resin
Early 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
Late 20th Century Italian International Style Desk Accessories
Metal
20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Silver Plate
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
1990s Italian Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Metal
1980s Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Acrylic
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Hong Kong Adirondack Desk Accessories
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
15th Century and Earlier Congolese Mid-Century Modern Antique Desk Accessories
Petrified Wood
1910s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Pewter
Mid-19th Century French Art Deco Antique Desk Accessories
Marble, Bronze
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Chrome
1620s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories
Metal
Late 18th Century Dutch Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Iron
1960s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Desk Accessories
Silk
20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass, Blown Glass
1850s French Antique Desk Accessories
Glass
1960s German Brutalist Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Steel
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Horn, Wood
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
1630s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Mid-20th Century Bohemian Desk Accessories
Bamboo, Wicker
Mid-20th Century American Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Stone
2010s Chinese Qing Desk Accessories
Jade
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Leaf
1740s Dutch Antique Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
1980s European Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
1740s Dutch Antique Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Late 19th Century British Antique Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 20th Century German Jugendstil Desk Accessories
Crystal, Metal, Sterling Silver, Silver
1980s Hollywood Regency 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.