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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: 19th Century
Period: 1990s
Rare Antique English Silver on Nickel Banded Oak Signed Dome-Top Stationery Box
Located in Charleston, SC
It is particularly rare to find Antique English 19th century boxes that are "signed" by its manufacturer. This one, stamped clearly on the inside top edge "Halstaff & Hannaford, 228 ...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Nickel

Rare Polished Pig / Hog Mechanical Bell, C.1890
Located in Bath, GB
A rare find, this fabulous figural desk bell was cast in metal in the form of a pig with a quality screwed construction. The mechanical bell can be wou...
Category

1890s German Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Antique Victorian Marble Roman Ruins Grand Tour Statue Sculpture Columns Pillars
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this extremely collectable original Victorian Marble Grand Tour Roman Ruin statue of columns A wonderful original piece, this is a desk sized co...
Category

19th Century Italian Grand Tour Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Decorative XIX Century Child Wax Bust
Located in Madrid, ES
XIX Century child wax bust. Curious bust in wax representing a child of the xix century on wooden base total measurements: 22 cm height only the bust 16 cm.
Category

1860s Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Fruitwood

Indian Antique Wooden Hand Noodle Maker with Carved Elephant and Vice Press
Located in Yonkers, NY
An Indian antique carved wooden hand noodle press from the 19th century, with elephant motif. Created in India during the 19th century, this wooden piece was originally used to hand make noodles. Showcasing a vice press, the body is adorned with a carved elephant whose head and behind expand from a central square. This container is where the dough was placed and the vice part would press it into noodles. The elephant head is carved with subtle motifs, such as a jewel on the forehead. The trunk is tucked in. The sides are adorned with medallions adorned with foliage or a rosette. Boasting a nicely weathered appearance revealing its nice age and use, this antique Indian carved wooden...
Category

19th Century Indian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Set Of Old Bound Books Dating From the 19th Century France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are called  « History of Protestant...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Paper

Antique Quality 19th Century French Cast-Brass Desk Set
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality 19th century antique French cast-brass desk set with a very attractive inkstand having twin inkwells and beautiful pierced gallery. It has a rectangular pierced pen tray and a pair of ornate candlesticks...
Category

19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Rare French Ormolu and Diamond-Cut Crystal Figural Inkwell Encrier by Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
A rare French Ormolu and diamond-cut crystal figural inkwell Encrier by Baccarat, circa 1875. Depicting a cherub with books, with the finest ormolu mounts, this exquisite jewel...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu

English Edwardian Butler's Letter Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Edwardian Butler's Mail Box Carved Wood and Mother of Pearl With Key from a Palm Beach estate. There are cracks in the fretwork which do not hurt the structure; the key fi...
Category

Late 19th Century English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century, Silvered Bronze Sculpture with the Struggle for Life by E. Drouot
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Edouard Drouot (1859-1945), The struggle for life (La Lutte pour la Vie), Silvered Bronze and Green marble sculpture Signed "E. Drouot" This valuable bronze-silvered sculpture is the work of the French sculptor Edouard Drouot (1859-1945) and depicts La The struggle for life (La Lutte pour la Vie). It is the representation of a man with a statuary and classicist physique, dressed only with a thong, while struggling with a fierce panther, climbing on a rocky group. Some identify the man Milone of Crotone, ancient Greek...
Category

19th Century French Classical Greek Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Finely Carved 'Black Forest' Pipe Stand
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
A finely carved "Black Forest' pipe stand. Carved Lindenwood with a single bear standing over a naturalistic base with the pipe holders and astray to fron...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Fantastic 19th Century French Dore Bronze Mounted Black Crystal Hinged Box
Located in New York, NY
A Fantastic 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Mounted Black Crystal Box. The box is composed of two sections of French black crystal wh...
Category

1890s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Antique Cordage Gauge Callipers, English, Rope, Cable Measure, Rabone, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of antique cordage gauge callipers. An English, boxwood and brass rope or cable measure by J. Rabone, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Two fascinati...
Category

Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century Chinese Camphor Wood and Ebonised Writing Slope
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th century Chinese camphor wood and ebonised writing slope of exceptional quality, having a drawer to the front which when pulls out opens the tambour shutter on top to reveal a lift up stationary rack with various sized compartments, in the bottom central compartment there is the makers label “SUI KEE CHAN” There is a hinged lid which lifts up and over...
Category

1840s Hong Kong Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Hardwood

Fine Antique French Neoclassical Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Picture Frame
Located in Miami, FL
A fine ornate antique French Louis XV style gilt bronze photo frame with back easel stand, Napoleon III era, circa 1880. Richly decorated with neoclassical style motifs such as faces...
Category

19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

19th century English Regency Bronze Petite Spill Vases
Located in Savannah, GA
Pair of English Regency style embossed bronze spill vases in a rare small size. The workmanship is incredible and features Classic shell, lyre and floral detail. Rolled and soldered ...
Category

1810s English Regency Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Majolica Rams Head English Decorated Partners Desk Stand with Inkwells
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish English majolica pottery partners desk stand with inkwells with ram heads by renowned maker William Brownfield and dating from around 1870. The rectangular shaped desk...
Category

19th Century English High Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pottery

Russian American Silver Diamond Ruby Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
A letter opener knife with a patterned metal blade and a black wood and silver handle with two crowns. The end of the handle is decorated with a silver bull's head. The silver elements on the grip are set with colored diamonds and faceted ruby stones. There are engraved inscriptions of O. Voronkoff, USA on the rim of the handle. The knife comes with a pink rhodochrosite and silver stand. The blade is not silver. Collectible Knives...
Category

19th Century North American Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Multi-gemstone

19th Century Scottish Double Inkwell
Located in Cheshire, GB
19th century Scottish double inkwell by Arthur Medlock with two hoof inkwells with metal covers centred by a facet citrine, on a wooden base, th...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Oak

Beautiful Art Nouveau Inkwell, Signed "Guénardeau", Susse Frères
Located in Greven, DE
Exceptionally beautiful inkwell from the French Art Nouveau period. Great workmanship of Art Nouveau decor with maple and vine motifs on the bottom of the pen tray, the ink cup holde...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Model with Nasrid Plasterwork Motif from Granada Second Half of the 19th Century
Located in Marbella, ES
Mould with Nasrid plasterwork motif. Granada, second half of the 19th century. Plaster. It has slight flaws on the edges. Measurements: 28 x 41 x 2 m. Following the Mudéjar tradition of working plaster as a decorative material, this plaster mould...
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Plaster

Austrian Clock Holder, Granite and Steel with Picture St Stephans Dome
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautiful and exclusive clock stand made of steel and granite. Holding a picture of the Stephans-dome. The most famous church in Wienna, Austria. High quality craftsmanship on all...
Category

Early 19th Century Austrian Empire Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Granite, Steel

Palais Royal French Ormolu Mounted Desk Writing Set with Pen
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very finely made antique French Palais Royal ormolu mounted mother of pearl desk stand with pen dating from around 1900. The stand comprises of an ornate looped wire work carrying handle with a candle holder mounted on a shaped metal body embossed and engraved with floral designs and with a coiled pen support one with a snake head terminal and other with a flower with a polished mother of pearl bowl...
Category

19th Century French Rococo Revival Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Late 19thC Spelter Ink Stand Centered with a Gun Dog
Located in Altrincham, GB
Late 19thC spelter ink stand Centred with a Gun Dog with pheasant in its mouth, flanked by glass inkwells in a shaped base c1890 Measures: 10" W x 5" D x 5" H.
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Spelter

Antique Tortoiseshell Singing Bird Box, Most Probably by Bontems
Located in London, GB
A antique tortoiseshell singing bird box, most probably by Bontems, Going barrel movement, Gilt metal two-tone brilliance... When wound and start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird pops up through foliate chased gilt grille, then proceeds to move bone beak, wings and body from side-to-side to good complex continuous synchronized birdsong. The bird with streaked feathered plumage in brown, yellow, turquoise and red, lime green and purple iridescent highlights, highly polished lid interior for full bird reflection, in plain polished tortoiseshell case, twinned laurel leaf engraved bird lid border with the bird lid engraved with love birds and rose united beneath leaf swag arch, accentuated with gilt on silvered ground, hidden key...
Category

1880s French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Tortoise Shell

English Carte Du Visite / Business Card Case of Mother of Pearl and Abalone
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Carte du Visite (business card) case of Mother of Pearl laid in diagonal squares with a floral engraving centering on an abalone square and banded in abalone with ivory inner lip. The interior consists of a gilt edge cobalt blue accordion file...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Victorian Pierced Folding Extending Bookend Slide
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Victorian Pierced Folding Extending Bookend Slide A very attractive piece with Pierced Ends which both fold flat and extend to hold more books securely The Slide is 13” wide extend...
Category

Late 19th Century Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Gold Bronze & Green Marble Inkwell Signed "A. Marionnet, " Ca 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Gold Bronze and Green Marble Inkwell Signed "A. Marionnet," Circa 1890.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Inkwell in red marble with "Allegory of writing" in gilt bronze, signed H.CHAPU
Located in Paris, FR
Inkwell in red Griotte marble and gilt bronze representing an allegory of writing by Henri Chapu (1833-1891). This old 19th century inkstand is ...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Vernier Protractor by Newton & Co of London
Located in London, GB
A mid 19th century brass Vernier protractor by Newton & Co of London. With two screw in fixing points. Signed: Newton & Co 3, Fleet St, London Marked with Broad-Arrow: WD 5679.
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Travel Lap Desk Walnut 19th C. on Stand as Side Table Decorative Gift Antique La
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Exquisite English lap traveling desk portable. Countryside writing bureau in good condition considering the usage of the period in quality warm walnut wood. Rising on a later brass s...
Category

19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Rare Antique Regency Travelling Writing Box, English c 1810-1820
Located in Kastrup, DK
A rare Regency writing desk box made in solid ebony. Original leather with natural age-related patina. Original fittings and locks. In good condi...
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

An Ashford (Derbyshire) black marble pen tray
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An Ashford (Derbyshire) black marble pen tray, of rectangular form with two pen trays and a small circular well centred under a bronze handle in the form entwined serpents, the pen trays decorated with inlaid pietra dura borders. English, circa 1850. Ashford marble is a type of limestone which can be polished to a glossy black finish. It is quarried in only two sites in Derbyshire and has been used as a decorative building material since Bess of Hardwick commissioned a chimney piece of Ashford stone for Chatsworth. In the 18th century Henry Watson...
Category

1850s English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Falize French Gilt Silver & Cutglass Baccarat Dual Inkwells Eagle Finials, c1850
Located in Gardena, CA
Falize French Gilt Silver & Cutglass Baccarat Dual Inkwells Eagle Finials, c1850 An outstanding 2nd Empire French Gilt .950 silver and cut crystal enc...
Category

19th Century Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

20th Century Italian Solid Silver Inkstans Empyre Style
Located in VALENZA, IT
Empire style 800 silver inkstand The base of the inkstand, completely handmade, is shaped like a "cathedral". The classic "palmettes" of the Empire style have been chiseled around i...
Category

1990s Empire Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Cut Glass Tortoise Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Cut glass tortoise inkwell. Vintage turtle pillbox inkwell of cut glass carrying a mounted finial topped circular lidded well originally for ink but cha...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Artist's Brush Pot, Chinese, Carved Bamboo, Treen, Victorian, circa 1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique artist's brush pot. A Chinese, carved bamboo treen, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Enthusiastically carved detail within a broad bamboo trunk ...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bamboo

Set of Old Books from 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are called  « Life of Jean Wesley ». These...
Category

19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather, Paper

French Marble and Bronze Inkwell Signed Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris, circa 1870
Located in Milan, IT
A Verona red marble remarkable inkwell, pure Empire style representing a gilded bronze of the bust of Antinous as Dioniso. Empire style, Generous size, excellent state of preservatio...
Category

1860s French Empire Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Japanese 19th Century Mixed Metals, Letter Opener C.1880
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Japanese 19th century mixed metals, letter opener C.1880. The letter opener brass and copper mixed metals, blade in the form of a fish, the front handle depicting mythological figure...
Category

19th Century Japanese Other Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Copper

Rare Mammoth English Victorian Novelty Inkwell, Owl with Glass Eyes C.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A truly outstanding and rare find, this is an outstanding Victorian figural inkwell made from a winning combination of brass and silver plate and retaining his wonderful two original...
Category

1880s British Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Unusual Antique Treen Money Box
Located in Suffolk, GB
Unusual 19th century Victorian antique treen money box with a screw top. This has a lovely colour and is in wonderful original condition Measures...
Category

19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Satinwood

19th Century Swedish Painted Child Size Vanity Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A second half of the 19th century Scandinavian vanity mirror for kids. This Little hand painted in "Faux bois" technique mirror has a little...
Category

1860s Swedish Folk Art Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Mirror, Pine

Pr. French 19th C. Bronze Groups Fame & Mercury After Models by Antoine Coysevox
By Coyzevox
Located in New York, NY
A marvelous pair of bronze groups of fame and mercury after the models by Antoine Coysevox, French, first half 19th century. Each depicted on horsebac...
Category

1850s French Louis XIV Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

19th C. Antique Writing Stand Desk Office Inkwell Center Piece Chinese Porcelain
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th C. Antique writing stand desk Office Inkwell Center Piece Chinese Porcelain . This beautiful garniture on a desk a table or a console will a...
Category

19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Ceramic Inkwell, Late 19th Century, Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic ceramic inkwell, with what seems to be a pottery oven in the midst of two naivistic lions. You lift of the top lid to place pens and lift up the two lions heads for ink. Co...
Category

1870s Swedish Folk Art Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Antique English Wood & Brass Travelling Lap Desk and Document Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique lap desk and document box is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England and date to approximately 1825 and done in the period...
Category

Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Walnut

Antique 19th Century French Green Marble and Ormolu Ink Stand.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique handsome 19th century French green marble and ormolu ink stand.
Category

19th Century Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Antique French Cloisonné Enamel & Gold Bronze 7 Piece Inkwell Desk Set, Ca. 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Cloisonné Enamel & Gold Bronze 7 Piece Inkwell Desk Set, Circa 1890. Includes: Inkwell, Pen Holder, Drip Box (with pencil sharpener an...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Black Forest Carved Large Terrier Inkwell, Hinged Lid, Exceptional Carving
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Black Forest Breinzware Large Inkwell, carved as begging terrier with tongue protruding, with inset glass eyes, the hinged head concealing a glass inkwel...
Category

1880s Swiss Black Forest Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Softwood

Bois Durci Ink Stand
Located in East Geelong, VIC
This large Bois Durci ink stand features an intricately moulded base, upon which sit two glass inkwells and a central urn shaped container. The glass inkwel...
Category

1880s French High Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ebony

Classical Bronze Male Nude Torso Sculpture/Statue
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Solid bronze male nudist statue. Classical Greek style sculpture. Unsigned. Would make a wonderful sculpture for desk, office, shelf, etc.       
Category

19th Century Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Black Forest Carved Terrier Inkwell, Hinged Lid, with Pen Tray, Swiss, ca. 1880
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Black Forest Breinzware Inkwell, carved as begging terrier with tongue protruding, with inset glass eyes, the hinged head concealing a glass inkwell, the dogs front paws mounted on a naturalistically carved hollowed tree forming the pen tray, Brienz, Switzerland ca. 1880. *Jay Arenski, et al, quotes Swiss Poet Heinrich Federer, who said in his memoirs, "Woodcarving brought riches to the village [of Brienz]. It became all the fashion and no Englishman left the Bernese Highlands without having seen the Giessbach, having eaten a fat roasted eel, and having bought a Brienz woodcarving." Arenski continues, "Thus, as the tourist industry flourished and thrived, so did the carvers, selling their wares to the well-heeled visitors." This fashion had been set in motion by Queen Victoria's visit to the area in April 1868, and by her subsequent inspiration to build a Swiss chalet at Osborne House and fill it with Black Forest Swiss carvings...
Category

1880s Swiss Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Softwood

Antique Continental .800 Silver Daybed Form Hinged Silver Inkwell
Located in Stamford, CT
A fabulous antique continental .800 silver desk set in the form of a daybed or chez lounge. Standing on four incredibly elegant legs and all over figural r...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Rare Paluzie Globe from the 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Rare Paluzie globe from the XIX century. Desktop globe from the xix century made by the house: Faustino Paluzie-Barcelona. The base is made of ebonized w...
Category

19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

English Antique Ink Eraser/Letter Opener with Sterling Handle
Located in Sheffield, MA
Although the purpose was once for "erasing" ink, this antique English piece can very well be used as a letter opener. It probably did serve a dual purpose way back when. The eraser...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver, Steel

Napoleon III Black Gutta Percha Inkstand, Late 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The black inkstand with a molded lion decoration with a shell pen tray. The two glass inkwells on either end.
Category

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Rubber

Antique Rare Paperweight Glass Ball with Picture
Located in Vienna, AT
Antique rare paperweight glass ball with picture, alpaca base, good original condition, around 1880.
Category

1880s Austrian Biedermeier Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Alpaca, 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.

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