17th Century Dutch Delft Tile with Decoration of a Dutch Galley
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Circa 1640 - 1660 A Spanish galley on a Dutch tile, painted in cobalt blue, but why? Isn't he a bit far from home? Well, not everything is as it seems. This tile was...
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Antique Art Nouveau Bronze Gilt Gold Letter Opener Nature Floral Desk Accessory
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Art Nouveau Bronze Gilt Gold Letter Opener Nature Floral Desk Accessory Continental Bronze c. 1900 Dimensions: Length 24cm Shaped as a flo...
Bronze, Ormolu
$1,984Sale Price / set|20% Off
Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Trinity Fountain Pen With Black Body & Cartier Box
Beautiful Sleek Cartier 18K Gold Nib Black Body Trinity Fountain Pen With Box Designed by Cartier and Manufactured by MontBlanc The pen is made from a black composite Pen nib is 18...
Gold, Gold Plate
Blue Agate Paperweight - Precious Stone Desk Accessory - Minimal Sculpture 1980s
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Blue Agate Paperweight - Precious Stone Desk Accessory - Minimal Sculpture 1980s Chic agate paperweight with a pyramid design. Very beautiful veins and blue tones. Shiny surface. ...
Stone, Agate, Onyx, Marble
Mid 19th Century campaign camphor metamorphic lap desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare and good quality Chinese export camphor wood writing desk, circa 1860. Brass bound around the outer edges and carrying handles to each side. These desk were made for sea captai...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Brass Letter Opener with Tennis Racket Design, 1950s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Brass Letter Opener with Tennis Racket Design, 1950s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1950 to 1959 Additional information: Materials: Metal Color: Gold Period: ...
Metal
Tiffany Studios Zodiac Gilt Bronze Inkwell No. 1072
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Tiffany Studios gilt bronze inkwell. In the Zodiac pattern. Model no. 1072. Simply iconic Tiffany design! Date: Early 20th Century Overall Condition: It is in overall goo...
Bronze
Georg Petersens Mid Century Teak Desk Organizer Denmark
By Georg Petersens Møbelfabrik
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A teak top of the desk organizer with four letter slots , two storage cubies and an open top shelve . This well designed accessory is the perfect piece for easy access to your papers...
Teak
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural Chrome Jack / Jax Bookend / Paperweight in the Style of Bill Curry
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid chrome sculptural chrome jack / jax bookend, door stop or paperweight the style of Bill Curry for Design Line, circa 1970s. The piece is in good vintage condition with a nice p...
Chrome
Profil Striped Applied Silver Egg Cup By Wilhelm Kage, Argenta, Gustavsberg
By Wilhelm Kage
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Tasteful and modern in design, stoneware Argenta egg cup by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden. Decorated with applied silver 'Profil' stripes and banding A collectors piece Circa...
Silver
Stylish Art Deco / Mid-Century Table Lamp in Figured Dark Hardwood
Located in Lisse, NL
Lovely and stylish table lamp. A stylish and decorative table lamp base, beautifully executed in richly figured dark hardwood. The striking contrast between the warm reddish-brown t...
Wood
Leggio da Tavolo Rococo Veneziano in Legno Scolpito e Dorato Metà 1700
Located in Milano, MI
Leggio Da Tavolo In Legno scolpito e dorato Del 1700 di area italiana, di manifattura veneziana. Il porta libro di design Barocchetto o Rococò è caratterizzato da linee sinuose e un’...
Gold Leaf
$1,487Sale Price / set|20% Off
Montblanc 14ct Gold Black Resin Rollerball and Fountain Pen Boxed Set W Germany
By Montblanc
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Montblanc Black Resin Rollerball and Fountain Pen Set With 14ct Gold Nibs & Presentation Box & Papers, Leather Montblanc Pen Holder 1980's Made & marked as W. Germany on...
Gold Plate
Tronador Square Cream Onyx Box by AIREDELSUR, Hand-Carved Design
By AIREDELSUR
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...
Stone, Onyx
Gilt Leather Bound Book Set, 20 Volumes, Mid-20th Century Decor
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Gilt leather bound sturdy / library room complete collection set. The set include twenty 28 volumes. Funk & Wagnalls, New Encyclopedia. Each book is in gr...
Leather, Paper
Vintage Brown Stitched Leather Covered Telephone by Contempra 1970s
By Jacques Adnet, Ralph Lauren, Hermès
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Northern Telecom Contempra Stitched Leather clad tone touch Telephone, Desk or Wall Mount.Vintage Northern Telecom Contempra telephone covered in stitched brown leather.Could...
Leather, Bakelite
Sweet Little Dog Italian Hand Painted Ceramic Money Box c1960s
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Adorable hand painted ceramic Italian money box from the 1960's A joyful palette of colours brings this piece to life Circa 1960's Signed M33 Italy ...
Ceramic
$200Sale Price|50% Off
Vintage Onyx Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian spherical onyx desk paperweight, in natural neutral hues / Made in Italy circa 1970s Measures: diameter 4 inches Order reference #: FABIOLTD G178 This piece makes for...
Onyx
Roycroft Arts & Crafts Brass Finished Blotter Corners With Leather Desk Blotter
By Roycroft
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of Arts & Crafts period brass finished hand hammered copper blotter corners with brown leather desk blotter By Roycroft (signed with impressed orb and cross mark) US...
Brass, Copper
$2,124Sale Price / set|40% Off
Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With Key
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With A Tooled Black Leather Scriver Slope will include A Single Glass Inkwell A vintage pen S moder...
Brass
1960s Murano Sommerso Art Glass Apple Pear Bookends Italy
By Murano Glass Sommerso, Alfredo Barbini
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1960s Murano Art Glass Apple and Pear Bookends or Paperweights set of two glass artist Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Italy Pear 7 h x 4 diameter Apple ...
Art Glass
$1,155Sale Price|30% Off
AUSTRIAN 1920 Art-Deco Desk Inkwell In Cut Polished Glass And .800 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
A Viennese Austrian art deco desk inkwell. This is a beautiful desk inkwell created in Vienna Austria during the art deco period, between the 1918 and 1922. This Viennese inkwell wa...
Crystal, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique French Art Nouveau Bronze Letter Opener, 1900s or older
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique bronze letter opener dating to the 1900s or earlier, crafted by an unknown sculptor. This beautiful Art Nouveau piece ...
Bronze
Postmodern “LEGO” Telephone Phone by Tyco
By Tycos, Lego, Memphis Group
Located in Rome, IT
1990s telephone made of LEGO by Tyco.
Plastic
Hafod Grange 1997 Dandelion Paperweight – Nature Encased in Crystal Sphere
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This exquisite 1997 Hafod Grange paperweight beautifully encases a delicate dandelion seed head within a perfectly clear crystal sphere, creating a stunning display of nature's fragi...
Resin
Tiffany Studios New York Heraldic Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period bronze blotter ends in the "Heraldic" design, with a custom blue leather desk blotter. By Tiffany Studios (blotter ends signed to...
Bronze
Handcrafted Brass Gecko Decorative Paperweight in Bronze Patina
Located in London, London
Beautiful hand cast bronze patinated gecko paperweight. The polished details in the gecko's feet highlight the characteristic rose gold colour of bronze. Each of these geckos are ha...
Bronze
Vintage Danish Teak Desktop Organizer
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Vintage Danish teak desktop organizer with a variety of compartments for office accessory storage. Year: 1970s Origin: Denmark Style: Mid-C...
Teak
Danish Jewelry Dish Vide-Poche Aluminia & Royal Copenhagen
Located in New York, NY
*One (1) available, second dish has sold. A Danish Faience ceramic pottery jewelry vide-poche square dish, from Denmark. Each dish has an internal band in brick red/dark orange and ...
Ceramic, Faience, Pottery
$3,197Sale Price / set|20% Off
19th Century Classical Marble & Bronze Grand Tour Desk Set, Six Pieces
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful 19th Century Classical Marble & Bronze Mounted Three Piece Grand Tour Desk Set Six piece set includes a letter rack, an ink blotter, & an exquisite pen tray with a central female bronze bust of classical form, paired by two marble inkwells, raised on four brass feet and vintage ink pen...
Marble, Bronze
Striking Ceylonese Porcupine Quill Desk Study Box Circa 1920's
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Eyecatching Ceylonese rectangular porcupine quill box with decoration of ebonised casing and striking porcupine quills and infills of white and black bone 'dots' Sliding lid reveals...
Hardwood
Antique Art Deco Green Onyx Gold Champlevé Enamel Office Inkwell Ink Pen Stand
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Art Deco Green Onyx Gold Champlevé Enamel Office Inkwell Ink Pen Stand Continental Onyx, metal, champlevé enamel c. 1920 Dimensions: H x W x D: 10.5cm x 16.5cm x 12.5cm T...
Onyx, Metal, Enamel
Collection English Crystal Sterling Silver Cranberry Toilet Scent Perfum Bottles
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning Collection of four hand cut crystal and cranberry glass Sterling silver mounted heavy gauge Lady’s Perfume or Toilet Water Jars of generous proportions. The tall slender c...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1970s Italian Bird in Red Veined Murano Crystal
Located in Marbella, ES
1970s Italian Bird in Red Veined Murano Crystal.
Art Glass
Paperweight, ruler with pen by Vanni Mazzetti
By Romeo Rega, Willy Rizzo, Maison Jansen
Located in Lugo, IT
Paperweight, ruler with pen by Vanni Mazzetti Brass and steel Good condition. Thank you
Brass, Stainless Steel
Watch Box for Nine Watches in Briar with Leather Detail
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Elm briar and striped mahogany for your collectable watches. Leather handles. Briar box for nine watches.
Leather, Wood
Mid-Century Functional Tesla Phone 1982, Czechoslovakia
By Tesla
Located in Praha, CZ
- Very Good original condition - Fully functional. - Tesla manufacturer typ-TA 32.
Plastic
Swiss Black Forest Carved Rabbit Inkwell and Pen Tray
By Black Forest
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING WHIMSICAL BLACK FOREST DESK ACCESSORY WITH HAND-CARVED RABBIT, TREE PEN REST, AND HAT-LIDDED GLASS INKWELLS. From our Black Forest collection, we are delig...
Glass, Wood
North African Tin-Glazed Pottery Illuminator's Inkwell, Safi, Moroccan
Located in Nottingham, GB
Moroccan ceramics reflect a rich artistic inheritance shaped by centuries of Islamic craftsmanship and the enduring influence of Andalusian traditions. Centres such as Fez and Safi b...
Pottery
Frog Prince Bronze Pen Holder Figurine by Walter Bosse, Vienna Austria 1950s
By Walter Bosse
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Early 1950s - 1960s Austrian Walter Bosse Figurine An elegant early 1950s - 1960s figurine, crafted in Austria and exemplary of mid-century Austrian bronze design. The piece display...
Bronze
$64Sale Price / item|24% Off
Calligraphy Brush Blue and White Double Happiness
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful Chinese calligraphy brush with blue and white porcelain. Handle with hand painted blue and white porcelain balls of "double happiness" characters, hand polished and crafted. Bone ferrule and horse hair. This is a great brush for painting and calligraphy art...
Porcelain
Vintage Desktop Hole Punch
Located in London, GB
A vintage heavy duty metal, fully functioning hole punch mounted on oak base found in the Lake District in the North of England.
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Hammer from Aarikka, Finland, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Hammer from Aarikka, Finland, 1960s
Wood
Italy 1980 Bronze Abstract Sculpture Walter Valentini Tracce Tracks
Located in Brescia, IT
Walter Valentini was born in 1928 in South Italy. A painter and engraver, he lives and works in Milan. He is Holder of the chair for engraving at the ...
Bronze
$3,040Sale Price|20% Off
Art Deco Cubist Rare 'Comet' Car Mascot by Becquerel, French, circa 1920-1925
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Very Rare Hood Ornament - Car Mascot. Silvered bronze, mounted on Italian portoro marble display base, a beautifully presented example. Very nice Automobilia piece. Perfect paperweig...
Marble, Bronze
Rare Antique Classical Roman Bronze & Glass Inkstand with Crystal Glass Inkwell
Located in Lisse, NL
Stylish, rare and mint condition bronze, brass and glass desk piece. This completely original inkstand dates from the late 19th century and it has a large number of striking Roman...
Crystal, Brass, Bronze
Murano Fish Sculpture by Livio Seguso for Gral, Germany, ca. 1970ties
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A sculpture of a stylized fish in blue and pink glass. Hand made in the gral glass manufactory, Germany. Designed by Livio Seguso, ca. 1970. Incised signature of the artist (LS) on t...
Art Glass
Applied Silver On Stoneware, Wilhelm Kage, Argenta, Gustavsberg Footed Dish
By Wilhelm Kage
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Stoneware Argenta dish by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden. Decorated with applied silver scalloped rim and trefoil flower sprigs on green mottled stoneware Circa 1960's Stampe...
Silver
SeaGull Seaplane Lighter, 1970s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a SOC-3A Seagull Plane. This two-place scout observation plane of the U.S. Navy was used for both land and sea landings, as well as used fo...
Metal
Charming desk writing set, inkwell, dogs terrier, carved, 1930s Art Deco Germany
Located in Wien, AT
Wonderful desk writing set with terrier dogs, from the 1930s, Art Deco, Germany. The hand-carved set consists of a base adorned with two adorable terrier dogs. On one side there is ...
Porcelain, Terracotta, Wood, Beech
Art Deco Sterling and Enamel Floral Dresser Set, 6 Pieces by Saart Brothers
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Art Deco Saart Brothers, sterling silver and white guilloche enamel with a floral vanity, dresser brush set. Marked with Saart Brothers hallmark and ster...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage IBM Personal Computer Desk Caddy with Original Box, circa 1980s
Silver Plate Hoof Inkwell with Pen Rest, by Rowland Ward & Co
By Rowland Ward
Located in Reepham, GB
A late 19th century silver plate mounted horse hoof inkwell, the lid and horseshoe of silver plate, the hinged lid opening to the glass inkwell wit...
Silver Plate
Mid 20th Century Murano Aquarium Art Glass Elio Raffaeli, signed Paperweight Egg
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Spectacular and rare large venetian murano aquarium sculpture paperweight in the form of an egg with two colorful fish and multicolor strands of cane that resemble aquatic plants, ke...
Art Glass, Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Apache Indian Chief Head Car Mascot, Hood Ornament / Paperweight, France, 1925
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Apache indian Chief Head Car Mascot - Hood Ornament / Paperweight. Designed by H. Briand publisher, Paris. Silvered bronze. Mounted over a black marble base. It has a hole at the bac...
Marble, Bronze
Restored Typewriter/ Triumph, Germany, 1915
Located in Praha, CZ
The entire machine is expertly disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, all repaired, and fully functional The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the ag...
Metal
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Pulegoso Green Gold Italian Art Glass Perfume Bottle
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown green and gold flecks Italian art glass perfume scent bottle. Documented to the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company, circa 1930-40s. Unsure of t...
Gold Leaf
Large Antique Black Forest Novelty Inkwell, Dog, circa 1890
Located in Bath, GB
A superbly carved figural Black Forest inkwell in the form of a Dog's head, with great detail and retaining two large glass eyes. The hinged lid opens to reveal an inner ink chamber...
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Pattern Bronze Doré Letter Rack
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze "Zodiac" pattern desk letter holder rack By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Cent...
Bronze
Vintage Black Bakelite Rotary Wall Cradle Telephone & Dictograph 1940s
Located in London, GB
This is a rare vintage GPO desktop or wall cradle fire emergency telephone 164 in black Perspex Bakelite together with a Dictograph system sub station, serial number 21858 circa 194...
Other
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.