Andy Warhol Cover Post-War & Contemporary Art Christie's New York Catalog Book
Located in New York, NY
An Andy Warhol cover Post-War and Contemporary Art Christie's New York 'Evening Sale' catalog book, 2010. A beautifully done catalog book (soft-cove...
Paper
Dansk Modernist Bear Animal Figure Paperweight Silver Plated by Gunnar Cyren
By Gunnar Cyren
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
DANSK Modernist Bear Animal Figure Paperweight Silver Plated by Gunnar Cyren. Vintage Dansk Modernist Bear Animal Figure Paperweight Silver Plated designed by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk designed in circa 1970s. Wonderful modernist silver plated bear...
Silver Plate
$2,846Sale Price / set|40% Off
Victorian Campaign Writing Slope, Brass Trim, Green Leather, UK, 1800s
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Stunning Victorian Campaign Writing Slope With A Decorative Brass Trim, Brass Carry Handles Finished With A Gilt Tooled Racing Green Leather Interior Item will include new notepa...
Brass
$1,095 / item
Lladró Rhinoceros Beetle Figurine, Matte White
By Lladro
Located in New York City, NY
Rhinoceros beetle in white porcelain, from the awesome insect collection. The insects that made a successful debut decorated in intense colors are no...
Porcelain
Pop-Art Enzo Mari Style Lucite Cube Sculpture
By Enzo Mari
Located in Raleigh, NC
Vintage blue lucite cube sculpture with suspended steel marbles. In the style of Enzo Mari.
Lucite
Murano Glass Aquarium Paperweight with Cat and Fish by Tagliapietra
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
A playful yet refined work of Murano glass artistry, this "Acquario in vetro di Murano" aquarium paperweight by master glassmaker Cristian Tagliapietra captures a timeless moment of ...
Murano Glass
Jacques Adnet Art Deco Chrome Double Inkwell, France 1930s
Located in Atlanta, GA
French designer Jacques Adnet (1900 - 1984) designed this elegant Art Deco modernist chromed metal heavy desk accessory. The piece features a minimalist geometric shape double inkwel...
Metal, Chrome
Rare Functional Telephone LM Ericsson, 1960's, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare telephone, 1960's, CZS. Fully functional. Repolished, cleaned, in original condition with a few signs of use. Made of plastic.
Bakelite
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Black and White Pottery Vase with Eye Design
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful black and white ceramic pottery vase with 'eye' design. A great addition to any room. Dimensions: 5.75" Height For chair shown searc...
Ceramic, Pottery
Magnifying Reading Glass with a Duck Head Attributed to Gucci, Italy 1970s
By Gucci
Located in Milan, IT
Magnifying Reading Glass with a Duck Head Attributed to Gucci
Brass, Nickel
Murano Venini Bianconi Red Coral Flame Italian Art Glass Vintage Paperweight
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown red coral flame or "Fiammati Corallo" Italian art glass egg shaped paperweight. The piece has been documented to designer Fulvio Bianconi, for the...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
Vintage Wooden Chopping Boards - Large Size - Good Quantity Available
Located in Hook, Hampshire
Vintage Wooden Chopping Boards - Large Size - Good Quantity Available. Sourced from Hungarian and Romanian street markets, crudely made and well used small chopping boards made mai...
Beech
Walter Bosse Cat Crumbs Table Cleaning Set for Hertha Baller, Austria, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Broom dimensions : H 12cm W 3cm D 14cm Shovel: H 1.5cm W 12cm D 9.5cm. Original condition
Brass
Vintage Merle Edelman Op Art Face / Head with Eyes Inside Lucite / Acrylic 1970s
By Abraham Palatnik, Merle James Edelman
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern c. 1970's Merle Edelman half round Op Art face lucite sculpture with 3D eyes over a black geometric grid. Similar style as Abraham Palatnik. In fine condition, no ...
Lucite
Tiffany Studios New York Adam Pattern Bronze Doré Large Paper Clip
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze "Adam" pattern large paper clip By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Meas...
Bronze
$192Sale Price|30% Off
English Wedgwood Jasperware Jewelry Dish Neoclassical Design
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...
Stoneware
Fine Quality Antique Victorian French Freestanding Inlaid Boulle Desk Set
Located in Suffolk, GB
Fine quality antique Victorian French freestanding inlaid boulle desk set having a quality ornate shaped brass handle flanked by a pair of original cut glass inkwells with inlaid bou...
Brass
$600Sale Price|20% Off
Seguso Vetri D'Arte Murano Red Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Duck Bird Figure
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso red, and gold flecks Italian art glass baby bird figurine. Attributed to the Seguso Vetri D'Arte workshop. A drawing of a similar figure ...
Gold Leaf
1940's New Old Stock Vintage Button Cards - Pack Of Ten
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1940's New Old Stock Vintage Button Cards- Pack Of Ten. We recently came across a large hoard of new old stock hardware and general merchandise items, laying untouched since the 1940...
Plastic, Paper
19th Century Baccarat Crystal Inkwell with Elaborate Sterling Silver Top
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This exquisite inkwell exhibits the mastery of Baccarat's workmanship. The molded crystal body is decorated in one of their more rare Classic patterns Moulure Russe with concentric swirling spirals...
Crystal
Female Face Bust Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A striking vintage black ceramic pottery female face bust sculpture, circa 20th century. A great piece for a column pedestal as shown, shelf, mantle, cocktai...
Ceramic, Pottery
Decorative Glass "Eiffel Tower", Czechoslovakia, 1980's
Located in Praha, CZ
Unique decorative Eiffel Tower fully made from glass. Made in the 1980's, in Czechoslovakia. Fully made out of glass. In great condition, all original. Cleaned.
Glass
1950s South African Scrimshaw Ostrich Egg by Late Chief Sipho Ndldvu
Located in Marbella, ES
Original 1950s South African scrimshaw ostrich egg by late chief Sipho Ndlvu.
Ostrich Eggshell
Abstract, Organic Gabriel Fourmaintraux Hand Painted Ceramic Vide Poche c1950's
By Gabriel Emile Fourmaintraux
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Organic in form, abstract ceramic vide poche by Gabriel Fourmaintraux, France Strong pallet of red, yellow and orange enamels contrast wonderfully with the exterior matt black glaze ...
Ceramic
Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Flower Vase, Pink, Glazed Ceramic, Spanish, XXth
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Shiva vase is sculpture and vase. It is a symbol of Ettore Sottsass and an icon. Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered m...
Ceramic
$14,000Sale Price|50% Off
18th Century French Solid 750 Gold (18K) Necessaire
Located in Porto, PT
Description: 18K gold and ceramic utensil with floral motifs, allegorical figures in a chased gold structure, interior with two perfume bottles, knife, tweezers, toothpick, pencil, w...
Gold
Maritime Inkwell, Late 19th Century, France, circa 1880
Located in Greven, DE
Maritime Inkwell with Anchor Mount France, circa 1880 H × W × D: 12 × 10 × 8 cm Description: A rare maritime-themed inkwell featuring a prominent sculptural anchor motif. The dark...
Metal
Amalric Walter and Alfred Finot Pate De Verre Woman with Schawl Paperweight
Located in Bochum, NRW
Amalric Walter and Alfred Finot, a seated female figure with a shawl and a necklace, Nancy, c. 1910 Gorgeous pâte-de-verre figurine in shades of jade, dark green and violet-blue colo...
Art Glass
FORNASETTI Glass Paperweight
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage glass sphere paperweight by Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1990s Original label underside Diameter: 3 inches / Height: 1.5 inches 1 ...
Glass
$1,836Sale Price / item|20% Off
Industrial Restored General Electric Cast Iron and Brass Desk Fan
Located in Fort Collins, CO
This turn of the century General Electric desk fan has been fully restored both mechanically and cosmetically. Refinished and painted in antiqued white powder coat, the finish is vis...
Brass, Iron
World War II Munition Trench Art Brass and Coin Ashtray
Located in San Diego, CA
A unique military munition trench art, solid brass with coin slots ashtray, circa 1930s. The piece is in great vintage condition and measures 4.25"D x 3.75"H. The shell, which I bel...
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Letter Rack
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period bronze desk letter holder rack featuring Zodiac designs By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th C...
Bronze
Masterpieces from the House of Fabrege by Alexander von Solodkoff
Located in valatie, NY
Masterpieces from the House of Fabrege by Alexander von Solodkoff. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. Iillustrated throughout in color with items most...
Paper
XL adhesive tape dispenser in aluminum and stone, Italy, 1980
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Superb and rare tape dispenser designed and manufactured in Italy in the 80s. Superb metalwork and stone inlay. Unique object due to its size that will bring a real design touch to y...
Metal
$236Sale Price|77% Off
Black and White Glass Inkwell
Located in Wien, AT
Black and white glass ink well Brass nickel platend
Brass
Hermcès Stirrup Shaped Pencil and cards Holder in Brass and Leather
By Hermès
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Hermcès Stirrup Shaped Pencil and cards Holder in Brass and Leather Exceptional Hermès Stirrup Shaped Pencil and cards Holder ...
Bronze, Chrome
French Louis XVI Style Champlevé and Ormolu Inkwell Circa 1890
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 7 1/2in W: 10 1/2in D: 7 3/4in This Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Champlevé and bronze Ormolu Inkwell is truly a sight to be seen! If we take a look at t...
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
French Empire Style Green Glass Inkwell with Gilt Mounts
Located in Nashville, TN
Second Empire green glass inkwell circa 1870 .rare color .Encased in gilt metal Empire styled mounts ,swans drinking from a fountain. The lid shows a woman with bust . The ovoid gree...
Glass
Tiffany Studios New York Graduate Pattern Bronze Letter Rack
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period bronze "Graduate" pattern desk letter holder rack with verdigris green patina By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New Y...
Bronze
Desk Accessories Letter Holder Swans Silver plated Color France 20th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Desk Accessories Letter Holder Swans Silver plated metal and Color. France 20th Century
Metal, Silver Plate
Roy COX Thimble Drone Race Car in Fine Original Condition
By COX
Located in Ferndale, MI
Cox Thimble drone race car. Never been motorized. Appears to not have been played with. Fine condition in original paint .
Metal, Aluminum
19th Century French Pewter Magnifying Glass with Laurel Leaf Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and unusual, antique magnifying glass was crafted in Paris, France, circa 1870. The piece has a pewter frame embellished with dec...
Pewter
"Wyoming" Oil on Canvas by Robert Frame '1924-1999' Signed
By Robert Aaron Frame
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This is a beautiful, original framed, landscape painting entitled "Wyoming" by Robert Aaron Frame. The colors are rich, vibrant and bold. Set in a w...
Wood, Canvas
$380Sale Price|20% Off
Postmodern Black Marble Desk Pen Pencil Holder, 1990s
Located in New York, NY
A '90s Postmodern black and brown polished marble stone desk pen pencil holder, circa 1990s. Dimensions: 2.5" square x 4.19" height. Matching...
Stone, Marble
$1,628Sale Price|20% Off
Tiffany Style Stained Glass Table Lamp or Desk Lamp, 1950s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Fabulous, tall Tiffany Style stained Glass and bronze adjustable Banker’s desk lamp or Table lamp, France, 1950-1959. Beautiful hand-painted glass lampshade made with the Tiffany tec...
Bronze
Wood Pen Holder, Black and gold Color Japan 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Wood Pen Holder, Black and gold Color Japan 19th Century
Wood
Hand-Carved Wooden and Glass Inkwell with Dog Figure, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Beautiful Black Forest style hand-carved linden wood inkwell with a realistic dog figure with glass eyes. The stand includes a designated rest for pens and accessories in the front, ...
Glass, Wood
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Floating Pennies in Lucite Cube Paperweight in the Style of William Rolfe
Located in San Diego, CA
Floating pennies in lucite cube paperweight in the style of William Rolfe, circa 1980s. The pice is in very good vintage condition and measures 2.5"W...
Lucite
Italian Grand Tour Marble Model of a Roman Labrum or Bath, circa 1810
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Rare early 19th century Italian Grand Tour model of an ancient Roman labrum (bath) or sarcophagus in exquisitely carved rosso antico marble having double ring handles and central lio...
Marble
Montblanc Rare Sealed Charles Dickens Set of 3 Limited Edition Pens
By Montblanc
Located in New York, NY
Extremely rare Montblanc sealed set of 3 Charles Dickens pens, consisting of a fountain pen (with a 18k gold nib), a ballpoint pen, and a mechanical pen, the green resin barrel decor...
Gold
Vintage Wood Stereoscope with Sepia Toned Cards from Late 19th Century, England
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This late 19th-century English stereoscope viewer, crafted from richly hued wood, offers a charming glimpse into Victorian visual entertainment. Inc...
Glass, Wood
Late 19th Century Inkwell with Butterfly and Enamel Decoration
Located in Greven, DE
Inkwell with Butterfly Finial Origin: Probably France Material: Gilded metal with floral engraving and enamel decoration Date: Circa 1870–1890 Dimensions: H × D: 11 x 15 cm Descri...
Brass, Enamel
$125Sale Price|50% Off
Art Deco Copper German Perpetual Desk Calendar c.1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original German perpetual desk calendar. Change the day of the week and date by pressing the Bakelite handle on the side. A knob in the back allows you to adjust the date t...
Marble, Copper
Spanish Art Deco Alabaster Desk Lamp and Inkwell Set
Located in Atlanta, GA
An unusual alabaster desk set with a working lamp, inkwell and blotter.
Alabaster
Jacques Adnet Modernist Desk Office Waste Paper Basket, circa 1930
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rare Jacques Adnet Art Deco Chrome Desk Waste Basket, France, circa 1930 An extraordinary artifact of French Art Deco design, this sculptural chrome desk accessory—meticulously craft...
Chrome
Tiffany Studios New York Grapevine Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period bronze "Grapevine" pattern blotter ends with a custom green leather desk blotter By Tiffany Studios (each blotter end signed to ...
Bronze
$4,400 / set
Pair of Antique Painted Tole Figures
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1900 Northern Italian alpine tole figures with original painted finish and patina. Measurements: Height: 15" Width: 6.25" Depth: 3...
Metal
Antique Ceremonial Axe, Chinese, Jade, Decorative Tool, Shang Dynasty Taste
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique ceremonial axe. A Chinese, mottled caramel jade decorative tool redolent of the Shang Dynasty, dating to the mid-19th century, circa 1...
Other
Vintage Greek Lalaounis Sterling Silver Figural Scallop Sea Shell Paperweight
By Lalaounis
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed Greek silver paperweight. By Lalounis. In sterling silver. In the form of a scallop or cockle sea shell. Marked to the base. Simply a wonderful Lalaounis shell...
Sterling Silver
Barovier Toso Murano Black Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Pear Fruit Paperweight
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown dark brown pigments, black and gold flecks Italian art glass pear figure / sculpture. The piece is documented to designer Ercole Barovie...
Gold Leaf
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.