Desk Accessories
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf
Early 1900s Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Desk Accessories
Stone
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Bronze, Enamel
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Bronze
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Brass, Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century Swedish Gustavian Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 19th Century British Antique Desk Accessories
Beech
Mid-20th Century Swedish Brutalist Desk Accessories
Aluminum
1860s Italian Classical Roman Antique Desk Accessories
Marble, Carrara Marble, Siena Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Pewter
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Horn
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Ceramic
1880s French Antique Desk Accessories
Tortoise Shell
Early 20th Century European Victorian Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Bronze
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal, Chrome
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Bentwood
19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Silver
19th Century British Regency Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 20th Century British Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass, Chrome
1970s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Bronze
Late 20th Century Brazilian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Onyx, Agate
1890s German Black Forest Antique Desk Accessories
Wood
Early 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Gold, Gold Plate
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
1920s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1910s German Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass, Copper
19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
1970s Spanish Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Wool, Cotton
Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Desk Accessories
Stone
1870s British Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Polyester
1890s American Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal, Sterling Silver
1870s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Leather, Glass
Late 19th Century German Antique Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Bronze
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal, Silver
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze, Brass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
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.