French Art Nouveau Style Bronze Letter Opener
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Nouveau-style bronze letter opener with a scroll design handle having a floral design
Bronze
Supermarine Spitfire Wooden & Aluminum Airplane Desk Model, Asprey, ca 1940's
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Spitfire wooden & aluminum airplane desk model. Asprey London- ca 1940´s RAF Supermarine spitfire aluminum airplane desk model, mounted over a disp...
Aluminum
GIFT IDEA - Murano Glass Apple Paperweight with Controlled Bubble Inclusions
By Alfredo Barbini, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Bochum, NRW
🎄 Gift-Ready Appeal: A thoughtful gift for collectors, decorators, or anyone who appreciates the quiet luxury A sculptural delight in clear Murano glass, this apple-shaped paperweig...
Art Glass
Italian Ceramic Flower Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant ceramic box made in Italy, circa 1970s. Black and white color theme with white flowers. Great condition. Perfect stash box or tabletop object. Marked Made in Italy on underside.
Ceramic
English Brass Yacht Binnacle Mounted on Mahogany Rope Base, Southampton. C. 1870
Located in Charleston, SC
English Nautical brass yacht binnacle mounted on a mahogany rope base with an oval glass viewing port, gimballed compass, central carrying ring, and the original brass vented side li...
Brass
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
Brass Piet Hein Super Egg by Henning Glahn / Danks Design in original Box
By Piet Hein
Located in Krefeld, DE
Piet Hein super egg with leather pouch, booklet and original Box. The super egg is in solid brass produced by Henning Glahn, Denmark. Price for the...
Brass
Carl Aubock Table Magnifier 1950 Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Carl Aubock table magnifier, mid-20th century. Crafted from solid brass with high-quality optical glass, this elegant piece exemplifies Aubock’s meticulous craftsmanship and function...
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique gilt bronze pen tray featuring Zodiac designs By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 10"W x 3.13"D x 0.5"H Ve...
Bronze
Inkwell In Gilt Bronze And Crystal, 19th century
Located in Bilzen, BE
Inkwell in gilded bronze and crystal from the second half of the 19th century Original gilding in perfect condition 19th century, Napoleon III 8.2 x 10.6 cm, total height 8.2 cm
Crystal, Bronze
French Victorian Bronze Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian bronze square inkwell with 2 cornucopia pen holders. Previously broken hinge, inkwell lid is not attached
Bronze
20th Century French Letter Opener Nicely Decorated with Green Stone on the Top
Located in Sofia, BG
French metal letter opener decorated with two woman's head on both sides ending with a green stone on the top. France, circa 1930.
Metal
Carl Auböck Nickel Plated U-Shaped Brass Key Ring Chain Holder Knopferl
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist U-shaped keyring / keyholder / keychain "Knopferl", model #4617-2, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Identical to the brass key ring...
Brass, Nickel
Desk Accessories, Letter Holder by Jacques Adnet and Letter Tray Paper Holder
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Handsome saddle leather letter holder by Jacques Adnet. Signature contrast stitching. Great patina to leather. Excellent vintage condition. Paris...
Leather
Japanese Calligraphy Set with a Red Lacquer Wooden Box 1990s
Located in Paris, FR
This is a calligraphy set with a wooden lacquer box. There is a pen, an indien ink, a porcelain pot for water and a stone base to make the ink. And ...
Stone
Art Deco / Folk aRT Candy Store, National Cash Register, stenciled and painted
Located in Buffalo, NY
Charming and Unusual Art Deco / Folk aRT Candy Store National Cash Register, stenciled and painted.. Great little decorative item.. Fully functional.. Retains original stenciled and ...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Art Deco or Arts & Crafts gilt bronze pen tray featuring Zodiac designs By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures:...
Bronze
Cartier Paris Panther Design Card and Envelope Luxury Set Desk Stationery
By Cartier
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Cartier Paris Card and Envelope Set of 9 with the Iconic Panther Jewelry Design. Authentic Luxury Cartier Stationery Card Letter and Envelope Black Pan...
Paper
Cactus Holder, Vienna, Around 1950s by Auböck
Located in Wien, AT
Cactus holder Vienna around 1950s by Auböck. Original condition.
Brass
Art Deco Luxury Saddle Leather and Brass Desk Set, Italy, 1960
By Jacques Adnet, Hermès
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Luxury Saddle Leather and Brass Desk Set. Jacque Adnet style Italian desk set scissors and letter opener with leather pouch. Classic and traditional luxury desk leather library set w...
Metal, Brass
$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
$210 / item
Lace Black Leather Notebook
By Giannini
Located in Milan, IT
Classic notebook by Florentine bookbinder Giannini with a black soft leather cover treated using the ancient technique of vegetable tanning. Entirely handcrafted using century-old bi...
Leather
Oriental Cast Bronze Elephant Sculpture with Trunk Up
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Beautiful Oriental Japanese Meiji period style bronze sculpture of a walking elephant with his trunk up. Well casted metal art, heavy, bronze elephant in a dark brown copper finish. Elephant figurine statue in a triumphant pose, will make an excellent display ornament. Created with the traditional technique of the lost-wax that allows a great precision and finesse in the details, this bronze sculpture charms is with its exquisite depiction of a trumpeting elephant. Heavy bronze presents striking detail and cool copper tones with a hint of natural bronze. Raising its trunk skywards, the elephant will grace any desk as a paperweight or display case. This is a delightful vintage elephant statue...
Bronze
Antique French Art Nouveau Bronze Nature Grape Vine Letter Opener Silvestre Lyon
Located in Greven, DE
Antique French Art Nouveau Bronze Nature Grape Vine Letter Opener Silvestre Lyon France Bronze c. 1900 Dimensions: Length 28cm Showcasing the beauty of the Art Nouveau style...
Bronze
Antique Art Nouveau Bronze Gold Animal Goat Letter Opener Desk Accessory
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Art Nouveau Bronze Gold Animal Goat Letter Opener Desk Accessory Continental Bronze c. 1900 Dimensions: Length 23cm This letter opener was crafted around 1900, durin...
Bronze
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Pad
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period patinated bronze blotter ends featuring symbols of the Zodiac with a custom green leather desk pad By Tiffany Studios (signed to ...
Bronze
Pair of Italian Desk Top Brass Bronze Dog Sculptures Paperweight Book Holders
Located in Carimate, Como
Pair of Italian desk top brass bronze dog sculptures ideal as decorative paperweights or eventually as book holders.
Brass, Bronze
George Thompson for Steuben Glass Art Deco Paperweight 1952, Signed
By George Thompson, Steuben Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage large art glass paperweight features sculptural oval silhouette with central design of a wide white glass latticino ribbon wrapped around large controlled bubble, encased in ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso
Carl Aubock Vase or Decanter with Wicker Top, Midcentury, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful minimal modernist vase or decanter „Tuberkulinkolben", designed and executed by Carl Aubock II in the 1950s. Made of handblown clear glass with nice wickerwork / rattan o...
Glass
Vintage MCM Walnut Pencil Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage MCM walnut pencil holder, circa 1970s. The piece is in great vintage condition and measures 3.625"D x 3"H. Superb craftsmanship on this very attractive desk accessory! #4795
Walnut
Antique Silver Inkstand Inkwell, London 1899 Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Antique silver inkstand inkwell, London 1899 Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co. Plain rectangular form on four turned feet, shaped Chippendale li...
Sterling Silver
Art Nouveau Pocket Watch Desk Inkwell
Located in Northampton, GB
The Inkwell of square shape made from glass with hand cut diamond quilt pattern to the exterior. The lid of the inkwell mounted with a Sterling Silver hinged lid is hallmarked to the...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Jean Gerbino For Vallauris, France, Ceramic Glazed Sage Mosaic Lidded Pot 1960's
By Jean Gerbino
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Jean Gerbino for Vallauris, France, ceramic glazed mosaic lidded pot Sage green, terracotta and cream shades, beautifully crafted Circa 1960's Signed Gerbino to base Height 2.5 inch...
Ceramic
Wild Coffee Tree Sculpture with Metal Base, Unique Piece, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2) Wild coffee tree sculpture with metal base, decorative object. A...
Metal
Late 19th Century French Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate
Located in Greven, DE
Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate Origin: Probably France Material: Gilded metal, champlevé enamel, onyx Date: Circa 1870–1890 Dimensions: H × W × D: 9 × 12 ×13 cm Des...
Onyx, Brass, Enamel
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...
Brass
Salviati Murano Sommerso Cobalt Blue Italian Art Glass Owl Figure Paperweight
By Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and large, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso cobalt blue over clear Italian art glass owl figurine, paperweight / sculpture. Documented to the Salviati company, with orig...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
Lorraine Austin for Snake Oil Paperweight, American Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Large round art glass paperweight features complex multicolored fused glass and controlled bubbles core, enclosed in clear glass in sommerso technique. Colorful fused glass elements...
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
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
Mid-Century Modern Walnut & Aluminum Letter Tray Desk Accessory Qualiton
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, mid-century modern walnut & aluminum letter tray, desk accessory. Retains original label, QUALITON. In the Style of Florence Knoll. Clean modern design with s...
Aluminum
Arco Blue Bee Fountain Pen
By Pineider
Located in Milan, IT
This stunning piston-filled fountain pen belongs to a limited series of 888 pieces. It is made by overlapping layers of blue and yellow resins, joined by gold glues accents for a str...
Resin
$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
Remington Standard Model 10 Typewriter Circa 1910
Located in Opole, PL
Remington Standard Model 10 Typewriter Circa 1910 The model, likely from 1910 with serial number RV63621, advertised with the slogan "To save time is to lengthen life." The machine ...
Metal
French Blue Gold and White Porcelain Desk Letter Mail Holder from Paris
Located in New York, NY
A French white porcelain desk letter or mail holder with small flowers and leaves in the Rococo design style, circa mid-20th century, Paris, France. Piece with scalloped edge is hand...
Porcelain
Sculptural Cast-Brass Paperweight Shaped as an Amalfi Coast Lemon, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
We are pleased to offer for sale a paperweight that can truly be considered a miniature sculpture. Solid and very heavy—1.5 kg to be precise—this piece is crafted in cast brass and d...
Brass, Bronze
Musical Palais Royal Ring Stand and Jewellery Box, of Cupid with Harp
Located in London, GB
A fine, early and very unusual Palais Royal Cupid and Harp musical box with two-air cylinder movement. The finely modelled cupid sits upon an Empire stool and plays a classical 16 s...
Ormolu
$2,400 / item
Golf Inspired Chess Set in White Bird's-Eye Maple
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
  White bird’s-eye maple and green marble chess set. Hand painted Golf chessmen.
Birdseye Maple
Edgar Brandt Style Hand Forged Iron Snake or Serpent Sculpture, Austria, 1920s
By Edgar Brandt
Located in Vienna, AT
A wrought iron Art Nouveau era model of a snake / serpent. High-quality craftsmanship, handmade of forged iron by a Viennese metalworker in the 1920s. A decorative object, which would look great in your shelf, but also suitable as a paperweight, a jewelry ring holder...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$396Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Sterling Silver Inkwell England 1905
Located in Stamford, CT
Handsome sterling silver antique inkwell has a lovely, simple design and was made by William Harrison Walter, circa 1905. It has a high polished profile, with a hinged lid and is wei...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany Studios New York Adam Bronze Doré Notepad Holder, Circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique gilt bronze Neoclassical or Adam style notepad holder By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 4.75"W x 7.5"D x ...
Bronze
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style of Murano of Italy
By Murano 5
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage Flower Art Glass Egg Paperweight in the Style Murano of Italy, circa 1980s. This heavy vintage art glass egg paperweight, crafted in the ...
Art Glass
John Charles Grinsell Antique Edwardian Cut Glass and Sterling Silver Inkwell
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian cut glass and English sterling silver mounted desk inkwell; part of our antique silver and glassware collection This exceptio...
Sterling Silver
Murano Red Multicolor Millefiori Flowers Italian Art Glass Dove Figure Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso ruby red and millefiori flowers Italian art glass dove bird figure, sculpture or paperweight. Attributed to designer Galliano Ferro, for...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine
19th Century Murano Glass Paperweight - Pen Holder
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique paperweight, handmade from multi colored glass, in the shape of a rooster. On top a small vase, probably intended to hold a pen. ...
Blown Glass, Art Glass
Wonderful Late 19th Century Letter or Napkin Holder in White Painted Cast Iron
Located in Meer, VAN
Wonderful Late 19th Century Letter or Napkin Holder with Lilies and Foliage in Patinated White Painted Cast Iron A wonderful letter or napkin holder in cast iron. Europe, late 19th ...
Iron
Jacques Cartier Elephant, Art Deco / Cubist Car Mascot / Hood Ornament 1920´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Jacques Cartier Elephant, Art Deco / Cubist Car Mascot / Hood Ornament 1920´s Elephant, cubist car mascot / Hood Ornament, Paperweight / Sculpture. Silvered Bronze, signed on the emb...
Bronze
Art Deco Streamlined Skyscraper Style Burled Carpathian Elm Letter Holder, 1930
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This elegant Art Deco Skyscraper style letter holder was realized in the United States, circa 1930. It features four concentric demilune streamlined forms that diminish in size from ...
Wood, Burl
Amalric Walter “Parrot” Pâte de verre Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite pâte de verre sculpture by Amalric Walter captures an amber-hued cockatiel poised with quiet alertness upon a rocky outcrop, its form subtly animated by the interplay ...
Glass
Large Hand Painted Snakeskin Tray
Located in Troy, MI
This large platform-style tray is just under two feet wide and features subtly under-curving legs, genuine snakeskin leather that has been hand painted to accentuate the color and pa...
Leather, Wood
$262Sale Price|20% Off
Business Card Holder Hollywood Regency, 1970s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Glamoureus business card holder. Gold plated Perspex. Hollywood Regency style 1970s Good condition.
Acrylic
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.