Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Sterling Silver Plate Letter Opener Horse Head Design
Located in New York, NY
A substantial sterling silver-plated letter opener with horse head handle, circa mid-20th century, USA. A great desk, office, library, etc., accessory. With maker's mark on underside...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Georg Jensen Bernadotte Sterling Letter Opener 301
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Letter Opener – Bernadotte Pattern (#301)
A rare all-silver letter opener in the iconic Bernadotte pattern, designed in 1938 by Sigvard Bernadotte. This...
Category
1940s Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Classic Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Vendome Trinity Rollerball Pen & Box
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Vintage Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Vendome Trinity Oval Rollerball Pen Complete With Cartier Box & Guarantee Card.
Made in Paris, France
Cartier pens are designed by Cart...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate
Baccarat Paperweight with Millefiori and Horse Gridel Silhouette, 1973
By Baccarat
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Baccarat paperweight features complex patterned millefiori set around a large horse silhouette cane, with smaller animal silhouette canes placed on a white lace background.
...
Category
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Villeroy & Boch Clear Glass Panda Bear Paperweight
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This vintage Villeroy & Boch paperweight features a delightful sitting panda bear design. The clear glass material is cut-to-clear and gives the paperweight a charming cuddly appearance. This modern original is a perfect addition to any collection of decorative pottery and glassware, and would make a lovely gift for anyone who loves bears...
Category
1980s German Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Art Nouveau Victorian Steel Office Stapler Paper Fastener Rarity
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1920. We offer this Art Nouveau Victorian Steel Office Stapler Paper Fastener Rarity, fantastic patina.
Category
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
French Bronze and Gilded Bronze Inkwell and Candlestand 19th Century
Located in Cheltenham, GB
A large and impressive early 19c French bronze and gilt bronze inkwell, the central chased handle with a pair of candle arms terminating in lion masks, 2 tray wells either side of a ...
Category
19th Century Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
$2,040 Sale Price
48% Off
1960 Lino Sabattini Christofle Design Silver Metal Paperweight
Located in Brescia, IT
Paperweight
Lino Sabattini for Christofle
France
1960
Silver Metal
Mark manufacture impressed
Very good condiction
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Art Deco Original Peach & Green Mirrored Bevelled Glass Picture Frame, c1930
Located in Devon, England
This for your consideration is a fabulously glamorous Art Deco picture frame dating to the 1930s and originating from France. An absolute delight and totally original who wouldn't wa...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Mirror
Virgo, Astrological, Murano Glass Paperweight by Ferro and Lazzarini 1980, Italy
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Murano Glass 'Virgo' astrological paperweight by Ferro and Lazzarini
Crafted in the 1980s in Italy, the large glass paperweight was part of a l...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
$168 Sale Price
50% Off
Beautifully Styled Ceylonese Porcupine Quill, Lidded Dark Wood Conical Pot
By SILVA (Sri Lanka)
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Superb Ceylonese porcupine quill lidded pot in a most unusual conical shape
Fashioned in dark wood and decorated with quill pieces
All quills are present and in excellent order. Int...
Category
1950s Sri Lankan British Colonial Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Hardwood
$526 Sale Price
40% Off
Tronador Square Blue Onyx Stone Box
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...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Onyx
$1,584 / item
Baccarat Rare Concentric Close Pack Mushroom Glass Paperweight
By Baccarat
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare antique French glass paperweight containing a close pack mushroom design by renowned glass makers Baccarat and dating from around 1850. The large and heavily made paperweight ...
Category
1850s French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Toso Murano Green Orange Millefiori Flower Italian Art Glass Paperweights
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Priced per item (3 different designs available).
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown flower design Italian art glass paperweights. They are documented to the Fratelli Toso company. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Murrine, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
$240 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Maitland Smith Leather Embossed Executive Desk Blotter
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Maitland Smith Tessellated Horn and Leather Desk Blotter. Certainly a luxurious addition to any executive desk. Designed for both function and elegance, this handcrafted desk accesso...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Horn
Classic Must de Cartier Silver Plated Trinity Vendome Fountain Pen & Box
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Classic Must de Cartier Silver Plated Trinity Vendome Fountain Pen With 18ct Gold Nib Made in Paris, France.
Item Is Sold With Original Red & Gold Leather Box, Red & Gold...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold, Silver Plate
Carl Auböck Handcrafted Midcentury Brass Heart Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist heart keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
1930s Art Deco Portoro Marble Italian Inkwell and Signature Pad
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Very precious Italian inkwell and signature pad with original paper. It's made with very rare portoro marble, particular for its black with brown and gold veins. Price is for the com...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
$379 Sale Price
20% Off
Carl Auböck Midcentury Lucky Charm Pig Brass Figurine Key Ring Chain Holder
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist pig keyring / keyholder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Aus...
Category
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Large Natural Malachite Box
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful 3.3 lb malachite box. This exceptional piece uses carefully selected fine grade gemstone malachite in brilliant green, displaying concentric rings, swirls and stripes. Bo...
Category
2010s Unknown Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite
$1,400 Sale Price
50% Off
Caithness Glass Ascension Paperweight by Alastair Macintosh Scotland, Ca 1980
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful Caithness glass paperweight named "Ascension", designed by Alastair Macintosh and dating to the last quarter of the 20th century.
The paperweight has a cone, egg shaped form, having colours including blue swirl with orange net to the centre and medium bubble and smaller controlled bubbles, making a very distinctive design.
The Caithness Glass Company began making paperweights circa 1962 Paul Ysart,Colin Terriss,Alistair Macintosh,Margot Thomson Inns Burn where some of Caithness makers designers of Caithness glass paperweights.
The makers mark is etched to the base with CAITHNESS ASCENSION SCOTLAND and a scratched edition number alongside as per the images.
This paperweight weighs about 500 gram.
Caithness glass
The company was founded in 1961 by Robin Sinclair and initially only made bowls, vases and drinking glasses. After Paul Ysart joined the company a year later, that paved the weigh for Paperweight production, with regular factory production starting in the late 1960s.
In 1974 the first millefiori and lampwork paperweights...
Category
20th Century Scottish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass
Early 20th-C. French Gilt Bronze And Malachite Desk Pen Inkwell / Inkstand
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early 20th century highly decorative French gilt bronze, malachite and faux malachite inkstand with dual inkwells. The base is a mix of faux malachite and malachite veneer...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
$1,436 Sale Price
20% Off
Beautiful White Opaline Cenedese Style Glass Compote Pedestal Bowl, Italy, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This elegant Tuscan glass pedestal bowl is a beautiful example of mid-century Italian milk opaline craftsmanship, created circa 1950 or earlier in the style of Cenedese. The bowl fea...
Category
1950s Italian Empire Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Brucaliffo brass geometrical shaped ashtray
Located in Firenze, FI
Perfect for both smokers and non-smokers alike, this brass ashtray is not only functional but also visually appealing. Its geometric shape adds a touch of modern elegance to any room...
Category
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$415 / item
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...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Copper
$200 Sale Price
20% Off
Walter Bosse Brass Poodle Figurine, Lucky Charm, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming poodle figurine, made of brass designed by Walter Bosse, executed in the 1950s by Hertha Baller, Austria. In excellent condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century Napoleon III Bronze Wood Marquetry Inkwell
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined antique inkwell, with two inkwells made of bronze, including glass cups. The base is made of veneered marquetry wood with a diamond pattern, framed in a bronze rim, resting...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Milan 1920/30 Antique Microscope by F.lli Koristka Wooden Box with Accessories
Located in Milan, IT
Optical microscope signed F.lli Koristka Milano n. 42870 produced between 1920/30, of chromed and black painted brass, three-magnification turret, consisting of a stand and a plate w...
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Modernist Wood and Chrome Desk Accessory Letter Holder, circa 1930
Located in Atlanta, GA
Make a bold statement with this exceptional Art Deco modernist letter holder, a masterpiece of French craftsmanship, circa 1930. Defined by its stunning concentric half-circle silhou...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Vintage Italian yellow marble mushroom, 1960s
Located in View Park, CA
A vintage Italian marble mushroom in buttercup yellow with charcoal veining, 1960s. Fab as paperweight or objet d’art. Pick up in central west Los Angeles or we ship worldwide.
3.25”...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Alabaster
$104 Sale Price
20% Off
Classic Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Vendome Trinity Rollerball Pen
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Vintage Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Vendome Trinity Oval Rollerball Pen Complete With Cartier Box & Guarantee Card.
Made in Paris, France
Cartier pens are designed by Cart...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate
Carl Auböck Model #4329 Patinated Brass Hook
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4329 Patinated Brass Hook.
Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and minimalist midcentury wall hook is executed in choice of patinated brass, polished brass, or ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$349 / item
Geometric Sculpture in Polished Orange Resin by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Geometric sculpture made in polished resin in variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space.
This sculpture is very versatile and fun! You can cr...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
English Wedgwood Basalt Jasperware Scallop Seashell Box, circa 1980s
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful special edition English Wedgwood black basalt Jasperware small oval box with gold scallop seashell design, circa late-20th century, 1980s, England. Piece is matte black stoneware with gold scallop seashell design on top lid. The box was created in the mid-1980s as a special edition for members of the Wedgwood Collectors Society, marked on inside lid area in gold (as shown.) Markers mark 'Wedgwood', 'Made in England', on bottom as shown. Piece can neatly hold a cocktail ring or other small items, etc., or just be beautiful as a standalone piece decorative object. English wood box...
Category
Late 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Materials
Stoneware
$495 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique English Bronze Hunting Hound / Dog Inkwell, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A beautifully cast late Victorian inkwell dating to circa 1880 in the form of a handsome hunting dog.
The hinged lid opens to reveal a removable ink chamber.
Excellent conditio...
Category
1880s Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
$2,046 Sale Price
20% Off
Black Box Bird Duck Mosaic
Located in New York, NY
A black resin rectangular box with mosaic inlaid mallard duck bird on pond with cattail plant flower; all inlaying was done by hand with natural materials...
Category
Late 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$540 Sale Price
20% Off
CHANEL Snow Globe
By Chanel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
CHANEL winder holiday snow globe featuring Chanel gift bags, boxes, and N.5 perfume bottle / Made in France
This comes in original box
Diameter: 4 inches / Height: 5.5 inches
1 avail...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Italian Typewriter Olivetti 1930 Ivrea M40
By Olivetti
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Italian typewriter Olivetti 1930 Ivrea M40.
Category
1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
$1,246 Sale Price
30% Off
Palais Royal French Ormolu Mounted Desk Writing Set with Pen
By Palais Royal
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
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' Polished Brass Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #5371 'Heart' polished brass paperweight.
Designed in the 1950s, this beautifully refined Viennese paperweight is hand-fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Jugenstile Bronze Fledermaus Inkwell
Located in Sharon, CT
Jugenstile cast bronze inkwell in the form of a bat (Fledermaus).
Category
Early 20th Century German Jugendstil Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut, Brass Writing Slope & Leather Interior
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique British Military Campaign 19th Century Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With Ebonized Trim.
The Interior Features a tooled Blue Leather Scriver, A Single Glass Inkwell...
Category
19th Century British Campaign Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$1,875 Sale Price / set
52% Off
Cool Ink Well designed as a Godin iron stove from the late 19th Century
By Godin
Located in Knivsta, SE
Cool Ink Well designed as a Godin iron stove from the late 19th Century. Made in France in cast iron and painted with a beautiful patina. Probably an advertising item...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron
Antique Vintage Lady's Gentlemans Ebonised Wooden Walking Stick Dress Cane 1895
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Very Unusual Fine Quality English Ladies or Gentleman’s Walking Stick or Dress Cane of outstanding quality and stylish design, last quarter of the Nineteenth Century.
Sterling Silv...
Category
Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Einar Barnes for P. S. Heggen Handled Teak Wastepaper Basket
By Einar Barnes , P.S. Heggen
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Scandinavian Einar Barnes for P. S. Heggens Two Handled Teak Trash Can. Featuring a sculptural, molded Teak and Beech Plywood oval form, detailed vertical s...
Category
1960s American Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Beech, Teak, Plywood
Vintage Clear Lucite Fan Shaped Card Holder by Guzzini 1980s Made in Italy
By Guzzini
Located in Amityville, NY
Vintage clear lucite or acrylic post modern fan shaped card holder, sorter or separator made in Italy in the 1980s by Guzzini. Marked "Guzzini Made in Italy" this originally was sold...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
$89 Sale Price
31% Off
XL Calligraphy Brush Jade Archer's Rings 17" Engraved
Located in Somis, CA
The extra large, extraordinary 17" Chinese calligraphy brush captivates with its fusion of history, symbolism, and artistic finesse. Comprising a collection of seven jade Archer's ri...
Category
2010s Chinese Qing Desk Accessories
Materials
Jade
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
New Brush Stand Solid Wenge Wood Small Holds 12
Located in Somis, CA
Our calligraphy brush stands are made of solid wenge wood, a prized, sustainable, exotic wood with beautiful grains. Top of the stands are deco...
Category
2010s Chinese Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood, Wenge
$49 Sale Price / item
34% Off
Black Forest Wood Carved Brienz Bear Inkwell German Vintage, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic 1890s black forest Brienz wood carved inkwell in form of a Bear. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and glass eyes. Found at...
Category
1890s German Black Forest Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
$311 Sale Price
30% Off
1980s Silver Plated Metal Partridge Paperweight By Gucci
By Gucci
Located in Aci Castello, IT
Vintage Gucci Italian Metal Bird Desk Ornament or Paperweight
This charming desk accessory is a vintage piece of home décor or paperweight by the renowned Italian luxury house, Gucci...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
$1,139 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Ashtrays and Lighter in Crystal by Rosenthal Studio Linie Design, 1970s
Located in taranto, IT
particular set consisting of a Ronson lighter and crystal ashtray, with an inclined shape, in the style of mangiarotti design
measurements: the ashtr...
Category
1970s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Handcrafted Brass Gingko Leaf Decorative Paperweight with Bronze Patina
Located in London, London
Beautiful hand cast gingko leaf in patinated brass paperweight.
Each of these brass leaves are handmade individually with incredible detail. Cast using ve...
Category
2010s Indian Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Murano White Latticino Filigrana on Pink Glass Paperweight, Vintage
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Murano glass paperweight features white filaments intricately superimposed and intertwined within the coral pink glass in filigrana or latticino technique. Controlled bubble...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
$200 Sale Price
20% Off
Carl Aubock II Vase Decanter with Brown Leather Top, Midcentury, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful minimalist Mid-Century Modern vase or decanter, "Tuberkulinkolben" designed and executed by Carl Auböck II in the 1950s. This piece is made of handblown clear glass and f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Glass
Classic Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Black Vendome Trinity Rollerball Pen & Box
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Vintage Cartier 18ct Gold Plated & Black Vendome Trinity Oval Rollerball Pen Made in Paris, France
Item Is Sold With Original Red & Gold Leather Box.
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate
Macassar, Chrome and Lucite Desk Accessory Letter Holder, circa 1940
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exceptional French Art Deco Desk Accessory in Macassar, Chrome, and Lucite, circa 1940
A rare and refined embodiment of Art Deco modernism, this exquisite desk accessory was crafted ...
Category
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Calipso Pen Holder in Black Lacquered Wood with Corno Italiano Inlays, Mod 5305s
Located in Recanati, Macerata
An elegant addition to an executive desk, our Calipso pen holder showcases a rectangular silhouette in glossy black lacquered wood, accented with a distinctive rim in Corno Italiano,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
1930s Curt Schlevogt, Ingrid Collection Bohemian Malachite Glass Dresser Set
Located in Delft, NL
1930s Curt Schlevogt, Ingrid collection Bohemian Malachite glass dresser set
Czechoslovakian moulded in deep relief Bohemian malachite glass dresser set by Curt Schlevogt from the...
Category
1930s Czech Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Italian Snakeskin Picture Frame, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A '70s Modern Italian red burgundy suede and snakeskin picture frame, circa 1970s, Italy. Frame can sit in two positions: vertical (as shown) o...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Animal Skin, Suede, Glass
$468 Sale Price
25% Off
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.