Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: 1990s
Period: 1930s
scatola con penne, anni 90
Located in Felino, IT
scatola portapenne in legno, con 20 penne stilografiche e a sfera miste. usate, ma tutte in ottime condizioni. le penne sono descritte nelle foto allegate. varie marche e vari stili....
Category
1990s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Wood
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 ...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Antique Letter Holder, Inkwell, Art Nouveau, Circa 1930s, Belle Epoque
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique desk utensil from brass. Letter holder with inkwell.
Category
1930s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Shagreen & Silver Plated Magnifying Glass c.1930
Located in Bath, GB
A handsome and most unusual magnifying glass in a winning and highly sought-after combination of English silver plate and Shagreen.
The ferrule frame and terminal are all silver pl...
Category
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Pewter Inkstand by Nils Fougstedt for Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1930
Located in Örebro, SE
Very rare and amazing pewter inkstand with glass tube by Nils Fougstedt, adorned with a flute playing, crosslegged Pan figurine -1930. Good vintage condit...
Category
1930s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Pewter
Piscine Stoneware Vase Applied Silver, Wilhelm Kage, Argenta, Gustavsberg #1029
By Wilhelm Kage
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Superb bijou vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden from the Argenta collection.
Decorated with a stylised fish of applied silver on mottled green stoneware.
Circa 1930's
Ba...
Category
1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Signed Glass Abstract Paperweight Red, Black, Orange, Gold, White For Desk
Located in North Miami, FL
This abstract art glass artisan paperweight is signed in cursive on the underside N Laso. It has bars of glass sticks in rows of red, black and white, orange copper rust and a gold small bat...
Category
1990s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
Ronson USA 1934 Art Deco Black Lacquered Rondette Desk Lighter in Stainless Stee
Located in Miami, FL
A stainless steel lighter designed by Ronson.
Very beautiful desk Rondette lighter, created in New Jersey United States by The Ronson Co. during the art deco period, back in the 1934. This is a very unusual lighter designed with wonderful geometric patterns and crafted in solid steel with a central round body set upon two smaller cylindrical feet. Embellished with black lacquer, creating a great contrast with the base polished steel. Extremely well made and solid construction with very nice care and attention to all details. This surely is a very decorative piece and a great conversation item in gorgeous and exceptional preserved condition.
Weight: 104.9 Grams, (67.24 Dwt).
Measurements: 66 mm by 21 mm by 82 mm (2.59 x 0.83 x 3.23 Inches).
Marks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "RONSON US PAT.RE.NO.19023 RONSON RONDETTE ART METAL WKS INC NEWARK NJ US PAT.RE.NO.19023".
The Ronson lighter company started as The Art Metal Works in 1897 and was incorporated on July 20, 1898, by Max Hecht, Louis Vincent Aronson and Leopold Herzig, in Newark, New Jersey. Louis V. Aronson was a huge creative driving force for the company; and, with a few business adjustments, including the addition of Alexander...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel, Stainless Steel
Just Andersen Disko Metal Ribbed Horseshoe Pipe Rest #2253
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Just Andersen Disko metal pipe rest with a strong ribbed decoration. Circa 1930's
Great colour, weighty and an unusual piece
Stamped and numbered 2253 on base
Height 1.25 inch, Widt...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Czechoslovakian Dresser Set
Located in Fairfax, VA
Fantastic three-piece Czechoslovakian dresser set from 1930s. The dark green glass with deep cut cherubs playing music framed in bronze is so beautifully d...
Category
1930s Czech Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
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 ...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood, Burl
French Art Deco Chrome Table Lamp Inset with Purple Stained Glass Panels, 1930s
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Original French Art Deco Chrome Table or Desk Lamp Inset With Purple Stained Glass Panels & Boom Arm Pivotable Shade - 1930s
Has been Pat Teste...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Original Royal Castle Sheffield 1930 British Art Deco Lighthouse Cocktail Drink
Located in Miami, FL
Art-Deco Cocktail Shaker in the shape of a lighthouse.
Very decorative and unusual piece made in Sheffield, United Kingdom, during the late deco period, circa 1930. This cocktail ...
Category
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Silver Plate
Sterling Silver Letter Organizer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This sterling silver letter holder may have been used as a toast rack in its former life but we thought this time around we would use it ...
Category
1930s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Ronson 1940 Art Deco Machine Age Geometric Table Touch Tip Octette Lighter
Located in Miami, FL
A desk lighter designed by Ronson.
This Ronson Touch-Tip Octette table lighter was made between 1935 and 1951 by the Ronson Art Metal Works Inc. located in Newark, New Jersey in the United States. This lighter began a very successful era for Ronson Touch Tip series of lighters which pushed out the strike lighters...
Category
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome, Enamel, Steel
Art Deco Macassar Wood and Chrome Desk Accessory Inkwell and Blotter
Located in Atlanta, GA
This gorgeous Art Deco modernist desk accessory set was produced in France in the 1930s. The set is built with a double inkwell and a matching blotter. The sleek geometric shape has ...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Diminutive Just Andersen Disko Metal, Flared with Leaf Flower Vase #D55
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Pure in design, a super little flower vase made of Disko metal by Just Andersen of Denmark
Delicate shape and decorated at base with stylised leaves
Stamped and numbered D55 to bas...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Pewter
Vintage Carved Wooden Inkwell, Shape of a Corn Hush, European 1930, H307
Located in Vancouver, BC
Vintage carved wooden inkwell, shape of a corn hush, European 1930, H307
European 1930
Wood
A carved wooden corn hush with lid top
Opens to reveal a si...
Category
1930s European Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Art Deco Stylized Cast Iron Doorstop Sphinx with Pyramid and Original Paint
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Elegantly cast Art Deco Stylized Sphinx with Pyramid and in original paint Door Stop. Finished on both sides and retains most of the original color.
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron
Delightful Pair Just Andersen Disko Metal Flared with Leaf Decoration Vases #D55
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Pair of diminutive Just Andersen Disko metal flared flower vases with rich patina
Delicate in design and particularly decorated at base with stylised leaves
Stamped and numbered D5...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Pewter
JAZ Paris 1930 Art Deco Geometric 8 Days Glass Desk Clock in Stainless Steel
By Jaz
Located in Miami, FL
A desk clock designed by Jaz Paris.
A beautiful and very handsome desk clock, created in Paris France by the the clock company of Jaz during the art deco period, back in the early 1930. This very decorative piece is very hard to find has been designed with geometric art deco patterns and assembled from an octagonal beveled cranberry glass and stainless steel steeped mountings. Deceptively weighty time piece showing the quality that one expects from this maker.
Movement: French mechanical wingding Jaz movement, Eleven Jewels, 8 days. The dial is round with metallic cranberry color, Arabic silver...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel, Stainless Steel
Cartier Paris 1935 Rare Art Deco Geometric Desk Clock in Black Onyx and Agate
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A desk clock designed by Cartier.
A beautiful and sober desk clock, created in Paris France by the the house of Cartier during the late art deco period, back in the early 1935. This desk clock is very rare and has been designed with geometric art deco patterns and assembled from several polished pieces carved from natural black onyx and reddish translucent agate. All parts mounted in gilded bronze and sterling silver settings of .935/.999.
Movement: Swiss mechanical wingding Imhof movement, Caliber 244, Fifteen Jewels, 8 days, Serial 2449074. The dial is octagonal with a unique painted scene depicting an ancient Greek ship...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Agate, Onyx, Sterling Silver, Bronze
AVem Large Vintage Italian Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and impressive vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight made by Arte Vetreria Muranese (A.V.e.M.) and dating from around 1935. The large hand blown domed clear glass paperwei...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass
Jacques Adnet Art Deco Chrome Double Inkwell, France 1930s
Located in Atlanta, GA
French designer Jacques Adnet (1901 - 1984) designed this elegant Art Deco modernist chromed metal heavy desk accessory. The piece features a minimalist geometric shape double inkwel...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Bronze Card Tray or Pin Tray, Vide-Poche in a Shape of a Wild Boar
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Bronze Card Tray or Pin Tray, Vide-Poche in a Shape of a Wild Boar
This adorable card tray or pin tray, Vide - Poche, is made of bronze in the ...
Category
1930s French Beaux Arts Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
André Ricard 'Olympic Torch Prototype' for Barcelona 1992 Games, circa 1992
By André Ricard
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Olympic torch prototype (PT) in chromed plastic for Barcelona '92 by André Ricard.
Manufactured in Spain, circa 1990.
In good original condition, w...
Category
1990s Spanish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Art Deco Chrome Aeroplane from the 30s, Decorative Desk Object
Located in Köln, NW
Decorative Art Deco chrome airplane on plastic base. Desk decoration. Probably Germany or France of the thirties. The plastic plate is also from the time. Good general condition with...
Category
1930s Unknown Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Edward Kachurik Glass Paperweight for Pa Art
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Orb shaped paperweight by glass artist Edward Kachurik in pink and blue. Signed "PA Art 1994" with a stylized "94" etched into underside.
Artist: Edward Kachurik
Year: 1994
...
Category
1990s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Vintage Brass Inkwell, Single Inkstand, England 1930, H305
Located in Vancouver, BC
Vintage Brass Inkwell, Single Inkstand, England 1930, H305
England 1930
Single Inkwell With Brass Fitting And Cover
Sitting In A Brass Base
H3...
Category
1930s English Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Disko Metal Just Andersen, Denmark 1930s Art Deco Stylised Bird Pipe Rest
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Just Andersen of Denmark, disko metal stylised bird pipe rest
Disko metal, invented by Just Andersen by combing lead and antimony
circa 1930s
Stamped on base
Measures: Height 2.5...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
1930s Super Ercole by Ercole Marelli Italy Electric Fan 404
By Marelli
Located in Biella, IT
Super Ercole by Ercole Marelli Italy design years '50 electric fan 0-404 big size
Measure; high 21,4 inches and is in good vintage condition working to 150-160 volt
colour is...
Category
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
"Suzanne", Art Deco Paperweight in Green Glaze by David Seyler for Kenton Hills
By Kenton Hills Pottery
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rare, perhaps unique, this quintessential Art Deco sculptural object -- probably meant to serve as a paperweight -- was sculpted by David Warren Seyler for Kenton Hills Pottery in no...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Sterling Silver Repousse Bookmark
By Kirk & Son
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver bookmark by S. Kirk and Sons of Baltimore, Maryland. Inspired by their iconic Repousse pattern, it has clu...
Category
1930s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Cast Metal Sculpture of a Greyhound Dog
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful cast metal bronze greyhound dog sculpture.
An elegant, detailed cast sculpture depicting a greyhound dog..
Sculptures depicting a greyhound dog.
Made with the fusion sys...
Category
1990s American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Vintage Chewing Gum Dispenser, Italy 1930s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Chewing Gum Dispenser, Italy 1930s.
Excellent condition, working.
Category
1930s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Art Deco chrome inkwell
Located in Barnstaple, GB
Circa 1930s a charming chrome on marble depiction of a little girl seated reading a book next to an inkwell. She sits upon a variegated black marble plinth with chased recess for a f...
Category
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Portable Typewriter Continental 340, Germany 1937
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Germany. Production in the years 1931-1940
Made of metal, steel, chrome,
Polished
Good original condition, functional.
Category
1930s German Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Typewriter Mirsa Ideal by Seidl and Naumann - Dresden - Germany, 1934
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Germany
Made of metal
Fully functional
Re-polished
Good Original condition.
Category
1930s German Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Addison Model 5D Red Butterscotch Marbled Catalin 'Courthouse' Tube Radio
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This Art Deco-styled vintage tube radio was made by the Addison Industries Ltd. of Canada in circa 1939. This is Addison's Model 5D, otherwise known as th...
Category
1930s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bakelite
1938 René Lalique Paperweight Taureau Sacre Glass Sepia Patina for Royal Dutch
By René Lalique
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Paperweight" Taureau Sacre" made in frosted glass with sepia patina by René Lalique in 1938 for the Royal Dutch Mail.
Acid-stamped signature and entitling on bottle.
Edition limi...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass
Paris Crocodile Skin 7 Piece Desk Set French Art Deco Complete
By Hermès
Located in Oakland, CA
French Art Deco 7-piece crocodile skin desk set in the style of the Paris company Hermes, very fine 7- piece desk set in rich deep brown crocodile skin. May have been designed by Paul Dupré-Lafon who worked for Hermes and is best known for these highly stylized fancy desk...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Four Bronzes: a Piggy Bank, Calendar, Matchbox Holder and a Place Card Holder
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Danish design. Four bronzes consisting of a piggy bank, calendar, matchbox holder and a place card holder.
Art Deco - In style of Just Andersen.
Approximate 1930s.
In good conditi...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Hagenauer Bookends Pair Leaping Gazelles Wien Made in Austria
Located in Oakland, CA
Hagenauer bookends pair leaping gazelles. Original had rubbed brass patina finish—stylized Haenauer animals, four of them intertwined and perfectly proportioned. The size is just enough to support books and still look sculptural and elegant. Both items are stamped on the flat side where you rest the books. “WHW” Made in Austria...
Category
1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Brass
Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver Dartboard Presentation Trophy
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, unusual antique George V English sterling silver Art Deco presentation trophy in the form of dartboard; part of our silverware collection.
This exceptional and unusual antique sterling silver trophy has been crafted in the form of a Yorkshire or Kent doubles dartboard*.
The face of the dartboard clearly depicts the appropriately numbered segments and the wirework spider.
This fine George V trophy is supported by an ebonised wood mount and an Art Deco style angular ebonised wooden base.
The base displays six hallmarked vacant presentation plaques; each plaque may be engraved with a personal inscription if so desired.
The posterior surface of the wooden mount is plain.
* This variation of dart board does not incorporate a triple ring, only the double and bullseye.
"By the late 1920s a standardised dartboard was introduced and remains the most popular dartboard today across the world. However, the 'standard' dartboard (also known as the 'London' or 'Clock' board) was not an overnight success in the UK. Initially it had to compete with other different existing target boards played on in some localities. These have come to be known as 'regional dartboards' and were usually named after their region of origin, for example, the Yorkshire Doubles board, Kent Doubles, the London Fives and the Manchester Board" - Patrick Chaplin PhD (Darts Historian)
Condition
This unusual antique trophy...
Category
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Italian Surrealist Paperweights with Eyes in Acrylic
Located in London, GB
Surrealist paperweight sculptures have eyes screen printed on sharp cut acrylic shapes. The eyes reflect on the different angles and depending on your position they are visible or va...
Category
1990s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Acrylic
Decorative Blue Marianne Brandt Avantgarde Bauhaus Letter Scale, 1930s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
An iconic light-blue sheet metal postal letter scale from the1930s in blue, designed by Marianne Brandt, executed by Ruppel Werke, Ruppelwerk in Gotha, G...
Category
1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sheet Metal, Metal, Iron
Bird Murano, 1930, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Murano
We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal.
Pushing the button that reads 'Vi...
Category
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Typewriter, Manufacturer Remington: Zbrojovka Brno, circa 1935
Located in Praha, CZ
Oznaceni: Remington Z16
Vyrobeno v Ceskoslovensku. Výroba zacala v roce 1934
Vyrobeno z kovu, oceli, chromu
Leštené
Dobrý puvodní stav, funkcní
Mezerník se nevrací.
Category
1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Portable Typewriter Corona Junior, U.S.A. circa 1395
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Syracuse, N.Y., U.S.A.
Made of metal, steel, chrome,
Polished.
Good original condition, functional.
producer LC Smith & Bros. Typewriter Company.
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Stunning English Solid Sterling Silver 1936 Art Deco Style Cigarette Dispenser
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer this lovely 1936 solid sterling silver art deco cigarette dispenser
A very good looking and well made piece, full...
Category
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
1930s E. Gubelin Art Deco Desk Clock in the Asian Chinese Style
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: E. Gubelin, Lucerne Switzerland
STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco, Desk Clock
MOVEMENT / CALIBER: 8 Day, Lever Escapement
DIAL / HANDS: Original, Fired Enamel, Polished St...
Category
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Precious Stone
Art Deco French Max Leverrier Bronze Hunting Scene Desk Paper Clip, circa 1930
Located in Pearland, TX
A fabulous 1930s French bronze paper clip holder by renowned French sculptor, Max Le Verrier (1891-1973), a Pioneer within the Parisian Art Deco move...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco American Sterling Silver & Pink Guilloche Enamel Letter Holder
Located in Bath, GB
A rare piece of American Art Deco silver, a small desk-top letter rack made from solid sterling silver by the Thomae Company of Attleboro, Massachusetts made in the 1930's.
The quality is evident, a lovely screwed construction, which can be seen from the underside, and a good heavy weight, 9.52 Troy Ounces / 296.1 Grams. The underside is fully marked "Sterling" and the maker's mark for the Thomae Company.
The front is decorated with a stunning pink guilloche enamel...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Giraffe Murano, 1930, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Murano
We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal.
Pushing the button that reads 'Vi...
Category
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Horse Murano, 1930, Italian
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Murano
We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal.
Pushing the button that reads 'V...
Category
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Carl Aubock Art-Deco Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, Pre-War Production, Early 1930s
Located in Vienna, AT
Art-Deco Salt and pepper shaker set. Prewar production - very early 30s.
The body of the shakers (apple and pear) is made of coloured Bakelite, the stems are of silver plated brass....
Category
1930s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Modernist Paperweight Style of Edgar Brandt
By Edgar Brandt
Located in London, GB
Modernist French paperweight with a pivoting dice in the manner of Edgar Brandt.
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron
Cartier Paris, Sterling Silver ‘Street Lamp’ Table Lighter, 1930s
By Cartier
Located in London, GB
Cartier, Paris
A remarkable and most likely unique Sterling silver table lighter in the form of a 1930s gas street lamp. The tapering lantern reflector with blue and frosted glass panes, holds the wick which is revealed by removing the chained silver finial...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
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.
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Small Leather Tray
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English Art Deco Desks
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