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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Style: Louis XVI
Style: Late Victorian
Antique English Figural / Novelty Ostrich Inkwell C.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A handsome and substantial novelty inkwell in the form of a running Ostrich standing on an oval shaped base with a naturalistic base incorporating two "rocks" acting as a pen rest. I...
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

French Dore Bronze Mounted Blue Opalescent and Dore Bronze Finial Covered Box
Located in New York, NY
A French dore bronze mounted blue opalescent and dore bronze finial covered box. This round form box is very unusual with a blue opalescent color and dore bronze mount. The top is fi...
Category

1920s French Louis XVI Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

19th Centry Austro-Hungarian Bronze Lizard Desk Dish
Located in London, GB
A fantastic quality Austro Hungarian bronze lizard, realistically modelled on a polished oyster shell, the lizard has beautiful coloured glass inset eyes.
Category

Late 19th Century Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Italian Bronze Bust of a Court Jester, Signed Antonio Pandiani
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous and Large Louis XVI Style Patinated Bronze Bust of a Court Jester, Stamped A. PANDIANI.MILANO 1888. Antonio Pandiani did an exceptional job at casting this truly remarkabl...
Category

1880s Italian Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Crystal Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and crystal inkwell. The inkwell is raised by a fine circular ormolu base with a lovely reeded and richly chased palmette design. Above the fine mottled base is the beautiful crystal bowl with a lovely spiral fluted design. The top rim displays a superb and richly chased wrap around band with charming flowers. Above are the three removable lidded vessels, two for ink, one for pounce, each set within a pierced tray...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A charming and most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres Porcelain and ormolu inkwell, stamped, P.C.G. The inkwell is raised by Fine fluted bun shaped feet below the beau...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ormolu

French Mid-19th Century Louis XVI Style Green Marble and Ormolu Mounted Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and charming French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble inkwell. The inkwell is raised by Fine topie shaped feet below the elegantly shaped wrap ...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Louis XVI Style 19th Century Marble and Ormolu Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking French 19th century Louis XVI st. Alabastro marble and ormolu inkwell. The inkwell is raised by elegant topie shaped ormolu feet below the beautiful Alabastro marble suppo...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Impressive Victorian Banded Agate Seal
Located in Riverdale, NY
Beautiful Large Banded Agate Victorian Seal from the mid-late 19th Century. Incredible lapidary work on a beautiful single piece of antique banded agate...
Category

1870s British Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Agate

Fitted Drafting Set in a Stingray Case, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Includes 3 boxwood rulers and Calipers and misc. Tools.
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Victorian Loupe Tripod Magnifying Glass in Brass, 19th Century
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Victorian jewelers or watchmakers magnifying loupe. It is fixed in a very wellmade brass tristand with machining details all-over. Adjustable lens/lenses and still operational and re...
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique English Bronze Dog Inkwell, King Charles Spaniel, c.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A handsome Victorian novelty inkwell, cast in bronze in the form of a King Charles Spaniel, beautifully executed with two lovely glass eyes. The underside is inscribed with a roma...
Category

1880s European Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Unusual Antique English Novelty Match Striker, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful and most unusual novelty match strike made from cast brass and just back from a professional clean and polish by our silversmith. The non-safety matches...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Pair of 19th Century English Turtle-Form Ormolu Mnt. Blue John Obelisks
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and quite fine pair of 19th century Louis XVI style English turtle-form Ormolu Mounted Blue John (Fluorspar) Obelisks. Each obelisk is finely hand-carved with the finest quality English blue...
Category

19th Century English Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Bronze

French Mid 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Sèvres Porcelain Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Sèvres porcelain inkwell. The inkwell is raised by c...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Victorian Gilt Bronze Leaf Trinket Dish with Sparrow and Beetles
Located in Haarlem, NL
Late Victorian or Aesthetic Movement gilt bronze trinket dish or vide poche or calling card dish. With a little detailed sparrow on the branche an...
Category

Late 19th Century European Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Stunning Light Nutwood Antique Cigar Box with Perfect Working Lock and Key
Located in Lisse, NL
Great quality and superb condition antique box for presenting your finest cigars. This beautifully designed and perfectly handcrafted cigar box is another one of our recent finds and this antique will make a great gift for yourself or for a cigar smoking friend or loved one. All handcrafted in the late 1800s this box is much better than anything you will be able to buy in today's stores. The design, its age and its practicality are one thing, but what makes this antique work of beauty really stand out is the honey colored, light nutwood exterior and interior. It is in superb condition and an absolute joy to look at. If you like it in our photos then you will love it in real life, because the patina is much better looking and warmer than in any of our photos. You can, again, take our word for it. This work of beauty will look great no matter where you decide to have it on display and it turns smoking a fine cigar into an even better experience, because who would not want to be offered a cigar like this. This finest of cigar boxes also comes with a perfect working lock...
Category

1890s European Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Small Scale Statue/Paperweight
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most charming French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Rouge Royale marble small scale statue/paperweight, signed F. Costa. The statue is raised by an oval Rouge Royale base wi...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

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

Pair of French Dore Bronze Mounted Rock Crystal Hand Carved Spiked Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
A Fabulous pair of French Louis XVI style dore bronze mounted hand carved rock crystal swirling spiked candlesticks, attributed to Baguès. Each candlestick is exceptionally hand carv...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desk Accessories

Materials

Rock Crystal, Bronze

3-Piece Sevres Porcelain and Dore Bronze Mnt. Clock and Candelabra Garniture
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous and very unusual 19th century French dore bronze mounted Sevres white porcelain three-piece clock and three-light candelabra garniture set. The Lyre shaped clock and cande...
Category

1860s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Bronze and Marble Ink Well
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare totally original French 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze and marble ink well with griotte and green marble marble inlay.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Patinated Bronze Cherub Sculpture, Signed by Auguste Moreau
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and large sized Louis XVI style patinated bronze sculpture of a cherub, signed by Auguste Moreau, titled "Amour Sifflant". This is a fabulous piece that has been crafted b...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

English Antique Ink Eraser/Letter Opener with Sterling Handle
Located in Sheffield, MA
Although the purpose was once for "erasing" ink, this antique English piece can very well be used as a letter opener. It probably did serve a dual purpose way back when. The eraser...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver, Steel

Magnificent Antique English Gilded Bronze Hare Inkwell, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A truly fabulous Victorian novelty inkwell made from solid cast bronze in the form of a hunting Hare holding a rifle, smothered in the original gold with a fabulous antique patina. ...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Wonderful French Large Louis XVI Bronze Three-Arm Bouillotte Lamp Tole Shade
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful French large Louis XVI bronze three arm bouillotte table lamp with feather handle adjustable black metal tole shade and acorn finial, flut...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desk Accessories

Antique English Novelty / Figural Brass Inkwell - Hare c.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A charming and scarce inkwell made from polished English brass featuring a beautifully cast Hare's head. At first I thought he sported glass eyes but taking a closer look, they look...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Pair of Grand Tour Armorial Dore Bronze Bookends/Paperweights
Located in New York, NY
A pair of antique 19th century Louis XVI style marble mounted dore bronze armorial Bookends/paperweights depicting "Peace and Music". Each is beautifully cast, hand-chiseled, and cha...
Category

1870s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand English Bulldog Novelty Inkwell with Glass Eyes, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A magnificent English Victorian inkwell made from solid English brass having been professionally polished to gleam. This grand figural dog inkwell was modelled in the form of an E...
Category

1890s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique French Bronze Pocket Watch Stand / Match Strike, Equestrian / Horses
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous antique French pocket watch stand, from the Bordeaux "Le Bouscat" racecourse, the original blue enamel sign indicating this. Below this label is the little hook ready to hang your pocket watch, I only had this small one at hand for photography (not included). At the base the naturalistic tree trunk would have acted as a match holder, with the textured sides used to strike the non-safety...
Category

Early 1900s French Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Antique English Bronze, Brass and Glass Inkstand / Inkwell, circa 1870 Victorian
Located in Bath, GB
A truly unusual and quite spectacular Victorian inkstand made from cast polished bronze standing on cast reticulated feet. The gallery around the back is also pierced or reticulated ...
Category

1870s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Magnificent Antique English Novelty Inkwell / Pen Tray - Parrot With Glass Eyes
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful and impressive figural inkwell made from solid cast English brass, beautifully executed with a fabulous patina. Standing on little cast feet, the large leaf is of cour...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Royal Copenhagen Louis XVI St. 1900s White Porcelain and Gilded Rams Lamp #11537
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Fabulous Royal Copenhagen XVI style, white porcelain table lamp dated between 1889-1922, in superb condition Sumptuously decorated with gilded swags, rams heads and bows Dated 1889...
Category

Early 1900s Danish Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Royal Blue Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Inkwell and Pen Tray in the Louis XVI Taste
Located in London, GB
An Ensemble de Bureau in the Louis XVI Taste Constructed using gilt bronze, and 'Sevres' style porcelain having 'Bleu de Roi' borders, and hand p...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Antique English Novelty Inkwell, Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut, circa 1890
Located in Bath, GB
Clearly created after the well known idiom "use a sledgehammer to crack a nut"; this is an unusual and fun figural inkwell. The walnut is the inkwell with a hinged lid which opens...
Category

1890s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Onyx and Bronze Inkwell Desk Set
Located in Stamford, CT
Onyx and bronze inkwell desk set depicting Louis Pasteur. A nicely cast bronze with double ink holders on an onyx pen and pencil base.
Category

1920s Louis XVI Vintage Desk Accessories

19th Century French Figural Bronze and Gilt Inkstand
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This beautifully detailed French bronze and gilt inkwell shows a Revolutionary figure sounding an alarm of impending uprise while standing on a cobblestone street with a gilt metal document box...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze, Metal

French Louis XVI Style Marble and Gilt Bronze Inkwell
Located in Pembroke, MA
Rouge marble and gilt bronze inkwell with seated angel, in the neoclassical style, signed "Francois Flamand".
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of 18th Century Ormolu and Marble Vases
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Beautiful pair of 18th century French ormolu and marble vases.
Category

18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

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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