Unique Vintage Art Glass
Located in Fairfield, CA
A beautiful vintage art glass featuring a variety of techniques and controlled bubbles to create a unique design.
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Unique Vintage Art Glass
Located in Fairfield, CA
A beautiful vintage art glass featuring a variety of techniques and controlled bubbles to create a unique design.
Art Glass
Vintage French Brown Leather Desk Set, Mid-20th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage French Brown Leather Desk Set Mid-20th Century A luxurious vintage French leather desk set, crafted in the mid-20th century and designed in the spirit of Jacques Adnet inspir...
Leather
Harley Davidson Motorcycle Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a Harley Davidson Motorcycle. Made completely of metal with a hollow body. Great dark patina on the silver metal with great details. Cool tobacco accessory and conversation piece. Made in Japan in the 1980s. Working lighter. Other motorcycle lighters...
Metal
Mid-century Design Phone Tesla, 1960's.
By Tesla
Located in Praha, CZ
Tesla Manufacturer Made in Czechoslovakia Fully Functional Beautiful Decoration Good Original condition
Metal
"Paper Bag" by California Bronze
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Whimsical "paper bag" made from cast metal from California Bronze. Would make for a fun decorative piece in any interior. Photographed atop a Cappellini sid...
Metal
Art Deco Bronze Rabbit Table Bell Ring by Edouard-Marcel Sandoz 1920s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
A fine quality, early twentieth century bronze model of a ‘Rabbit with Ear Raised’ by Edouard Marcel Sandoz (Swiss, 1880-1971). This bronze was produced using the lost wax process at...
Marble, Bronze
Lacquered Japanese Writing Box, Mid 20th Century
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
A Lacquered Japanese writing box with metal detailing, mid 20th century. The box has signs of patina on the metal, a small crack in one corner and...
Wood
Enzo Mari Letter and Pen Holder for Danese 1962, in Blue and Green
Located in Milan, IT
Early Enzo Mari Letter and Pen Holder for Danese 1962. In the colors of Blue and Green. Carries the Danese label.
Metal
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
Candlestick Cloisonne Enamel Chamber Stick, 1890s Antique
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous candlestick. Made of metal with cloisonné enamel parts. Beautiful color and patina. This was made probably in the early 1890s-1900s. Fantastic piece for a Living Room.
Ormolu
ICA Volta 125 Camera Folding Bed Camera For 9x12cm Plates With Ica Periskop
Located in Reading, Berkshire
ICA Volta 125 Camera Folding Bed Camera For 9x12cm Plates With Ica Periskop "Alpha" F11 Fixed Lens Manufactured by Internationale Camera Actiengesellschaf...
Leather
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
$339Sale Price|30% Off
Tiffany & Co. 1981 Angela Cummings Aerodynamic Twisted Pen .925 Sterling Silver
By Tiffany & Co., Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Sculptural twisted pen designed by Angela Cummings. Sculptural pen, created back in the 1981 in New York city at the Tiffany Studios. This fabulous sculpt...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Pattern Bronze Doré Letter Rack
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze "Zodiac" pattern desk letter holder rack By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Cent...
Bronze
Sterling Silver Circular Standing Frame
Located in New York, NY
Sterling Silver Circular Standing Frame. Vintage Mexican sterling portrait frame with easel back. Stamped “EMP•PLAT•MEX •S.A” STERLING 0.925 HECHO EN MEX. & ME 15. Mexico, 20th cent...
Sterling Silver
Renaissance Inkwell Calamelli workshop, Italy, Faenza, second half of the 16th
By Virgiliotto Calamelli
Located in Milano, IT
Inkwell Calamelli workshop (attr.). Faenza, second half of the 16th century Height 4.33 in; length 8.07 in; depth 2.95 in (11 cm; 20.5 cm; 7.5 cm) Weight: 0.800 lb (363 g) State of conservation: some chipping to the top of the mask around the mouth. Handle glued, without any restorations; minor chips in some raised areas. This object has the shape of a foot wearing Greek-style footwear, as can be seen in some raised areas. The foot is anatomically modeled with bare toes, while the ankle is partially covered by the footwear. On the heel, there is a small circular handle to support the object. The mouth of the container is shaped like a mask. The interior, completely enameled, suggests that the piece was intended to be used as an inkwell or to contain some other liquid. The base, however, is not enamelled. The painted decoration, scant and brief, consists of rapid cobalt blue shading between the toes of the foot, with more precise emphasis on the nails. It is accompanied by yellow citrine accents to enhance the forms. The mask is painted with the tip of the brush, to accentuate the tense nature of the eyes and to accentuate their outline. Thin strokes of yellow-orange line the interior of the mouth. Since the Renaissance, this decoration has been referred to as "compendiaria" and it characterizes the period of production extending from the mid-16th century to approximately the middle of the following century. It significantly influenced tastes at the time. It evolved from the polychrome style "istoriato" and transformed into a new style that "summarized" (compendia), or condensed, the ornamentation of the works into a few colors, placing greater prominence on the shapes. It was often inspired by metal specimens. Since the Renaissance, this decoration has been referred to as "compendiaria" and it characterizes the period of production extending from the mid-16th century to approximately the middle of the following century. It significantly influenced tastes at the time. It evolved from the polychrome style "istoriato" and transformed into a new style that "summarized" (compendia), or condensed, the ornamentation of the works into a few colors, placing greater prominence on the shapes. It was often inspired by metal specimens. This artwork finds parallels in similar objects all characterized by this refined style and produced in the city of Faenza and other Italian centers starting from the mid-16th century. The closest comparable example in majolica is a foot acquired by the British Museum in 2011 (inv. 2011, 8008.1). This was previously published by Carmen Ravanelli Guidotti in 1996 and later by Dora Thornton in 2016 during the conference on Renaissance ceramics...
Maiolica
English Brass Two-Compartment Letter Holder with Neoclassical Decorations
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian brass letter holder featuring two compartments separated by highly decorative cast brass dividers with acorn finials and impressed domes, Condition: Good; Wear con...
Brass
Rare Mammoth English Victorian Novelty Inkwell, Owl with Glass Eyes C.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A truly outstanding and rare find, this is an outstanding Victorian figural inkwell made from a winning combination of brass and silver plate and retaining his wonderful two original...
Silver Plate, Brass
$1,320Sale Price|20% Off
Seguso Vetri d'Arte Murano Pulegoso Green Gold Italian Art Glass Perfume Bottle
By Flavio Poli, Seguso Vetri d'Arte
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown green and gold flecks Italian art glass perfume scent bottle. Documented to the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company, circa 1930-40s. Unsure of t...
Gold Leaf
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
$625 / set
Metal Geometric Abstract Bookends, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A substantial pair of metal bookends with a geometric abstract design and a copper-rose gold hue, in the Post-Modern Deconstructivist design style. Pair could work well as individual...
Metal
Rare Chinese opium smoking tray in Cloisonné Bronze with Black Enamel
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Rare Chinese opium smoking tray in cloisonné bronze with black enamel. Divided into three compartments plus the wick deposit. 19th century.
Bronze, Enamel
$6,000 / item
Venetian Horse Centerpiece
By Creart
Located in Milan, IT
This centerpiece has a striking appearance and is constructed from three main components. The base and stand are in 24-karat gold-plated brass. Sitting on top of the base is a decora...
Crystal, Gold, Brass
Stylized Rabbit Sculpture / Paperweight by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous stylized rabbit sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on the unde...
Crystal
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Hammer from Aarikka, Finland, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Modern Wooden Hammer from Aarikka, Finland, 1960s
Wood
Vintage Art Deco Black Leather Saddle Stitching Desk Set
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Jacques Adnet style Art Deco black leather saddle stitching with metal brass desk set. A modernist desk accessories set designed by ILG, Belgium, in the 1950s. Art Deco styl...
Brass
Helmet Paperweight Mounted on a Piece of Marble Paris France
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Acquired in Paris France, this is a wonderful paperweight. A Helmut mounted on a piece of marble - a compliment to any desk or work station. The helmet is metal and the sides move a bit, as they are supposed to. A great curiosity, wonderful for a housewarming or fathers day gift.
Marble, Metal, Brass
1950s South African Scrimshaw Ostrich Egg by Late Chief Sipho Ndldvu
Located in Marbella, ES
Original 1950s South African scrimshaw ostrich egg by late chief Sipho Ndlvu.
Ostrich Eggshell
Spanish Writing Slope Box in Walnut and Leather
Located in Barcelona, ES
Elegant hand crafted walnut writing slope with marquetry stripe details Leather writing surface on op Above the slope there is a compartment for storage writing implenments and two i...
Wood, Walnut, Leather
Original Victorian Door Knob Cast Pewter Paperweight, Glasgow School of Art
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Original Glasgow School of Art, artist's proof of a pewter casting of a Victorian door knob The mold for this one-off casting was created using a V...
Pewter
19th Century Belgian Blue Stone Doorstop with Iron Ring, Sculptural
Located in High Point, NC
19th Century Belgian Blue Stone Doorstop. This sculptural doorstop, crafted from dense Belgian blue stone in the 19th century, embodies the understated strength and natural beauty of...
Stone
$1,259Sale Price|30% Off
Exceptional Harlequin Crystal Perfume Bottle Mike Hunter Twists Studio, Scotland
By Mike Hunter
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Harlequin white and the palest of blue stripes, decorate both this bottle and it's extraordinary spiral stopper This is an exceptional piece from the renowned glass artist, Mike Hunt...
Crystal
Goerz Tenax Folding Medium Format Roll Film With A Zeiss Ikon Compur With C.P.G
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Goerz Tenax Folding Medium Format Roll Film With A Zeiss Ikon Compur With C.P.Goerz Berlin Dogmar 12.5cm F6.3 Prime Lens With A Leather Case Shutter speed 1 - 1/250 Takes 6.5 x 4 c...
Leather, Glass
$210 / item
Lace Brown Leather Notebook
By Giannini
Located in Milan, IT
Classic notebook by Florentine bookbinder Giannini with a brown soft leather cover treated using the ancient technique of vegetable tanning. Entirely handcrafted using century-old bi...
Leather
$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
Perfectly Ordinary Lustre Octagonal Scarab Bowl Daisy Makeig-Jones Wedgwood 1920
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Absolutely delightful and delicate Daisy Makeig-Jones for Wedgwood, octagonal bone china lustre bowl. The interior is decorated with mother-of-pearl colou...
Porcelain
Tiffany Studios New York Chinese Pattern Large Bronze Inkwell, Circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Arts & Crafts period "Chinese" pattern gilt bronze inkwell By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 5"W x 5"D x 3.13"H. ...
Bronze
$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
Leather Basket by Lancel Paris, Signed and Made in Italy
By Lancel Paris
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This basket, or trash can, is signed Lancel Paris underneath, and has been made in Italy in the 1970's. The leather as a beautiful old patina. It is in good condition.
Leather
$124Sale Price|20% Off
Chinese Calligraphy Brush Bone Handle
Located in Somis, CA
Beautiful Chinese calligraphy brush with handmade bone handle. A beautiful brush that is perfect for making art or as an design element. Bone ferrule and h...
Bone
Jean Gerbino, Vallauris, France, Ceramic Neriage Posy Potpourri Vase Mocha Tones
By Jean Gerbino
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Charming And Petit, Jean Gerbino for Vallauris, France, ceramic glazed neriage posy potpourri vase in tones of mocha An intriguing, tactile vase with superb mosaic pattern. Circa 19...
Ceramic
Silver Crest Arts & Crafts Bronze Letter Opener
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Arts & Crafts period bronze letter opener By Silver Crest (the mark of Smith Metal Arts Co.), an offshoot of Heintz Art Metal Shop USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 9....
Bronze
Konst Glashyttan Urschult Paperweight, Glows in UV, Sweden 1965-1970
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage spherical paperweight features a bright, graphic central core done in blue and yellow glass with 3 large controlled bubbles, encased in clear glass in sommerso technique. Th...
Glass, Art Glass, Uranium Glass
Contemporary Ceramic Table Lectern Reading Desk Glazed Earthenware Black
Located in Rubi, Catalunya
Handmade stoneware table lectern manufactured at the workshop of Apparatu in Barcelona. Different clay bodys are mixed with natural fibers like corn, str...
Ceramic, Earthenware, Stoneware
Art Déco English Square Shapped Cut Glass/Crystal Inkwell with Brass/Bronze Top
Located in North Miami, FL
Art Déco english square shapped cut crystal inkwell with brass/bronze spherical top By: unknown Material: brass, bronze, cut glass, glass, metal, crystal, copper, zinc Technique: ca...
Crystal, Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Zinc
Art Deco Crystal Faceted Block Paperweight Vase Desk Accessory
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A thick Block of Crystal with a large hole in the center. The faceted piece had a previous life as an ink well, or small container for stamps or a piece like a salt Cellar. The pi...
Crystal
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
$695 / set
Group of 4 Amethyst Geodes
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine set of 4 amethyst geodes. The group consists of one pair of complementary halves of the same geode and 2 other examples. The complementary pair is unpolished, and the ot...
Amethyst
Blue Cobra Table Phone, Ericofon by LM Ericsson
Located in Vienna, AT
Vintage rotary dial mint green ericofone. This is the model Cobra. It is made of blue thermoplastic ABS Designed in the 1950s in Sweden by Hugo Blomb...
Steel
$987Sale Price|31% Off
Bronze Desk Top Model of a Signal Cannon
Located in Cheshire, GB
Bronze desktop model of a signal cannon on Bakelite carriage with bronze wheels. Dimensions: Height 4 inches Width 10 inches Depth 4.5 inches.
Brass
Handmade Big Decorative Paperweight Cube in Satin White Carrara Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Big decorative paperweight cube full in satin white Carrara marble. Each piece is in a way unique (every marble block is different in veins and shades) and handmade by Italian artisa...
Marble
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Hollywood Regency Early 20th Century Page Turner or Letter Opener Horn and Brass
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very large and decorative Hollywood Regency 1920s page turner or letter opener made by hand out of a curl goat Horn and brass. On the brass it reads: AER But the some letters are h...
Brass
Aldo Londi Bitossi Very Large Round Rimini Blue Glazed Midcentury Ashtray, 1950s
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful, decorative midcentury Rimini blue glazed ashtray. Very large, has a diameter of 9 1/2 inches, Designed by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche / Italy in the 19...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
Continental Miniature Wooden Bombe Chest Jewelry Box
Located in Queens, NY
Antique Belgian wooden jewelry box shaped like a bombe chest with three lockable drawers and ornate brass hardware and ornamentation.
Brass, Metal
Early 20th Century Cut Glass Inkwell with Silver Mountings, Birmingham, 1905
Located in Greven, DE
English Inkwell with Faceted Crystal Body Origin: United Kingdom, Birmingham Material: Cut crystal, sterling silver mount Date: 1905 Dimensions: H × Ø: 13 × 9 cm Description: This...
Silver
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...
Marble
Leather Tray ALINEA by ARIA HOME - Square Small - Color: Vanilla
Located in Curitiba, Parana
A classic that endures. The ALINEA Collection embodies the essence of Aria Home: classic trays with refined finishes, designed to move effortlessly across spaces and styles. Its si...
Leather
Antique Perpetual Calendar, French Table Calender, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique perpetual calendar made from marble with complete and original set of plates for the dates. France, early 20th century.
Marble
$140Sale Price|20% Off
Midcentury Perforated Metal Letter Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
Petite black enameled letter holder, circa 1950s, simple design in original finish great decorative piece.
Metal
$995Sale Price|37% Off
Italian Magazine Holder Flowers and Leaves, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian gold gilt and enamel magazine holder rack with flowers and leaves, circa mid-20th century, 1950s, Italy. Holder has beautiful enamel flowers and gold gilt leaves ...
Metal, Enamel
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.