Bronze and Marble Paperweight with Bust of Louis XIV, circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
Bronze and Marble Paperweight with Bust of Louis XIV, circa 1900. E.F. Caldwell and Co. New York.
Early 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Marble, Bronze
Bronze and Marble Paperweight with Bust of Louis XIV, circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
Bronze and Marble Paperweight with Bust of Louis XIV, circa 1900. E.F. Caldwell and Co. New York.
Marble, Bronze
Chalten Medium Wood & Alpaca Silver Picture Frame by AIREDELSUR
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Inspired by the trails of the Chalten Mountain, in the south of the Andes mountain range, this family of trays, flower vases, containers and picture frames is born. The mountain hiki...
Metal
Black Leather Desk Basket with Saddle Stitching, circa 1950
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
Black leather desk basket with saddle stitching. French work in the style of Jacques Adnet. Circa 1950 Additional Information: Material: Leather Period: Circa 1950 Dimensions: W: 9....
Leather
$400Sale Price|20% Off
Decorative Glass Desk Accessory Bowl Plus Flowers Container, 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Decorative glass desk accessory bowl plus flowers container 1970s.
Glass
Antique, rare paperweight made of glass ball with image
Located in Wien, AT
Antique rare paperweight glass ball with picture, alpaca base, good original condition, around 1880.
Alpaca, Glass
Sterling Silver-Mounted Pairpoint "Controlled Bubbles" Crystal Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Sterling silver-mounted, Pairpoint "controlled bubbles" crystal inkwell, Goodnow & Jenks, Boston, circa 1890s-1900. Monogrammed (script, interlocking HLL?) sterling silver lid has se...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Gustavsberg Vinyl Record Stand, Orange Plastic, Scandinavian Design
Located in Stockholm, SE
This orange vinyl record stand was produced by Gustavsberg in Sweden during the second half of the 20th century. Executed in molded plastic, the pie...
Plastic
Cartier 18ct Gold Plated & Brushed Steel Ballpoint Pen in Original Box
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Cartier Brushed Steel & 18ct Gold Plated Stylo Bille Must II Comes With Original Paperwork & Red Cartier Presentation Box 2003, brought from Se...
Gold Plate, Steel
$1,800Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Wicker Cane Lucite Acrylic Tissue Box Dior Style
Located in New York, NY
A wicker cane and acrylic tissue holder box in the style of Christian Dior Home. This acrylic and wicker cane box holds standard size tissues. Beautiful natural wicker cane and clear...
Cane, Acrylic, Wicker
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...
Resin
Tribal Sculpture Male Warrior Figure in the Style of Hagenauer
Located in New York, NY
A small bronze male tribal warrior figure sculpture piece, in the style of Hagenauer, Tribal style, circa 20th century. A male bronze tribal figure holdi...
Bronze, Brass
1950s Onyx Stone Hand Carved Ashtray, Jewelry Bowl or Paperweight
Located in Barcelona, ES
Lovely natural onyx stone ashtray, paperweight or rings bowl, Spain, 1950s-1960s. Cut and polished stone showing the mineral’s distinctive banding striations in different shades of ...
Stone, Onyx
Danish Jewelry Dish Vide-Poche Aluminia & Royal Copenhagen
Located in New York, NY
*One (1) available, second dish has sold. A Danish Faience ceramic pottery jewelry vide-poche square dish, from Denmark. Each dish has an internal band in brick red/dark orange and ...
Ceramic, Pottery, Faience
Monte Dunlavy Striped Paperweight, American Studio Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage colorful paperweight features white, pink, powder blue, and cobalt blue glass stripes fused in concentric manner. Harmonious color palette allows the use of bright colors to...
Art Glass
Solid Red Marble Apple Paperweight with Brass Stem
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid red marble with brass accent stem apple paperweight or sculpture, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 3" x 3.5"H. #4671
Marble, Brass
Purple Amethyst Decorative Object Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful natural purple amethyst cluster decorative object, paperweight, or luxury display piece. A great piece for a bookshelf, cocktail table, on a desk as paperweight, etc. Dim...
Amethyst, Quartz
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
Antique Initial Stamp F.J, Art Nouveau, circa 1910
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful and authentically preserved stamp for sealing wax with the initials F.J
Brass
Early Swedish 19th Century Wooden Folk Art Box with Originally Paint
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish original painted Folk Art box. From the beginning of the 19th century, most likely used to keep writing supplies and office materials.
Pine
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...
Brass
Walter Bosse, Vienna: “Owl” Letter Opener – Brass & Black Patina, ca. 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
A design rarity of Viennese Modernism: An original letter opener with a sculpted owl motif as the handle, designed by Walter Bosse Solid brass, partially patinated.
Brass
19th Century paperweight, ca 1880
Located in Delft, NL
19th Century paperweight, ca 1880 A small paperweight made of glass, accented with five, spaced bubbles in several layers glass Has a small circula...
Glass
Art Deco Griotte Marble Desk Set, 5-Piece, Netherlands, 1930s Design
Located in Den Haag, NL
5 piece Art Deco desk set ,Solid Griotte Marble . Bookends Inkwell , paperweight and a blotter to dry your ink . Good condition .
Griotte Marble
$64Sale Price / item|24% Off
Calligraphy Brush Blue and White Double Happiness
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful Chinese calligraphy brush with blue and white porcelain. Handle with hand painted blue and white porcelain balls of "double happiness" characters, hand polished and crafted. Bone ferrule and horse hair. This is a great brush for painting and calligraphy art...
Porcelain
Set of 6 Vintage Hunting-Themed Glasses with Pewter Medallions, circa 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
Celebrate the spirit of the hunt with this charming set of six vintage glass tumblers, each adorned with a detailed pewter emblem depicting traditional hunting motifs — including dee...
Pewter
Edgar Brandt (1880-1960) Bronze Writing Case
By Edgar Brandt
Located in London, GB
A decorative bronze writing case by legendary French Art Deco metal worker Edgar Brandt (1880-1960). Constructed of bronze and signed with a serial number verso. The case can be ...
Bronze
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3654 Brass Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3654 Brass Bookends Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass. Each piec...
Brass
Antique Sterling Silver Gimbal Table Lighter by Andrew Barrett, 1910
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine, and impressive, antique George V English sterling silver gimbal table lighter; an addition to our smoking related silverware collection This exceptional antique George V sterling silver table lighter has a globular form to a rounded composite handle. The surface of the piece is plain and embellished with the contemporary bright cut engraved initial 'H' beneath a Baron's coronet. The center of this antique silver table lighter...
Agate, 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
Vintage Belgische ECU Lucite Paperweight–Generale Bank Commemorative Desk Object
Located in Roma, IT
Unique vintage lucite paperweight featuring embedded commemorative Belgian ECU coin medallions and etched “Generale Bank” branding. This sculptural banking collectible commemorates t...
Silver
Mid 19th Century campaign camphor metamorphic lap desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare and good quality Chinese export camphor wood writing desk, circa 1860. Brass bound around the outer edges and carrying handles to each side. These desk were made for sea captai...
Brass
Salt and pepper with two toothpick holders vienna around 1950s
Located in Wien, Au
Salt and pepper with two toothpick holders vienna around 1950s Original condition
Iron
c. 1930 English Art Deco Brass Inkwell
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1930 Art Deco brass inkwell, English. Cast in 2 parts & hinged. Warm patina. Lacks glass liner. 4 1/16" w., 4 11/16" d., 2.5" h. Whitehall Antiques is a family business that h...
Brass
19th Century French Enameled Champlevé Inkwell
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning and rare French mid-19th century encier in Louis Revival taste with Moorish Arabesque influence. Handcrafted in Champlevé enameled gilt bronze with ornate and colorful blue, pink, red, green and white enameling over the heavily shaped and scalloped base, that borders the stunning Severes style (I have not removed it to check for a makers mark) enameled porcelain tray scene of frolicking putti. The stunning enameling continues on the raised inkwell body and hinged lid with finial. Opposite, two raised balls act as a pen rest, the inkstand raising on four ball feet. Similar to French cloisonne, each champlevé design is a one-of-a-kind work of art. A beautiful warm verdigris patina adds to its character and charm. This wonderful antique objet...
Bronze, Enamel
Joseph Reinemann Jugendstil Pewter Novelty Bird Desk Inkwell, Germany c1902
By Martin Brothers, Robert Wallace Martin, Arts and Crafts Company
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Joseph Reinemann Jugendstil Pewter Novelty Bird Desk Inkwell, Germany c1902. Joseph Reinemann, Munich, a Jugendstil silvered pewter novelty desk inkwell in the form of a grotesque bi...
Pewter
Thermometer, 1950s for Tables, Vienna, Around 1950s
Located in Wien, Au
Thermometer, 1950s for tables, Vienna, around 1950s. Original condition.
Brass
$256Sale Price|20% Off
1980s Vintage Hand Carved Wooden Nut Cracker Bird Box
Located in Plainview, NY
A vintage wooden nut cracker bird box made of walnut from 1980s. Dimensions: 10.5" D x 5.75" W x 14" H.
Wood
$954Sale Price / set|60% Off
Art Deco Lacquered Desk Set With Brass Bound Bevelled Glass Inkwell
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Art Deco Lacquered Desk Set With Brass Bound Bevelled Glass Inkwell. With Brass Mounts Raised On Four Brass Feet. Perfect For Desk or Study, A Wonderful Gift Idea. Desk Set Sold Wit...
Chrome, Brass
$220Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Blown Controlled Bubbles Murano Art Glass Transparent Paperweight, Italy
By Murano 5
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern Vintage blown controlled bubbles Murano Art Glass Transparent Paperweight made in Italy. Great for a Desk as Paperweight, Sculpture or Office Accessory. Collector'...
Murano Glass
Small Italian Mid-Century Modern Lapis & 800 Silver Dresser Box or Table Casket
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine small sized Italian Mid-Century Modern dresser or table box. With sheets of lapis lazuli on black marble and mounted with a fine 800 silver mount and hinge. Simply a won...
Lapis Lazuli, Silver
Golf Themed Letter Holder in Patinated Brass 1960s
Located in Meer, VAN
Golf Themed Letter Holder in Patinated Brass 1960s. Beautiful golf themed letter holder. Great shape, design and execution. Good patina. A practical item that looks great on your de...
Brass
HERMES PARIS BURR & BURL WALNUT & AMBOYNA DESK STATiONERY SET PAD HOLDER PEN POT
By Hermès
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely suite of original suite if super rare and highly collectable Hermes Paris stationary items A wo...
Walnut
Italian Murano Millefiori egg shape Paperweight, c.1930
Located in Central England, GB
This exceptional Murano glass paperweight is a striking example of early 20th century Italian craftsmanship. Beautifully formed in a small egg shape, it is decorated with an intricat...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$160Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural Jack / Jax Bookend / Paperweight in the Style of Bill Curry
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice sculptural jack / jax bookend, door stop or paperweight the style of Bill Curry for Design Line, circa 1970s. The piece is in good vintage condition with a nice patina and mea...
Chrome
Inkwell with Beetle Relief, France, Art Nouveau, Early 20th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Inkwell with Beetle Relief Origin: France Material: clear pressed glass, silver-plated metal lid Date: circa 1900 Dimensions: H × W × D: 11 × 8 × 8 cm Description: Square inkwell ...
Pewter
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
$49,016
Aircraft Engine Gold Speaker
Located in Paris, FR
Speaker Aircraft Engine Gold is inspired by radial aircraft engines from early 20th-century radial aircraft engines. Structure in aluminum alloy wi...
Aluminum, Gold Plate, Chrome
Pair of Mid-Century Bookends made in Copper, Italy 1970s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Pair of Mid-Century Bookends made in Copper, Italy 1970s
Ceramic
1960s UNIS Portable Typewriter in Orange, Yugoslav Mid-Century Design
Located in Praha, CZ
A striking UNIS portable typewriter produced in Yugoslavia during the 1960s, featuring a vibrant orange body and clean Mid-Century Modern styling. The sculptural form, contrasting wh...
Metal, Chrome
$250Sale Price|50% Off
Murano Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass paperweight hand blown with intricate airbubbles / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Measures: diameter 5 inches / height 4 inches 1 available in stock in Italy...
Murano Glass
$68Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Design Letter Holder Metal Scoubidou 1950s
Located in Poperinge, BE
Nice vintage letter holder from the 50s, made of bent wire metal with scoubidou holders, Fifties design object. In very good, little used condition, check the photos for more detail...
Metal
$257Sale Price / set|50% Off
Two Art Nouveau WMF cartridges
Located in Porto, PT
Two Art Nouveau WMF cartouches. In silver-plated pewter; decorated with vegetal elements and figures. One marked 'WMF'. Circa 1905. Dimensions: (larger) 12x26 cm.
Metal
Antique Grand Tour Mahogany Boulle Work Brass Inlaid Desk Set Inkstand Regency
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning and Rare Example of an English Grand Tour Regency period brass Boulle Work inlaid Mahogany Inkstand of rectangular outline and generous proportions. First quarter of the Nin...
Brass
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Malachite and Ormolu Inkstand Encrier Swans
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered inkstand from the first quarter of the 19th century. Of rectangular form with an acanthus leave decorated border on round fe...
Malachite, Bronze
Tiffany Studios New York Art Deco Zodiac Pattern Bronze Pen Brush
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco bronze pen brush or pen wipe featuring Zodiac designs By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century M...
Bronze
Paperweight, ruler with pen by Vanni Mazzetti
By Maison Jansen, Willy Rizzo, Romeo Rega
Located in Lugo, IT
Paperweight, ruler with pen by Vanni Mazzetti Brass and steel Good condition. Thank you
Brass, Stainless Steel
Antique English Burr Walnut & Hand Painted Porcelain Stationery Box, circa 1850
Located in Bath, GB
A quite wonderful and romantic stationery box, ready to grace the finest of desk-tops. Made from burr walnut the wedge shaped box is smothered in fine quality polished brass mount...
Brass
Antique Sterling Silver Inkstand, London 1901, Gallery Border
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1901 by Ernest Damant, this striking, Victorian, antique sterling silver ink stand, features shaped and pierced gallery borders, and two glass ink wells...
Sterling Silver
Pair of Brutalist Acid Etched Brass Containers by Gallinaro, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milan, IT
Pair of Brutalist Acid Etched Brass Containers by Gallinaro, Italy, 1960s The second container measures 9.5 x 13.5 cm Used as Desk Pen Holders. Signed Gallinaro
Brass
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.