Skip to main content

Desk Accessories

to
1,023
5,618
1,096
141
3,926
1,241
1,144
1,098
1,066
3,096
3,092
4,643
1,323
1,106
Height
to
Width
to
6,855
6,236
6,642
Desk Accessories For Sale
Grey Agate Onyx Decorative Object or Display Piece
Located in New York, NY
A substantial polished natural agate/geode/onyx decorative object in shades of grey and white. Piece can be used as a decorative piece for a shelf, table, desk, etc., or as a display...
Category

20th Century Unknown Organic Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Onyx, Quartz, Agate

Montblanc Fountain Pen Star Walker Soulmakers for 100 years Special Edition
Located in Plainview, NY
The Montblanc StarWalker "Soulmakers for 100 Years" Special Edition Fountain Pen is an exquisite symbol of craftsmanship and heritage. Encased in an elegantly understated black pres...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Gold Plate, Platinum

8 Foot Tall Pop Art Wood Pencil, 1970s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Back to the drawing board! A remarkable piece for spurring conversation at home or for capturing attention in a store display. This massive vintage trompe l'oeil pencil is made of on...
Category

1970s American Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Geometric Sculpture in Polished Tangerine Resin 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 ...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

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

Hollywood Regency Crystal Pineapple Paperweight by Oleg Cassini
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice Hollywood Regency crystal pineapple paperweight by Oleg Cassini, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chi...
Category

Late 20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Pen Holder Desk by Fontana Arte for Rolex Shop Dealer, 1960s
Located in taranto, IT
Extremely rare complete desk pen holder from the 1960s, Fontana Arte production for Rolex, consisting of a thick two-tone glass, amber and Nile Green base, with double internal engraving of the Rolex logo and large central crown from a closed Rolex dealer shop...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Italian Alabaster Marble Sphere
Located in New York, NY
An Italian moss green and black alabaster marble decorative object sphere, Italian Midcentury Modern to '70 Modern design periods, circa mid to late 20th century, 1960s, 1970s, Italy...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Alabaster, Marble

Grey Power Flower Fan by Heckhausen - Zetsche for Elmar Flàtotto
Located in Den Haag, NL
Great looking ,Grey Power Flower Fan by Heckhausen - Zetsche for Elmar Flàtotto in the 2000s. 3-speed engine and automatic blade-stopping safety system - i...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Space Age Desk Accessories

Materials

Foam

Rare Set of S.T DuPont of Paris Montparnasse Brown Marble Lacquered Writing Set
Located in Reading, Berkshire
S.T DuPont of Paris Montparnasse Three Pen Brown Marble Lacquered Writing Set With Spares, Original Paperwork 1 Brown Marble Lacquered 18ct Yellow Gold Nib Fountain Pen Finished Wit...
Category

Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold

English Wedgwood Jasperware Jewelry Dish Neoclassical Design
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...
Category

20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware

Vintage Montblanc Meisterstück 'Gold-Coated' 149 Fountain Pen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine German fountain pen. By Montblanc. In the Meisterstuck 149 pattern. The so-called 'gold-coated' model (ie gold plated) with a 14 karat yellow gold nib. Marked to the nib ...
Category

Late 20th Century German Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Plate

Italian Typewriter Olivetti 1930 Ivrea M40
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Italian typewriter Olivetti 1930 Ivrea M40.
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Calipso Desk Blotter in Black Leather with Corno Italiano Detailing, Mod. 5300s
Located in Recanati, Macerata
Boasting prized materials and refined lines, our Calipso desk blotter will ensure a smooth work area while protecting the surface of your desk. Crafted of premium black Tosca leather...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather, Wood, Lacquer

Modernist Lucite Resin Cube Sculpture with Gears Pierre Giraudon, France, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Lucite resin cube with gears inside attributed to Pierre Giraudon, circa 1970.  
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin, Lucite

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

Large Natural Malachite Box
Large Natural Malachite Box
$1,400 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

Sculpture of a Stylized Cat Designed by Livio Seguso ca. 1970s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Sculpture of a Stylized Cat Designed by Livio Seguso ca. 1970s A cute sculpture of a stylized cat in smoke grey glass. Hand made in the Gral glass manufactory, Germany. It was desig...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Fratelli Toso Murano Blue Millefiori Flower Italian Art Glass Paperweights
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Priced per item (3 different designs available). Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown flower designs Italian art glass paperweights. They are documented to the Fratelli Toso company....
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Murrine

Beautiful and Rare Mahogany Tennis Racket Tensioner from Early 20th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful and rare English Tennis Racket Tensioner from early 20th century or maybe late 19th Century. Made in mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) with brass details. Wear consistent wi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Glass Millefiori Vasart Brothers Paperweight Hand Blown, Scotland Ca 1950s
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful handblown Glass Millefiori Paperweight by Vasart, Scotland, Circa 1950s. This paperweight is handmade with a Millefiori, ten spoke radial cane design. having Latticino Spokes. The predominant colours are red, green, blue and white colour combination gives excellent contrast producing a very distinctive weight. The pontil mark to the base has been ground down giving a somewhat matt finish to the ventral section. There are no makers markings on the base that we can see. VASART HISTORY Pre 1946, Salvador Ysart and his 3 sons were working for Moncrieff Glass, then In September 1946, Salvador Ysart and two of his sons (Vincent & Augustine) established Ysart Brothers Glass (trading as "Vasart", formed from the names 'Vincent', 'Augustine' and 'Salvador'. At that time Paul Ysart remained working for Moncrieff. Vasart made various glass art forms at the Shore Glassworks in Scotland, which included some paperweights including Minis. In 1960 George Dunlop (MD of Pirelli Glass...
Category

Mid-20th Century Scottish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Marble and Brass Picture Frame by Designer Maitland Smith, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful '80s marble, stone, and brass picture frame by designer Maitland-Smith, circa late-20th century, 1980s. Marble frame is rectangular/octagonal in shape with marble in with...
Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Marble, Brass

Cool Ink Well designed as a Godin iron stove from the late 19th Century
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

Silver Zodiac Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning vintage silver metal armillary sundial featuring Roman numerals and the zodiac signs. USA, Late 20th century. Measures: 8.5"W x 5"D x 10"H Excellent vintage condition.
Category

Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Geometric Sculpture in Polished Lime Green Resin 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 ...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Letter Opener
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine silver letter opener. Additional Details: In sterling silver. By Tiffany & Co. Marked to the end of the handle for Tiffany & Co. / 925 / © / 1995 Simply a wonderful letter...
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Sculpture of a Stylized Cat Designed by Livio Seguso for Graal Glass
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Sculpture of a Stylized Cat Designed by Livio Seguso ca. 1970s A cute sculpture of a stylized cat in smoke grey glass. Hand made in the Gral glass manufactory, Germany. It was desig...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

A Black Forest Rustic Drinking Set with Six Pewter Shot Glasses
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Black Forest Rustic Drinking Set with Six Pewter Shot Glasses Item e6992 A rustic Black Forest drinking set with six pewter shot glasses on a fallow deer trophy as base. Each glass...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Desk Set in Elegant Art Deco from 1930s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A very elegant desk set in art deco probably from 1930s or earlier. The desk set is made of patinated brass and consists of two parts. An ink stand with pen stand and a rocker blotter...
Category

1930s European Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

HL-70 Personal Desk Fan by Reinhold Weiss for Braun, 1960s
Located in Milan, IT
HL-70 Personal Desk Fan by Reinhold Weiss for Braun, 1960s
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Leather Basket by Lancel Paris, Signed and Made in Italy
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.
Category

1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

20th Century Italian Bronze Inkwell with Bull Heads and Putti Embracing Lion
Located in Milano, MI
From Italy an early 20th century bronze inkwell resting on a double circular marble base, in black marble and Italian Alpi green marble. The body of the inkwell has a tripod base with taurine legs decorated by alternating masks of putti, grapes and and bulls’ heads. The cover is surmounted by the figure of an angel embracing a lion. Garlands of flowers and human masks throughout the basement. The ink glass is missing. In good condition with a beautiful patina. Height 18.5 cm x diameter 13 cm A rare antique desk...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Cartier 18ct Gold Plated & Red Lacquered Ballpoint With Red Cartier Box
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Cartier 18ct Gold Plated & Red Lacquered Ballpoint With Red Cartier Box Stunning Example of a Must De Cartier ballpoint pen, featuring the classic trinity rings and an enamel ident ...
Category

Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Plate

Brass Shark Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Brass shark paperweight, circa 1970's. The piece is. in very good vintage condition with a nice patina and measures 7"W x 3.5"D x 2"H. #4139
Category

Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

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...
Category

2010s Chinese Desk Accessories

Materials

Bone

Desk Accessories, Letter Holder by Jacques Adnet, France, 1940
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Handsome saddle leather letter holder by Jacques Adnet. Signature contrast stitching. Great patina to leather. Excellent vintage condition. Paris...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Malachite Box Gemstone Box 4" Big Ripple
Located in Somis, CA
This beautiful natural malachite box is hand crafted, using the finest malachite. Carefully selected fine-grade malachite in brilliant green displays spectacular concentric rings, sw...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Malachite

Antique Green Cut Uranium Glass Inkwell
Located in Vienna, AT
A stunning green inkwell with dore bronze setting. The inkwell has a amazing bright green color and it is made out of green uranium glass. When you illum...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Uranium Glass

French Art Nouveau Bronze Card Tray or Pin Tray, Vide - Poche, 1920s
Located in Barntrup, DE
French Art Nouveau Bronze card tray or Pin Tray, Vide - Poche, 1920s This absolutely adorable card tray or pin tray, Vide - Poche, is made of bronze ...
Category

1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Chinese Calligraphy Set 7 Piece Set
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Chinese Calligraphy Set 7 Piece Set. Vintage Chinese calligraphy set: Includes marble seal stamp, pen, ink box. The hand carved Chinese Duan ink stone for use with the solid ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Marble Solitaire Game with hardwood board and 33 agate stone Marbles, Circa 1925
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good and complete board game of Marble Solitaire, with a hand turned hardwood board and 33 agate stone marbles, which we date to the Art Deco period of the 20th Centur...
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Agate

Early 20th Century Bronze Knight Sculpture Electrified Table or Desk Lamp
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A solid bronze parcel brass knight sculpture candelabra later converted to electrified table lamp with large frosted glass torch flame shade. It takes on Edison E27 light bulb. Tot...
Category

Early 20th Century Portuguese Baroque Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Beautiful Fish Reef and Octopus Murano Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a octopus holding a reef with fish aquarium. Colors are a different shades of blue, white, black and clea...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

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...
Category

20th Century Chinese Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Midcentury Modern Desk Organizer by Børge Mogensen, 1960s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Lovely desk organizer by Børge Mogensen, made from oak with red, grey and white lacquered drawers. The drawers fit A4 size magazines and documents.
Category

1960s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Monumental Calligraphy Brush 37" Marble Rings
Located in Somis, CA
An extraordinary, oversize Chinese calligraphy brush with a collection of 14 jumbo marble rings divided by white satin ribbons. This massive brush weighs a whopping 4.5 lb with a gia...
Category

20th Century Chinese Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Cartier Card and Envelope Set Mughal Majorie Merriweather Emerald Brooch Design
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Cartier Card and Envelope Stationery Set Mughal Majorie Merriweather Emerald Brooch Design. Luxury Stationery Cartier cards and envelopes with a Cartier design of the Majorie Merriweather Post's Jewelry Emerald Gem Brooch. Note Cards Stationery, Fine Paper Goods, Designer Limited Edition by Maison Cartier. Cartier Famous Majorie Merriweather Post's Jewelry Emerald Mughal Period Gems, Art Deco Pendant Brooch Featured Engraved Note Cards and Silver Lined Envelopes Stationery, Fine Paper Goods, Great Desk Accessory stationery notes. Back of note card reads: Cartier London, 1923, altered by Cartier New York, 1928, Provenance: Majorie Merriweather Post, Cartier. Great condition circa late 20th century. Include in the box: 9 cards/ 10 envelopes. Emboss printed cardstock construction, the enveloppe are also embossed Cartier. Card: 4 5/8" x 6 1/4". Envelope : 6 3/4"W x 4 7/5"H. Box: 5.5 x 7.25 x 1.25 in. Since 1918, Cartier has offered personalized writing papers and invitations, as well as announcements and Holiday cards. Cartier’ s stationery and invitations are characterized by the finest 100% cotton fiber papers, fabulous designs, and impeccable engraving. About the jewel in the picture: This Historical Emerald Brooch is considered the "most beautiful jewelry of the twentieth century." The Indian-style brooch is composed of one hexagonal-shaped emerald, one oval-shaped emerald, five emerald drops, two pear-shaped emeralds, five round emeralds, sixty-five smaller emeralds, one pear-shaped diamond, and 801 round diamonds mounted in platinum. The horseshoe-shaped buckle at the top is equipped on the back with a hanger and clasp with pins so that the piece can be worn as a pendant for an emerald necklace or as a brooch. An arch-shaped armature is attached to the buckle. Both feature pavé-set diamond grounds studded with emeralds. Four lines of calibré-cut emeralds decorate where they join. At the center of the bottom of the buckle is a large Mughal emerald...
Category

Late 20th Century French Anglo Raj Desk Accessories

Materials

Paper

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

French Chess Theme of Ancient Egypt Plaster & Wood Restored, circa 1920
Located in Labrit, Landes
French chess game in the thematic of Ancient Egypt. The chess pieces are in painted and waxed plaster, the board is in wood and the is also a display shel...
Category

1920s French Egyptian Revival Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plaster, Wood

Vintage French Ceramic Vase by Raymonde Leduc 'circa 1970s', Small
Located in London, GB
Vintage ceramic vase (or pencil holder if you prefer) by Raymonde Leduc (circa 1970s). Sandstone coloured small vessel with plant motifs inlaid on all four sides. In good overall con...
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Aldo Londi Bitossi Rimini Blue Glazed Fish Sculpture Figurine, Italy, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful, decorative midcentury Rimini blue glazed fish sculpture. Designed by Aldo Londi, manufactured by Bitossi Ceramiche / Italy in the 19...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Stoneware, Terracotta

BeoCom 2400 Desktop Telephone in Navy Blue by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare BeoCom 2400 corded phone by Martin Iseli for Bang & Olufsen, circa 1990s . At the time of its introduction, BeoCom 2400 was a completely new concept from B&G and was known as ...
Category

Late 20th Century Danish Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Geometric Sculpture in Polished Orange Resin 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

Bulgari Letter Holder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bulgari desk letter holder with curved copper metal arches and white marble base / made in Italy Original mark on the underside / comes in original box Width: 4 inches, depth: 2.5...
Category

20th Century Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Metal

Bulgari Letter Holder
Bulgari Letter Holder
$210 Sale Price
30% Off
Revolver Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This handsome lighter is cast in the shape of a revolver. Perfect for any collector of smoking paraphernalia or firearm enthusiast. Meticulous attention to detail throughout makes fo...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Einar Barnes for P. S. Heggen Handled Teak Wastepaper Basket
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 "Zero" Aluminum Attaché / Briefcase P5-SI by Haliburton - New Old Stock
By Halliburton
Located in San Diego, CA
A brand new vintage "Zero" aluminum attaché / briefcase model #P5-SI 5" Premier by Halliburton, circa 1990s. This piece is "New Old Stock (NOS)" and has never been used and comes wi...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Bar Rectangular Weighted Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine silver bar shaped paperweight. By Tiffany & Co. In sterling silver. With rounded edges & corners, a weighted interior, and a black felt base. Fully hallmarked to the side....
Category

20th Century American Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Early 20th Century Polished Brass Renaissance Style Inkwell
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique ink stand, made of polished brass, completely in Renaissance style, with richly pieced scroll motifs. The inkwell has two removable ink we...
Category

Early 1900s French Renaissance Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique English Novelty Equestrian Inkwell, Horse, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
This is only the second time in many years of being in the antiques business that I have come across this wonderful figural equestrian inkwell. B...
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

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.

Recently Viewed

View All