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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: 1970s
Period: 1980s
MCM Office Desk Paper Organizer Tray
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this Mid-Century Modern desk office tray, clean design in two levels made by IRGSA, circa 1970.
Category
1970s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
1980s (1989) Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "1st Model". Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Gorgeous Swatch twin phone 1st model in production in excellent condition. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its amazing design. A true piece of modern art....
Category
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Murano Pen Holder, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Murano Pen holder is a decorative object realized in the 1970s.
A decorative blue colored Murano glass pen holder.
An elegant object to be collect.
Category
1970s European Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
François Godebski Fractal Resin Globe
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Signed and dated fractal resin by François Godebski.
FRANÇOIS GODEBSKI (1940-1997)
François Godebski was a Franch designer and sculptor who came from a family of artists, his father...
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Vintage Spiral Zig Zag Glass Paperweight Purple And Red
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage 1980's glass spiral zig zag paperweight or glass object makes a great desk accessory. The red floating glass zig zag is set of against the purple. Great color combo. It ...
Category
1980s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass
Glass Ashtray, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Glass ashtray is an object realized in 1970s.
Art glass, D 15 x 4 cm.
Very good conditions!
Category
1970s European Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Vintage Wooden Letter Opener With Folk Style Art on Handles.
Located in Seattle, WA
Makers Mark Reading “Spindlermuhle” on the Back. Translate From German to a Town in the Czech Republic. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured.
Dimensions. 8 W ; 1 1/2 D
Category
1970s Folk Art Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
French Mid-Century Stone Coasters (Set of 8)
Located in London, GB
A set of natural stone circular drink place mats or coasters. Likely Agates.
France, c1970s.
A variety of colours and stone specimens.
All have a circular hole in the centre pres...
Category
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone
Vintage Brass Color Nautical Letter Opener.
Located in Seattle, WA
Letter Opener with Anchor and Rope Details at the Top. Vintage Condition Consistent with Age as Pictured.
Dimensions. 9 W ; 2 D ; 1/4 H
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid Century Modern Murano Glass Puzzle by Barbini
By Barbini
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Barbini Murano is a prominent glasswork company based on the island of Murano in Italy. They are known for their exquisite Murano glass pieces, which encompass a wide range of decora...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Solid Bronze Apple Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Whimsical Bronze Apple Sculpture
Green Tone Patina with Darker Bronze Accents
Paperweight or Display
Category
1970s Italian Brutalist Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Atomic Space Age Perpetual Flip Calendar, 1970s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Often seen in 1960s-70s American movies this atomic perpetual flip calendar with manually set day and month has become an iconic desk piece amo...
Category
1970s Asian Space Age Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Mille fleur Murano Paper Weight with Beautiful Flowers
Located in Oostrum-Venray, NL
Murano Paper Weight with Beautiful Flowers
Additional information:
Dimensions: 6.5 W x 6.5 D x 4 H cm
Condition: Good
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Le Tanneur French Saddle Leather Desk Set
By Le Tanneur
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic french desk set with brass hardware
Manufactured by Le Tanneur
France, circa 1970’s
All pieces are saddle leather with black contrast stitching
Beautifully worn in leather ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Vintage Mid Century Modern Amber Paper Weight
Located in Seattle, WA
Vintage Paper Weight Amber or Mustard Colored . Mid Century Modern Table Decor. Possibly Glass Material
Dimensions. 4 Dia ; 1 H
Category
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Bent Steel Letter Holder, By Yonel Lebovici
Located in New York City, NY
Letter Holder, By Yonel Lebovici, France 1970
Category
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
A decorative Swedish silver bowl made 1982 by silver Master Jan Lundgren
Located in Stockholm, SE
A silver-bowl made in 1982 by the Swedish silversmith Jan Lundgren. The bowl was made as a price in horse racing and has an inscription that says “Dagens Nyheters Vinterfavorit 1982”...
Category
1980s Swedish Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
MCM Bruce Fox Gold Anodized Aluminum 3D "Excellence" Motivation Desk Accessory
By Bruce Fox
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Bruce Fox motivational desk accessory 3D Font " Excellence " in gold anodized aluminum. In fine condition, maybe needs to clean a little better, mino...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
1970's Antonio Da Ros 'Attr.' for Cenedese Clear Murano Bubble Glass Paperweight
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare, Mid-Century Modern vintage signed cone shaped paperweight with singular trapped air bubble inclusion within the clear glass. The design of this conical shaped desk paperweight ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Gucci 1970 Milano Very Rare Vintage Horse Bit Trinket Tray in 24kt Gild Brass
By Gucci
Located in Miami, FL
Very rare pieces designed by Gucci.
An iconic trinket single dish-tray designed by the house of Gucci in Milan Italy, back in the 1970s. It is very heavy and was crafted in solid brass with a 24 kt gold gilding. Have the double G, for the Guccio Gucci logo, made in nickel.
It is signed Gucci and have the original leather undersides mat. Signed over the tawny leather, in gold letters, "MADE IN ITALY BY GUCCI ".
The measures fully extended are, 32 mm by 89 mm by 152 mm (1.25 x 3.5 x 6 Inches).
Very elegant, rare and a great item for any serious collector. They are in gorgeous impeccable condition with no trace of use, no dents or bad marks. It is accompanied by the original Gucci green dust bag.
Gucci, was founded in 1921 in the Tuscany region of Italy, in Florence , when Guccio Gucci bought his own shop on 7, Via della Vigna Nuova in Florence, Azienda Individuale Guccio Gucci, where he sold imported leather luggage. He also opened a small workshop to have his own leather goods made by local craftsmen. Eventually, a larger workshop had to be acquired to house Gucci's 60 artisans. In 1935 the invasion of Ethiopia by Mussolini led the League of Nations to impose a trade embargo on Italy. Leather became scarce, pushing Guccio Gucci to introduce other fabrics in the composition of the products, such as raffia, wicker, wood, linen and, jute. The rombi motif, a Gucci signature, was created. The Gucci's developed a new tanning technique to produce "cuoio grasso", which became a Gucci trademark. In 1937, Gucci launched its handbags. Under the direction of Aldo Gucci...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold, Brass
Brass bouquet, 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful brass bouquet from the second half of the 1900s.
l12 x 7 x 4 cm.
Good conditions!
Category
1970s European Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Vintage Terracotta Ashtray, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage terracotta Ashtray, 1970s.
Hand painted and signed on rear.
2 x 13 x 10 cm.
Good conditions!
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Terracotta
Mario Bellini, ET Personal 55 Portable Typewriter for Olivetti 1985-86
Located in London, GB
Mario Bellini (designer), Italy
Olivetti (manufacturer), Italy
ET Personal portable (electric) typewriter, designed 1985-86
Moulded ABS plasti...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Olivetti Synthesis 'Synthesis 45' Complete set plus clamp desk organizer
Located in Milano, IT
Olivetti ‘Synthesis 45' complete set with rare clamp desk organizer, designed by Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti italy in 1972.
This versatile set offers the option of combining the pieces or using them separately as per your preference. These vintage pieces are in excellent condition, bearing the stamp of the maker, signifying their authenticity.
For more insights into the iconic 'Synthesis 45' series by Sottsass for Olivetti, you can refer to the book "Sottsass Olivetti Synthesis...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
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
Mid-century Phone Tesla, 1980's.
By Tesla
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia
Made of Plastic
With Aged Patina
Cleaned
Fully Functional
Good Vintage Condition
Category
1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Tall Art Glass Blue Swirl Jellyfish Paperweight
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Artisan-made, hand-blown, art glass paperweight by Rochester Folk Art Guild features a graceful, cobalt blue form resembling a jellyfish or a flower encased in a clear glass tall obl...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Gucci Leather and Brass Note Pad, 1980s Italy
By Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome leather notepad by Gucci. Made in Italy, circa 1980s. Rich color to saddle leather with contrast stitching along the borders. Brass brackets holding leather flap. New 3" x 5...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Colored Murano Glass Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
Located in Palermo, IT
Colored Murano glass paperweight, Italy, 1970s
It belonged to my grandfather who bought it during his honeymoon.
Intact, excellent condition.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, in a glass bubble floating on controlled bubbles. Colors are a blue, yellow, red and c...
Category
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Gucci Desk Planner in Black Leather and Brass, 1970s Italy
By Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chic black leather Gucci desk planner with brass bindings containing two notepads titled “To-day” and “To-Morrow”. Small window at the bottom of each leather flap showing the day. S...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Modernist Chrome and Tortoiseshell Lucite Desk Pad, France 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This beautiful French modernist desk blotter pad features streamlined high polish chromed metal framing with tortoise (tortoiseshell) Lucite insert. The inside is in yellow butter si...
Category
1970s French Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
1980s Op-Art Multi Colored Lucite Sculpture of a Circle, Triange & Rectangle
Located in St. Louis, MO
In the style of Vasa Mihich or Shlomi Haziza, 1980s sculpture colored beveled shapes made of acrylic or lucite with pink circle, yellow triangle, teal rectangle on a purple base. Thi...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
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...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Mid-Century Modern Studio Craft Rosewood Jewelry Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mid-Century Modern studio craft rosewood jewelry box.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Rosewood
Mid-Century Letter Holder and Calendar, leather, Delvaux, Belgium, 1970s
By Paul Delvaux
Located in Brussels, BE
D: 12 (7) cm H: 13 (5,5) cm W: 22,5 (16,5) cm
Category
1970s Belgian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
1980s Postmodern Abstract Acrylic Lacquer Wall Art by Empire Art Miami
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Incredible multicolored rectangular wall art by empire art Miami.
Category
1980s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Murano Sommerso Amber and Silver Flecks Art Glass Fish Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Italian mid-century sculptural Murano glass fish. Realized using the Sommerso technique, a clear layer of glass blown over the amber color glass, worked in bullicante, the air bubbles trapped inside the glass (technique made famous by Archimede Seguso) and infused with Silver flakes throughout. The silver and bubbles bringing the jumping fish alive inspiring the glistening reflections of water, resting atop a sea motif...
Category
1970s Italian Organic Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Leaf
Lucite Dice Decorative Objects, Pair/Set
Located in New York, NY
A pair/set of Lucite dice decorative objects, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. A great set for a desk, bookshelf, coffee/cocktail table, etc.
Dimensions:
2.44" Square
...
Category
1970s Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Set of Two Midcentury Pen or Pencil Holders Deyhle, Germany, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare types and color
- very practical
Category
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Checkerboard Table Clock, "Tempo 21" Tower 2 by George Nelson, 1984
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare postmodern cream, brown, and navy checkerboard table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. Very few signs...
Category
1980s North American Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Italian Crystal Paperweight Ferrari Car 1970s
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Crystal Paperweight Ferrari Car 1970s
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
1980s Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "Deluxe", Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1980s (1989) Gorgeous Swatch twin phone "Deluxe" in excellent condition. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its amazing design. Th...
Category
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Ronson Large Table Lighter 1980
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Ronson Large Table Lighter 1980
Category
1980s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plexiglass
Two Murano Glass Paperweights, Italy, 1970s
Located in Palermo, IT
Two Murano glass paperweights, Italy, 1970s
They have different sizes: One has a diameter of 8.5 cm and a height of 6.5 cm; The other measures 8 x 7.5 cm.
Purchased by my grandfather...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Vintage Caithness Uranus Planet Paperweight by Colin Ferris & Peter Holmes
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine limited edition glass paperweight by Caithness.
Entitled 'Uranus'.
From the Planet Series of paperweights by Colin Ferris & Peter Holmes.
No. 71 from an edition of 500.
Simply a wonderfully rare paperweight...
Category
1970s Scottish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
1980s Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "Puzzle" with the Original Box, Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1980s (1989) Gorgeous Swatch twin phone "Puzzle" in excellent condition with the original box. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for ...
Category
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Pierre Cardin Alarm Clock
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible and attractive vintage Pierre Cardin alarm clock. This piece in working condition is minimal and modern reflecting the visionary desig...
Category
1970s Japanese Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
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
Danish Mid-Century Modern Beni Mobler Denmark Teak Waste Basket or Trash Can
By Beni Møbler 1
Located in St. Louis, MO
Danish modern teak bent plywood waste basket or trash can with and what looks like Rosewood interior designed Jan Nielsen for Beni Mobler Denmark. In very ...
Category
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Teak
1980s Gorgeous Swatch Phone "Pick me Up", Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Original astonishing Swatch phone "Pick me Up". In very excellent condition. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon in the 80s for its am...
Category
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Antique Mirror Panel Waste Basket, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible 1980s waste bin with a unique design involving slender panels of mirror conjoined together around the entire body of the bin. Metal body with "P & K Products Company, Elgi...
Category
1980s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
S.T Dupont Montparnasse Fountain Pen, Paris, Made in France
Located in Vienna, AT
S.T Dupont Montparnasse fountain pen, 18 carat-750, serial number 52BAD76, Paris, Made in France
Category
1980s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Desk Accessories Magnifying Glass and Letter Opener Desk Set with 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Desk Accessories Magnifying Glass and Letter Opener Desk Set with 1970 Excellent vintage condition. Paris, in the traditions of French big houses like Lancel or Dior.
Category
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Robert Indiana Style Love Paperweight or Small Sculpture
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A paperweight in polished metal after Robert Indiana. Likely purchased at MoMA. This piece would add great modernist character to any desk or office environment.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
1980s Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "Deluxe", Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1980s (1989) Gorgeous Swatch twin phone "Deluxe" in excellent condition. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its amazing design. Th...
Category
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Architectural Sculpture by Sottsass for Ultima Edizione, Italy 1986
Located in London, GB
Ettore Sottsass (1917–2007) was an Italian architect and designer during the 20th century. He is perhaps most celebrated as the founder of the Memphis Group, famous for its colourful...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Elsa Peretti 1981 Tiffany & Co Carved Rock Quartz Limited Edition Perfume Bottle
Located in Miami, FL
Perfume bottle designed by Elsa Peretti (1940-2021) for Tiffany & Co.
Exceptional piece of modern art, designed at the Tiffany Studios by Elsa Peretti. This rare perfume-scent bottle was made in a limited edition of only 1000 pieces, back in the 1981. It was carefully carved in Hong Kong from a single piece of translucent rock quartz with curved in shape to echo an sculptural bean, with separate stopper lid.
ELSA PERETTI DESIGN: the scent bottle
Manufacturing Process
This bottle was designed and made in 1981 to hold an eighth of an ounce of Elsa Peretti's perfume, which she had worked on for four years. One thousand examples were carved and numbered (this is no. 751) in conjunction with the launch of the perfume.
Peretti's hardstone carving is all done by Chinese carvers in Hong Kong. The Chinese have long excelled in the carving of hardstones. Peretti's scent-bottle echoes the Chinese hardstone snuff-bottle, made to be held in the hand, exquisitely decorated and highly prized in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Weight: 65.3 Grams, (41.86 Dwt) or 326.5 carats.
Measurements: 64 mm by 19 mm by 44 mm (2.51 x 0.75 x 1.75 Inches).
Hallmarks: Acid stamped and etched with the maker's mark, the edition number and signed, "TIFFANY PERETTI© 751".
Elsa Peretti, was a very famous designer that joined Tiffany & Co in the 1974 and change the complete role of diamonds and color gemstones in fashion for the everyday wear and elevating the status of the sterling silver jewelry. mostly using unusual gemstones and materials. all her creations are as modern today as ever.
Literature: Advertisement in the Los Angeles Times, November 29, 1981. Tiffany & Co. Blue Book for years 1981-1982, illustrated
Collections: The British Museum, London, UK. The Museum Of Modern Art (MOMA), NYC, United States. The Corning Museum Of Glass, NYC, United States.
Exhibitions and Awards: 2009 1 May-2010 31 Jan, London, BM, Room 2, 'Elsa Peretti: Jewellery and objects for Tiffany & Co. Premio award "Credere Nella Ricerca", 2010.
Note: Today you can purchase a similar one at Tiffany & Co., but is a re-issue of this work of art and is not numbered. At the time, the bottle was sold with a half-ounce of pure perfume created just for this purpose. Information about the actual scent is hard to come by; apparently it was a blend of florals, spices, and vetiver, but that’s a very general description, of course. Various news stories noted the high price ($450) of this set, but some also admitted that you were buying a piece of modern design rather than a typical perfume bottle. According to the British Museum, where one of these bottles is on display, artisans in Hong Kong were commissioned to carve these bottles, each out of a single piece of rock. These artisans were chosen because they specialize in carving hardstone.
Elsa Peretti for Halston Perfume...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Rock Crystal
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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