Desk Accessories
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Desk Accessories
Carrara Marble
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Enamel, Steel, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Accessories
Ceramic
2010s American Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Crystal, Brass
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
Mid-19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Iron
20th Century French Desk Accessories
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desk Accessories
Clay
Mid-20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories
Oak, Teak
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Desk Accessories
Wood, Machiche
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
2010s German Country Desk Accessories
Porcelain
1940s Hungarian Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
20th Century American Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Walnut
1950s Vintage Desk Accessories
Malachite
1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Art Glass
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Teak
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal, Silver
Early 2000s Italian Space Age Desk Accessories
Plastic
Late 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Crystal
1980s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
20th Century French Minimalist Desk Accessories
Crystal
Early 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1980s Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Steel
Early 20th Century English Victorian Desk Accessories
Silver, Silver Plate, Copper
19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Glass, Art Glass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
1920s Belgian Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Marble, Spelter
Late 20th Century Swedish Minimalist Desk Accessories
Crystal
19th Century English George III Antique Desk Accessories
Sheffield Plate
1950s Vintage Desk Accessories
Onyx
19th Century English Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
1950s Vintage Desk Accessories
Marble
Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Wood
2010s American Minimalist Desk Accessories
Cement
Mid-20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Plastic
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Horn
20th Century Scottish Desk Accessories
Glass
1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Agate, Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
2010s American Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Crystal, 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.