Desk Accessories
1980s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Crystal, Silver
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Onyx, Chrome
Late 20th Century French Desk Accessories
Crystal
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Silver, Sterling Silver
2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Copper
Early 2000s Slovak Industrial Desk Accessories
Plastic
Early 2000s Italian Space Age Desk Accessories
Plastic
Late 20th Century Italian Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Gold
2010s French Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Bronze
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Desk Accessories
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Precious Stone
2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum
20th Century French Desk Accessories
Glass
1960s Arts and Crafts Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Bronze
2010s French Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Rosewood
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
20th Century Scottish Desk Accessories
Glass
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Desk Accessories
Porcelain
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Bronze, Enamel
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Resin
Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories
Agate
2010s Mexican Desk Accessories
Art Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Rustic Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Early 2000s Italian Victorian Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
20th Century Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Stone, Onyx
Late 20th Century Japanese Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Birch, Maple, Walnut, Burl
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Brass, Bronze, Enamel
20th Century British Desk Accessories
Glass
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Mother-of-Pearl, Glass, Wood
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Wood, Burl
Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Wood, Walnut
1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
Late 20th Century Scottish Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Stoneware
19th Century English Anglo-Indian Antique Desk Accessories
Tortoise Shell
1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Teak
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Early 20th Century Swedish Jugendstil Desk Accessories
Pewter
2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum
20th Century Scottish Desk Accessories
Glass
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.