Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1970s
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
"Bulletin Cube" MCM Cork & Chrome Desk Organizer / Pencil Holder by Park Sherman
By Park Sherman
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice "Bulletin Cube" MCM cork and chrome rotating desk organizer / pencil holder by Park Sherman, circa 1960s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 4.5"W x 4.5"D x...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
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
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
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
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
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
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
scatola con penne, anni 90
Located in Felino, IT
scatola portapenne in legno, con 20 penne stilografiche e a sfera miste. usate, ma tutte in ottime condizioni. le penne sono descritte nelle foto allegate. varie marche e vari stili....
Category
1990s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Wood
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
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal Gilt and Silver Mellon Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal Gilt and Silver Mellon Inkwell
France, Circa 1989
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' crystal gilt and silver mellon inkwell, made in France around 1989. This understated inkwell is a true representation of Cartier's renowned elegance and exquisite craftsmanship.
The inkwell features a stunning crystal body with an opalescent lift top adorned with silver and gilt metal mounts, adding a luminous touch to the piece. The top lid is fully marked with numerous Cartier hallmarks, signifying its authenticity and origin from Cartier.
The front of the melon-shaped crystal is elegantly enameled with the iconic Cartier logo in gilt enamel.
Whether displayed on a writing desk or as a part of an exquisite collection, this Cartier inkwell...
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
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
Chambered Nautilus Shell Art Glass Paperweight
By Murano 5
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Chambered Nautilus Shell Art Glass Paperweight.
Murano style art glass in brown and transparent with gold murine.
Wrythen glass is created by twisting external parallel groove or r...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Art Glass
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 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
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
1990s Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "Deluxe" With The Original Box. Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1990s Gorgeous Swatch twin phone "Deluxe" in excellent condition with the original box. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its ama...
Category
1990s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda White Crystal, 1990s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Anna Ehrner for Kosta Boda white crystal paperweight or votive candle holder.
Kosta Boda white crystal candle holder by Anna Ehrner, 1990s
A Kosta Boda votive...
Category
Late 20th Century Swedish Minimalist Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
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
Vienna Art Nouveau Lady Figure Bronze Letter Opener
Located in Danville, CA
Art Nouveau lady figure bronze letter opener
Here is a Art Nouveau bronze letter opener. Front of handle depicts a Nouvea Woman Dis...
Category
Late 20th Century Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Dice Metal Statue Paper Weight Mid-Century Modern, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Super cool Art Deco design sculptural "High Roller" dice paperweight. Nice dice atop a nickel base. The best addition to your desk or every room.
Category
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
CAITHNESS - High Seas - Blue Swirl Glass Paperweight - U.K. - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
CAITHNESS (Manufacturer) - High Seas (Collection) - H87830 (Identification Number) - Vintage art glass paperweight - striking design - si...
Category
Late 20th Century Scottish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
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
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
Set of Four Post-Modern Marble Blocks / Paperweights
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous set of four post-modern marble blocks / paperweights, circa 1980s. The pieces are in very good condition with no chips or cracks and the largest one measures 3"W x 2"D x 6....
Category
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
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 Large Murano Decorative Blown Glass Wrapped Blue Hard Candy Paperweight
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage large Murano decorative blown glass wrapped blue hard candy paperweight.
Vintage oversized Murano blue blown glass candy sculpture of candy wra...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage Merle Edelman Op Art Face / Head with Eyes Inside Lucite / Acrylic 1970s
Located in St. Louis, MO
Mid-Century Modern c. 1970's Merle Edelman half round Op Art face lucite sculpture with 3D eyes over a black geometric grid. Similar style as Abraham Palatnik. In fine condition, no ...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Brazilian Agate Onyx and Wood Round Jewelry Trinket Box, Brazil, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A round Brazilian agate onyx and wood trinket or jewelry box, in the Modern style Post-Modern period, circa-late 20th century, 1980s early 1990s, Brazil. Box has a rich brown wood wi...
Category
Late 20th Century Brazilian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Agate
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
Burl Wood Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful rich brown burl wood round box with circular detail in the Minimalist style, circa late-20th century. A great box for any vanity or desk area for...
Category
Late 20th Century Minimalist Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood, Burl
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
English Amythyst Cut to Clear Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful and substantial English 'star' optic purple amethyst and clear crystal paperweight or decorative object, from acclaimed crystal house, Webb Corbett, circa mid to lat...
Category
Late 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
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
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
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
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
MCM Staved Walnut Desk Organizer
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice and functional MCM staved walnut desk organizer, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 7.5"W x 4.5"D x 3"H. The organizer has five holes for pens...
Category
Late 20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Walnut
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
Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses, on a glass bubble floating on controlled bubbles. Colors...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Formia Italian Vintage Red Green Amber Murano Glass Christmas Tree Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Murano glass trees of organic sleek modern design, a vintage creation by the Venetian company Formia, signed pieces, individually mouth blown and hand...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
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
1980s Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "Deco" With The Original Box. Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Gorgeous Swatch twin phone "Deco" in excellent condition with the original box. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its amazi...
Category
1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Pair, Modernist Chromed Steel Railroad Tie Bookends Circa 1980
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair, Modernist Chromed Steel Railroad Tie Bookends Circa 1980.
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel, Chrome
VINTAGE 1970's GLOBE LAMP FULLY REWIRED AND READY TO GO RETRO COOL!
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage globe lamp which has been fully rewired
A very good ...
Category
1970s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Bvlgari Roma Classic Desk Large Picture Frame in .925 Sterling Silver and Wood
By Bulgari
Located in Miami, FL
Picture frame designed by Bvlgari.
Beautiful desk picture frame, designed with geometric patterns by the jewelry house of Bvlgari. Made up in a rectangular classic shape and carefully crafted in Florence Italy with a very strong and solid construction in .925/.999 sterling silver. Finished with very high polish and mounted with cedar wood parts. It is fitted at the reverse with one hinged retractable feet for stand and a tempered glass with beveled borders.
Measurements: 233 mm by 284 mm (9.16 x 11.12 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the sterling silver assay mark and signed, "BVLGARI STERLING .925 *176FI".
Bvlgari, was founded in the late 19th century by Sotirio Bulgari, who was born in 1857 in Greece and was descended from a talented family of silversmiths. In 1884 he opened his first shop in Rome on the Via Sistina, and then in 1905 he moved to the actual flag's store in Via dei Condotti. Upon Sotirio’s death in 1932 his sons, Giorgio and Costantino, took over the business. They are credited with creating the highly distinctive ‘Bvlgari’ style...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Rainbow Midcentury Teak Paper Tray
Located in Countryside, IL
Rainbow midcentury Teak Paper Tray
This paper tray measures: 9.75 wide x 15.25 deep x 5.75 inches high
All pieces of furniture can be had in what...
Category
1970s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Teak
Vintage Signed Arthur Court Bronze Dog Puppies Paperweight Desk Accessory
By Arthur Court
Located in North Miami, FL
This delightful and charming vintage signed bronze paperweight sculpture are of 6 connecting puppy dogs linked together in different positions. It is hallmarked Arthur Court Designs ...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
1970s Oak and Chrome Peter Pepper Letter Tray and Mail Holder
Located in San Diego, CA
A fantastic solid oak paper tray and letter holder. High quality construction with chrome elements. Peter Pepper Products produced many icons of California Designs. USA, 1970s.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Oak
Ritz Carlton Osaka Porcelain Jewelry Dish
Located in New York, NY
A dark blue porcelain jewelry dish from The Ritz Carlton, Osaka, Japan, circa late-20th century. Iconic Ritz Carlton Lion head and crown at center, 'Osaka...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Garouste & Boneti Set of Bronze Objects, France 1980's
Located in New York, NY
Cast bronze set of objects designed in the 1990s by
French artists Elisabeth Garouste et Mattia
Bonetti for Herbert Blome signed B.G. BLOME
B.G.H. EDITIONS/BLOME.
A set was sold by W...
Category
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Signed Glass Abstract Paperweight Red, Black, Orange, Gold, White For Desk
Located in North Miami, FL
This abstract art glass artisan paperweight is signed in cursive on the underside N Laso. It has bars of glass sticks in rows of red, black and white, orange copper rust and a gold small bat...
Category
1990s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
Rolex Vintage Table Top Display Mirror Burl Wood 1970s
By Rolex
Located in Munich, DE
Rolex burl wood frame adjustable mirror store display. Collectors item from seventies with old logo writing Rolex. A highly collectible piece and a must have for any watch lover or h...
Category
1970s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Single Letter Tray in Burlwwod
Located in San Diego, CA
A well constructed mid-century modern single letter tray in burl, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 10.75"W x 15"D x 2.5"H; the bottom is covered ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Burl
Lucite Encased Dandelion Flower Decorative Object Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
A Lucite or acrylic encased 'Dandelion' flower seed-head decorative object or paperweight in the Organic Modern style, circa late-20th century. Art meets nature meets technology. A p...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic
Art Deco Aviation Interest Chrome and Frosted Glass Table Lamp
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Art Deco Aviation Interest Chrome And Frosted Glass Table Lamp
Modelled as an aeroplane with a moulded frosted glass shade, on a chrome plated stand.
Category
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
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
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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