Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
Fine Antique French Neoclassical Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Picture Frame
Located in Miami, FL
A fine ornate antique French Louis XV style gilt bronze photo frame with back easel stand, Napoleon III era, circa 1880. Richly decorated with neoclassical style motifs such as faces...
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
$880 Sale Price
20% Off
Otterburn Chess Set, Board & Box — Solid Hand-Patinated Brass and Walnut
Located in Washington, GB
A special chess set in solid, hand-patinated brass and walnut. Handcrafted in the North to order. Available in a range of materials and finishes, Otterburn can truly be customized an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Limestone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Copper, Stainless Steel...
Porsche Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This cast metal lighter is the perfect tabletop accessory for any race car lover, Porsche enthusiast or smoker. Relieved lettering on the spoiler reads 'Porsche 935-77 Turbo'. The Po...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Unusual Unger Brothers Sterling Jester Letter Opener
Located in Riverdale, NY
Rare and Unusual Unger Brothers Jester Sterling Letter Opener from the 1900's. Wonderful detailing and unusual subject matter. 1900 USA.
9.5" x 1.85" x 1.25".
Category
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Brass Sword Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A brass letter opener in the shape of a sword. perfect for the desk or work station.
Category
20th Century Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Set of Dutch Mid-Century, Jens Risom Inspired Teak Office Desk Accessories
By Jens Risom
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Dutch Mid-Century, Jens Risom inspired set of three beautifully designed teak desk accessories. Set contains a utensil storage tray (9 x 5.25 x .75), calendar holder -here used as a ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Dutch Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Teak
$185 Sale Price / set
35% Off
Angelo Mangiarotti Travertine Chess Set
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Inspired by the timeless design language of Angelo Mangiarotti, this exquisite chess set is a sculptural celebration of form, function, and natural material. Each piece is meticulous...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Travertine
New Brush Stand Solid Wengé Wood Medium Holds 14
Located in Somis, CA
Our calligraphy brush stands are made of solid wengé wood, a prized, sustainable, exotic wood with beautiful grains. Top of the stands are deco...
Category
2010s Chinese Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood, Wenge
$88 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Cartier Must II ballpoint pen silver plated and palladium 1980s
By Cartier
Located in Paris, IDF
This Cartier Must II ballpoint pen from the 1980s is a rare piece made of silver plating and palladium, adorned with a distinctive engraved motif featuring Cartier's iconic "C". It b...
Category
1980s French Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Carl Auböck Model #4317 Brass Bowl
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4317 brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conceived as a fountain pen...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$490 / item
Ghidini 1961 Knotted Cherry Medium Box in Brass by Nika Zupanc
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Fiasco. Guilt. Fear of love. A place to hide all the things we secretly desire yet are too scared to utter. The luscious things the perfect lover knows are never to be told. She drea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Iridescent Art Glass Paperweight by Steven Correia
Located in San Diego, CA
Spectacular iridescent art glass paperweight by Steven Correia, circa 1990s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measure...
Category
Late 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
$260 Sale Price
20% Off
Brass Desk Top Model of a Kedge Admiralty Anchor
Located in London, GB
A brass desk top model of a Kedge admiralty anchor.
Well modeled with Shank, stock, crown, flukes, shackle and keep pin.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Industrial Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Antique Inkwell Tatum’s Standard Crystal Well 3 Pen Quill Rests Hinged Lid
Located in San Diego, CA
Antique Ink Well Tatum’s Standard, crystal well, 3 pen quill rests, hinged lid.
This piece is cast iron and crystal.
It is a beauty!
Category
20th Century American Victorian Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Iron
$300 Sale Price
20% Off
Ruby Wedgwood Ordinary Lustre, Butterfly York Cup by Daisy Makeig-Jones, c1925
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Exquisite ruby Ordinary lustre york cup by Daisy Makeig Jones for Wedgwood, England.
The interior of this delightful piece has a vibrantly coloured butterfly on a pale green mother of pearl background, with gilded interior patterning.
Rich ruby red lustre mottled glaze, animated gilded butterflies...
Category
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
$458 Sale Price
64% Off
Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Flower Vase, Pink, Glazed Ceramic, Spanish, XXth
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Shiva vase is sculpture and vase. It is a symbol of Ettore Sottsass and an icon.
Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Textured Gold Frog Tape Dispenser
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Textured Gold Tone Metal Frog Tape Dispenser, 1960's
This vintage two piece tape dispenser is from Ted Arnold Ltd. The charming frog with green glass eyes is stamped on the inside l...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Tronador Square Cream Onyx Stone Box
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Onyx
$1,320 / item
Carl Auböck Model #3844 Brass Bowl
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #3844 brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conceiv...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$344 / item
Murano Vintage Millefiori Murrine Flower Mosaic Italian Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown rainbow color flower murrines over copper bed Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. The paperweight...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sommerso, Glass, Murrine, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
$488 Sale Price
24% Off
Pair Full Lead French Crystal Sterling Silver Toilet Scent Bottles poss Baccarat
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning identical Pair of French heavy gauge Sterling Silver mounted full led deep hand cut Crystal Lady’s Perfume or Toilet Water Jars of generous proportions, firmily attributed t...
Category
Early 1900s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Vintage Swedish Black Bakelite Table Phone
Located in Vienna, AT
Bakelite table phone by LM Eriksson from the early 1960s.
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Carl Auböck #4995 Patinated Brass Hook
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck #4995 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished and patinated brass by We...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$306 / item
Baccarat Rare Concentric Close Pack Mushroom Glass Paperweight
By Baccarat
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare antique French glass paperweight containing a close pack mushroom design by renowned glass makers Baccarat and dating from around 1850. The large and heavily made paperweight ...
Category
1850s French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Carl Auböck Model #4965 Large Brass Hook
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck brass #4956 brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria.
Price is per...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$331 / item
Art Nouveau Viper Lamp by Unknown French Artist
Located in Chicago, US
Little is known about the origins of this amazing lamp, apart from it being from France, circa 1900.
Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, f...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Brass
Carl Auböck Model #4056 Nickel-Plated Hook
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck brass #4056 brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and minimalist Viennese candleholder is executed in nickel-plated brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Nickel
$296 / item
Sterling Silver Circular Standing Frame
Located in New York, NY
Sterling Silver Circular Standing Frame. Vintage Mexican sterling portrait frame with easel back. Stamped “EMP•PLAT•MEX •S.A” STERLING 0.925 HECHO EN MEX. & ME 15. Mexico, 20th cent...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
HIGH-RISE Shoes Mid Century Modernist 1960 Bookends In Carved Precious Wood
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of modernist bookends.
This is a very decorative pair of bookends created during the mid-century modernist period, back in 1960. The bookends have been crafted in the shape of ...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
$1,188 Sale Price
30% Off
Pair of Large Carl Auböck Model #4101 'Melies' Patinated Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of large Carl Aubock Model #4101 'Melies' patinated brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Murano Green Photo Frame by Barovier e Toso - 2 Available
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage picture frame with hand blown clear and green Murano "Torciglione" glass border / Designed by Barovier e Toso circa 1960's / Original mark on frame / Made in Italy
Measures:...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$1,400 Sale Price / item
30% Off
Crystal Sailboat Ornament by DAUM France
By Daum
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
An intriguing crystal ornament, or paperweight, in the shape of a stylised three-masted sailing boat, made by legendary crystal manufacturer DAUM France. In excellent condition, its ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
French Cane or Walking Stick Exotic Wood and Silver, circa 1900
Located in Labrit, Landes
French walking stick or cane, circa 1900
Mahogany and silver
Shipping:
2/2/87 cm 0.2 kg.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Brass
Set Of 3 Miniature Amber And Silver Harley Davidson Style Motor Bikes
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of 3 Miniature Amber and Silver Harley Davidson Style Motor Bikes
925 stamped silver.
Category
1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
$380 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Set of Antique Bound Books Dating from the 19th Century, France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of old religious books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are called "Commentaries". These beautiful books are perf...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Vintage Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Nib Trinity Fountain Pen With Box & Cartridges
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Vintage Cartier 18ct Gold Plated Nib Trinity Fountain Pen Red Cartier Presentation Box & Ink Cartridges
This Must de Cartier fountain pen has a body in silver metal with gadroon mo...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate
English Edwardian 1900s Silver Dressing Table Mirror, Hair and Clothes Brushes
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Edwardian period dressing table hand mirror, hair and clothes brushes from the early 20th century with silver piqué décor of garlands and medallions. Born in England during the early years of the 20th century, this exquisite set of hand mirror and brushes...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
$1,720 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Burgundy Lacquer Trinity Rollerball Writing Pen
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Cartier Burgundy Lacquer & 18 Carat Gold Plate Trinity Rollerball Writing Pen With Cartier Case.
Cartier pens are designed by Cartier, & are manufactured by Montblanc. This ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate, Enamel
F-1 Fighter Jet Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The perfect gift for the history buff or military enthusiast in your life, this lighter is a faithfully cast in the shape of a Mirage F1 fighter jet. Manufactured in Japan and sold b...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
US Army Tank Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a Military Tank. Made in Japan, 1980s. This piece has great balance and details. Cool tobacco accessory and conversation piece. Working lighter...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Bee
By Lladro
Located in New York City, NY
Porcelain creation depicting a bee, part of the Awesome Insects collection. A surprising decorative design. The pollinizing species par excellence, t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
$1,600 / item
Burl Stamp Box
Located in New York, NY
A burl wood stamp box with brass hinge, circa early to mid-20th century. Very good condition as shown in images and video. Dimensions: 2.63" Depth x 3.38" Width.
Category
Early 20th Century European Desk Accessories
Materials
Burl
$475
1970s Lucite Ashtray and Lighter Set
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 1970s Lucite chrome ashtray and lighter desk set.
Lighter measurements: Width 3.75", depth 2.5, height 4.25".
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
$550 / set
Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper Brionvega TS52 Radio
Located in Sharon, CT
Important Radio by Sapper and Zanuso in gorgeous red.
Category
1960s Italian Space Age Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3530 'Flatiron' Brass and Cane Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3530 'Flatiron' brass and cane bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished brass and ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Bronze Sculpture Lioness / Roger Godchaux Jewish Artist & Susse Lost Wax Bibelot
By Roger Godchaux
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Bronze Sculpture Lioness / Roger Godchaux Jewish Artist & Susse Lost Wax Bibelot . An important bronze sculpture By the great Jewish Master animalier , Estampille
1- Cire perdue Lost Wax Stamp "La Lionne" by Roger Godchaux. See Photo
2- 2- With A Stamp of Susse. See Photo
3- 3- the signature of the Artist on the bronze. See Photo
Incredible Executed and very fine details with Dark Brown Patina with a hue of green . The movement of the lionesse is very graceful and sinuous (as most of the lion Sculpture he produced) Mounted on a black stone base 5 1/2" x 11 1/2" Godchaux Né à Vendôme le 21 décembre 1878 et mort le 6 mars 1958 à Paris.
Excellent color and details Collector’s item, hand finished On a Desk as garniture on a mantle fireplace, on a side table or a library , placed on a console or inside a niche . Decorative accent in any home , on top of a chest-of-drawers or credenza . As a special gift item small object that adds a touch of history or as a whimsical accent finishing touches. A Great Holiday season Gift or a house warming present. on a bedroom nightstand, or to make it part of the bibelot in a library . What sets this piece apart from other productions is the quality of the bronze casting, the level of attention to details, the depth and the character reflecting the passion of the maker. Over the decades you can see signs but overall good condition. For your office desk elegant space , a man's den , living room or entry way, this fun piece is very versatile.
Roger Godchaux Sculpteur animalier regularly produces animal drawings and paintings. Thus, unlike his sculptures which mainly represent wild animals, especially elephants and felines that he was going to study at the Jardin des Plantes, his paintings are often inspired by farm animals that he could observe in a small village of Brie where lived the mother of his companion. He also paints commissioned portraits or portraits of his family or friends, such as Gaston Switzerland or René Huchet .
But it is above all a sculptor. He made some works by direct carving of the wood. However, he mainly worked by modeling the earth. It treats surfaces by smoothing and oblique streaks. In this respect, unlike other animal sculptors like Édouard-Marcel Sandoz , François Pompon or Armand Petersen whose works are smooth, his work is close to the art of Paul Jouve which leaves apparent textures.
The lioness is finished with Godchaux’s distinctive surface modeling where the flesh is left textured like a wax model on the artists bench...
Category
20th Century French Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Bronze
Cartier 18ct Gold Plate Nib Vendome Trinity Brushed Ballpoint Pen, Leather Case
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Cartier Vendome Trinity Brushed Ballpoint Pen With Bordeaux Leather Slip Case
Brushed Silver-tone with Trinity rings to the cap, and a retractable mechanical clip, together with the...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Parker Duofold Marbleized Fountain Pen & Pencil Set 1930's Rare Collectors Set
Located in Reading, Berkshire
1930's Art Deco Parker Duofold Marbleised Fountain Pen & Pencil Set in Original Parker Box - rare collectors item.
Fountain Pen Made in Canada 14k nib
Geo S. Parker PAT SEP. 5-16
...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate
$660 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Four Piece Writing Desk Set With Butterflies
Located in New York, NY
A Japanese four piece desk set with polychrome cloisonne enamel decor. The set includes a pair of inkwells, a roller blotter, and a tray. Each ware is adorned with a polychrome desig...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Enamel
$2,250 Sale Price / set
50% Off
Original 'Benbecula' Letter Opener by Enzo Mari for Danese Milano. Italy, 1960s
Located in Malmö, SE
Original 'Benbecula' Letter Opener in Stainless Steel. Designed by Enzo Mari in 1961. Produced by Danese Milano in the 1960s.
Great condition, only a few light scratches.
Stamped wi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Virgo, Astrological, Murano Glass Paperweight by Ferro and Lazzarini 1980, Italy
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Murano Glass 'Virgo' astrological paperweight by Ferro and Lazzarini
Crafted in the 1980s in Italy, the large glass paperweight was part of a l...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
$275 Sale Price
20% Off
Saint Clement Style Crackle Finish Ceramic Vase
Located in Miami, FL
French mid-century ceramic vase in the style of Saint Clement crackle finish pieces.
Good quality craftsmanship.
Unmarked.
Measures: 6 1/8" diameter x 12" high.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
$760 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Silver Plated Penguin Paperweight Shelf Decor
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage art deco revival style silver plated heavy penguin paperweight.
In very good vintage preowned condition, the penguin is bright and well made and shows minimal signs of wear.
...
Category
1990s American Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Blue Cobra Table Phone, Ericofon by LM Ericsson
Located in Vienna, AT
Vintage rotary dial mint green ericofone. This is the model Cobra. It is made of blue thermoplastic ABS
Designed in the 1950s in Sweden by Hugo Blomb...
Category
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Handmade Big Decorative Paperweight Cone in Satin White Carrara Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
A decorative big cone full in satin white Carrara marble. Each piece is in a way unique (every marble block is different in veins and shades) and handmade by Italian artisans special...
Category
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Multi Faceted Brilliant Crystal Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 3 inch Crystal Paper weight with many facets. The piece is heavy and will hold down important papers, yet it's faceted surface with many cuts allows the piece to be a decorative p...
Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Mission / Craftsman Style American Quarter Sawn Oak Waste Basket by Stickley
Located in San Diego, CA
A very well constructed mission / craftsman style American quarter sawn oak waste basket by Stickley, circa 2004.
The waste basket is in very good condition and measures 13"W x 13"...
Category
20th Century American American Craftsman Desk Accessories
Materials
Oak
Decorative Paperweights '8' in Black / White / Red Terrazzo
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'8' paperweights in terrazzo (Black / white / red). Brass detail.
Set of three pieces.
Measures: 8.3 x 6 x 6 cm
Bentu design furniture and lightings derive its uniqueness fro...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Industrial Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Desk Set stripes enamel Fountain pen, Ballpoint pen and Tray.Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels with two-tone stripes on guilloche and hand engravings, cm. 9.5 x 18. For fountain pe...
Category
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
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.