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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: 21st Century and Contemporary
Period: Early 1900s
Furniture Handle Hammered Brass Bronze Cabinet Hardware Drawer Pulls
Located in Warsaw, PL
Handcrafted hardware by RUDA Studio is aimed to embody a touch of natural phenomena. The hammered brass handle reminds of honeycombs or drops of water frozen in the metal. This aesth...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Ukrainian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Kesito desk organizer · Blue, mustard and wood
Located in Madrid, Madrid
If you can’t look at your desk because of all the clutter, but the idea of a sterile and orderly workspace is unthinkable, then you will love this, we have designed a wooden desktop ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Minimalist Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Oak

Handmade Medium Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Satin White Carrara Marble
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in satin white Carrara marble. Measure: Diameter 10,5 cm Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Handmade Big Decorative Paperweight Cube in Black Marquina Marble
Located in Carrara, IT
Big decorative paperweight cube full in black Marquina marble. Each piece is in a way unique (every marble block is different in veins and shades) and handmade by Italian artisans sp...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

TRONADOR Rectangular Brown Onyx Stone Box
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

Pair of Large Carl Auböck Model #4219 'Hands' Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Large Carl Aubo¨ck Model #4219 'Hands' Brass Bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished brass. Hand ful...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Snow Globe Red Chanel Number 5
Located in Munich, DE
Rare limited edition of a Chanel Snow Ball, which are only for VIP Customers in excellent condition and with the original box. It features the iconic Chanel Number...
Category

2010s French Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories

Materials

Acrylic

In Stock in Los Angeles, Grey Kong Mini Portable Charger
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Kong mini power bank battery charger In stock in Los Angeles Easily transportable, Kong MINI becomes a Stand hugging the mobile phone and a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

21st Century Minimalist Paperweight in Portuguese Green Marble "Verde Viana"
Located in Nelas, PT
S.Voxel - 21st century modern Portuguese "Verde Viana" marble paperweight S.voxelexplores the importance of object scaling and user experience. Voxels coffee tables and side table...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Set of 4 Solid Brass Sculpted Candleholders Signed by William Guillon
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 solid brass sculpted candleholders by William Guillon [Each is signed by William Guillon] Dimensions: diameter 4 x height 5 cm. Diameter 3.5 x height 6 cm. Materials: Solid...
Category

2010s French Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Dunhill London Branded Black Calf Leather Boxed Coat Wallet Made in Italy
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Dunhill London Branded Black Calf Leather Boxed Coat Wallet Made in Italy Ref: LZV31ON Wallet size width 19.5cm I height 9.5 I depth 1.5cm Featuring te...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Nº 1 Contemporary Glazed Ceramic Black Showtime Vase Collection byJaime Hayon
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Showtime Vases are just as current as when we launched them over 10 years ago. They are little decorative sculptures that fully reproduce Hayon’s universe. Made of two glazed ce...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Constantin Bookends, Black Marble/Canaletto Walnut Minimalist Design
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Constantin 1 is a simple but charming bookend couple with a geometric shape. The body is in Marquina black marble. The top in solid Canaletto walnut. A perfect present, closed in an ...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Brass Accented Crystal Prism Tray by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Accented Crystal Prism Tray by Dainte Dimensions: D 26 x W 28 x H 4 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. The decorative prism tray is designed to fascinate and delight. Creating ...
Category

2010s American Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Crystal Pen Tray by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Crystal Pen Tray by Dainte Dimensions: D 11 x W 28 x H 3 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. A stylish desk tray uniquely combines clear crystal with brass metallic accents. Minimalist yet distinctive, the beautiful design will showcase your elevated taste. Universal grooves fit any sized pen, and an extendable brass tray slides out to hold even more desktop essentials. This modern crystal and brass pen tray...
Category

2010s American Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Card tray "Architect" series by POPCORN
Located in 加須市, 11
Card Tray  Material: Iron Series inspired by architectural elements Continuity of roofs and stairs Light structure is the theme of this series.
Category

2010s Japanese Bauhaus Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel

Rare Typewriter ADLER No7, Germany 1900s
Located in Praha, CZ
The first typewriter of German production - rare Fully functional. The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the age of use. Made in Germany-number se...
Category

Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Antique Brass Plated Desk, Pols Potten Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Antique brass plated desk, Pols Potten Studio. Dimensions: W 120.5 x D 51 x H 75.5 cm. Materials: Black powder coated iron frame, aluminium, anti...
Category

2010s Dutch Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum, Brass, Iron

Set of Three Contemporary Carved Flowers
Located in Cypress, CA
Set of three graduated flower table decorations centered by a Quartz geode, supported by chrome rod, all resting on square marble bases. Large Flower Dimensions: H. 27" x W. 5.25"...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Desk Accessories

Materials

Amethyst, Marble, Chrome

Brucaliffo brass geometrical shaped ashtray
Located in Firenze, FI
Perfect for both smokers and non-smokers alike, this brass ashtray is not only functional but also visually appealing. Its geometric shape adds a touch of modern elegance to any room...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Brass Plato Table Tray by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Plato Table Tray by Stem Design Dimensions: D 11.5 x W 20 x H 2.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 2 kg. Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in aluminum. Please contact us. A compact accent tray with tapered walls and rounded corners, Plato boasts a simple design to reveal an arresting surface texture. It is ideal for holding smaller objects like stationery, keys, watches, jewelry, or glasses. Imagined on your center table, console, or night-stand, the tray is sand-cast in aluminum and brass. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Salta Round Brown Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

Crystal and Brass Business Card Holder by Dainte
Located in Geneve, CH
Crystal and Brass Business Card Holder by Dainte Dimensions: D 9 x W 13 x H 8 cm. Materials: Crystal and brass. The sturdy yet minimalist b...
Category

2010s American Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Brass

James de Wulf Concrete Color Samples
Located in Los Angeles, CA
James de Wulf Concrete color samples in light grey, natural, dark grey, black, and creamy white.
Category

2010s American Brutalist Desk Accessories

Materials

Concrete

Curve pen holder
Located in Milano, IT
Studio IB Milano's Curve Pen Holders are a testament to the brand's unwavering pursuit of excellence in design, craftsmanship, and sustainability. These luxury Italian marble pen holders...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Rare jugendstil writing set by Erhard & Sohne Germany
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Rare jugendstil writing set by Erhard & Sohne Germany including letter holder 10x13x6cm, letter dryer 15x8x6cm and knife 18cm long.
Category

Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Handmade Small Decorative Paperweight Cube in Black Marquina Marble
Located in Carrara, IT
Small decorative paperweight cube full in black Marquina marble. Each piece is in a way unique (every marble block is different in veins and shades) and handmade by Italian artisans ...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Two Tesla industry Telephones in bright yellow , wall mount
Located in Vienna, Austria
A pair of industrial telephones from the company Tesla Stropkov, a.s., produced 2004 in Slovakia. The telephone model 4 FN 153 27 has pased the EU regulations 1999/ 5/EU. This teleph...
Category

Early 2000s Slovak Industrial Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Constantin Art Inspired Bookends, Black Marquina Marble and Canaletto Walnut
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Constantin 1 is a simple but charming bookend couple with a geometric shape. The body is in Marquina black marble. The top in solid Canaletto walnut. A perfect present, closed in an elegant gift box. Constantin collection owes its name to its inspirer. It is in fact the modern art of Constantin Brancusi that has guided the designer’s hand to conceive candelabra, bookends, containers and centre pieces in wood, marble and brass. Taking up Brancusi ability to represent the essence of things with a high degree of abstraction, designer Agustina Bottoni has shaped the candlesticks and bookends thinking of the columns and bases of Brancusi famous sculptures...
Category

2010s Italian Minimalist Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Large Scale Rock Crystal Obelisk
Located in Dallas, TX
Handsome polished rock crystal obelisk from Brazil. Makes a lovely accessory!!
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Desk Accessories

Materials

Rock Crystal

Brass Taper Pen Stand by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Taper Pen Stand by Stem Design Dimensions: D 8 x W 10 x H 11 cm. Materials: Brass. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 1,4 kg. Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in aluminum. Please contact us. An ellipse rising from a wide base, the Taper pen stand reveals its character through a simple and honest form. The surface reflects light beautifully and results in a subtle sheen, giving it the ability to add richness to any table setting and the objects it holds. The solid form available in aluminum and brass is imagined on a work desk, a night-stand, the shelves in the corridor, or a bar counter. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Brass silver-plated chiseled Pencil Holder, Hommage Collection, Weaving Pattern
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This Pencil Holder is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics highlig...
Category

2010s French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hook by Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hook by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 5 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminium The F.ACE Hook is a riff on our popular compass Hook. It is sand cast in solid Alumin...
Category

2010s Australian Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Nº 2 Contemporary White lazed Ceramic with gold Showtime 10' Vase by Jaime Hayon
Located in Barcelona, ES
Vase by Jaime Hayon Glazed Stoneware white and Gold plated decorations The Showtime vases by Jaime Hayon are the most iconic in BD’s catalogue...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold

Silver-plated rectangular Pencil Box, Hommage Collection
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This rectangular pencil box is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetic...
Category

2010s French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Silver-plated chiseled Rectangular Case, Hommage Collection, Braiding Pattern
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This rectangular case is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics high...
Category

2010s French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Brass Arc Pen Tray by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Arc Pen Tray by Stem Design Dimensions: D 6 x W 18 x H 2.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 0,7 kg. Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in aluminum. Please contact us. Arc pen tray is designed as a pedestal for a pen that you hold close. The linear piece with an elevated concave surface graciously exhibits any writing instrument and demonstrates a sculptural quality through its simplified form. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Gustavian Style Tissue Box Holder
Located in Sheffield, MA
Add a neoclassical country touch to your countertop or nightstand with a gold gilt edge grey painted galvanized tissue box cover. Add fashion and protection for your facial tissue. E...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Louis XVI Desk Accessories

Materials

Tin

Set of 2 Brass Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Brass Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design Dimensions: D 8 x W 10 x H 11 cm (each.) Materials: Brass. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 1,4 kg (each.) Finished and assembl...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Brass silver-plated chiseled Round Box, Hommage Collection, Canning Pattern
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This round box is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics highlights ...
Category

2010s French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Set of 3 F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hooks by Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 3 F.ACE Aluminium Wall Hooks by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 6 x D 5 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminium The F.ACE Hook is a riff on our popular compass Hook. It is sand cast in so...
Category

2010s Australian Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Set of 2 Brass Arc Pen Trays by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Brass Arc Pen Trays by Stem Design Dimensions: D 6 x W 18 x H 2.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 0,7 kg (each.) Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in aluminum. Please contact us. Arc pen tray is designed as a pedestal for a pen that you hold close. The linear piece with an elevated concave surface graciously exhibits any writing instrument and demonstrates a sculptural quality through its simplified form. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Set of 2 Brass Luna Paper Weights by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Brass Luna Paper Weights by Stem Design Dimensions: Ø 8 x H 3 cm. Materials: Brass. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 0,5 kg (each.) Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in aluminum. Please contact us. Sand-cast in solid metal, the Luna paperweight is a minimal object with a strong character. Surface pitting and production marks developed through the casting process are left untreated to retain the material’s richness, to allow for a more profound interaction. Luna has a timeless ornamental quality that is both decorative and functional. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Empire Style Table Clock and Inkwell
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Empire style table clock and inkwell Origin France Circa 1900 The watch has a Paris machine and it works Golden bronze and Onix materials Very good general condition the marble ...
Category

Early 1900s French Empire Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

LIA 6" Square Handcrafted Brass and Steel Valet Bowl Tray by Soraya Osorio
Located in Vero Beach, FL
LIA 6" Square handcrafted valet tray bowl is versatile as a decorative object or in an entry way to place your daily belongings. A contrast in metals, hand-hammered 4 1/2" inner rou...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Steel, Brass

Handmade Big Decorative Prism / Bookend in Satin Black Marquina Marble
Located in Carrara, IT
A big decorative prism/bookend in black Marquina marble full. Honed finishing. Each piece is in a way unique (every marble block is different in veins and shades) and handmade by It...
Category

2010s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

21st Century Italy Sterling Silver Letter tray
Located in VALENZA, IT
Letter tray in sterling silver Rectangular tray for correspondence, reproduction of specimens in silver very popular in the late Victorian era. The scrolls design covers the entire b...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Victorian Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Set of 2 Aluminum Plato Table Trays by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Plato Table Trays by Stem Design Dimensions: D 11.5 x W 20 x H 2.5 cm (each.) Materials: Aluminum. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 0,5 kg (each.) Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in brass. Please contact us. A compact accent tray with tapered walls and rounded corners, Plato boasts a simple design to reveal an arresting surface texture. It is ideal for holding smaller objects like stationery, keys, watches, jewelry, or glasses. Imagined on your center table, console, or night-stand, the tray is sand-cast in aluminum and brass. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Otterburn Chess Table — Solid Hand-Patinated Brass and Walnut — Made in Britain
Located in Washington, GB
Commissioned by a special client as the perfect stage for their chess battles, this table is a showcase of NOVOCASTRIAN’s creative ability, of almost 10 years of experimentation, ref...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Limestone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Sheet Metal, Bronze, Co...

Firmamento Milano Etoile Rechargeable Table Lamp by Daniela Puppa
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Please note that VAT is not included in the price. A slim and light lamp that, like a ballerina, hides under her tutu an intimate and warm light LED. A lamp whose light makes you sm...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

William Hornby - Patented Silver Seal Stamp - Retailed by Asprey in 1902
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1902 by William Hornby, and retailed originally by Asprey of London, this handsome, Edwardian, Antique Sterling Silver Seal Stamp, i...
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #1928 'Hands' Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #1928 'Hands' brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in patinated and polished brass. P...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Demigod, a trivet cut in solid travertine
Located in Athens, GR
A traverrtino trivet choc-a-block with semi divine charm. For those who need their status carved in stone.
Category

2010s Greek Greek Revival Desk Accessories

Materials

Travertine

Knotted Vide Poche Set of 2 Beige André Fu Living Desk Office Home Accessories
Located in CENTRAL, HK
Description: Tray set of 2 Color: Beige Size of big tray: 20 x 20 x 3 H cm Size of small tray: 15 x 15 x 3 H cm Material: Leather Collection: Knotted.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Aimara Medium Brass Photoframe
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The waves on a choppy lake, rough by the wind, inspire the design of alpaca boxes and picture frames of this family, whose name comes from the tribe that dwelled in the North Argenti...
Category

2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Set of 2 Aluminum Arc Pen Trays by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Arc Pen Trays by Stem Design Dimensions: D 6 x W 18 x H 2.5 cm. Materials: Aluminum. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 0,3 kg (each.) Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in Brass. Please contact us. Arc pen tray is designed as a pedestal for a pen that you hold close. The linear piece with an elevated concave surface graciously exhibits any writing instrument and demonstrates a sculptural quality through its simplified form. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Montblanc Meisterstück Gold Coated Classic Ballpoint Pen
Located in Savannah, GA
A fine ballpoint pen, the Meisterstück evolved into a distinctive design icon. Cap and barrel are crafted in deep black precious resin, with elegant gold-coated details, surmounted by the white Montblanc...
Category

2010s German Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Set of 2 Aluminum Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design Dimensions: D 8 x W 10 x H 11 cm (each.) Materials: Aluminum. Finish: Tumbled and burnished Weight: 0,5 kg (each.) Finished and as...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

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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