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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Style: Victorian
Style: Louis XVI
Unusual English Crab-Shaped Brass Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Unusual English crab-shaped brass inkstand English, late 19th century Measures: Height 8cm, width 18cm, depth 17cm This charming brass inkstand takes the form of a naturalistica...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique English Novelty / Figural Brass Inkwell - Hare c.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A charming and scarce inkwell made from polished English brass featuring a beautifully cast Hare's head. At first I thought he sported glass eyes but taking a closer look, they look...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique English Burr Walnut & Hand Painted Porcelain Stationery Box, circa 1850
Located in Bath, GB
A quite wonderful and romantic stationery box, ready to grace the finest of desk-tops. Made from burr walnut the wedge shaped box is smothered in fine quality polished brass mount...
Category

1850s English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

3-Piece Sevres Porcelain and Dore Bronze Mnt. Clock and Candelabra Garniture
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous and very unusual 19th century French dore bronze mounted Sevres white porcelain three-piece clock and three-light candelabra garniture set. The Lyre shaped clock and cande...
Category

1860s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

19th Century British Tunbridge Ware Lap Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting an absolutely gorgeous and extremely unique and rare 19th Century British Tunbridge ware lap desk. This lap desk is unlike any of it’s kind we have seen before. From cir...
Category

Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Maple, Walnut, Satinwood, Ebony, Wood

Antique Victorian Ashford Pietra Dura Marble Obelisk, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a wonderful Derbyshire Ashford pietra dura obelisk, inlaid with lillies, circa 1880 in date. The obelisk is beautifully inlaid with a Pi...
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Malachite

French Patinated Bronze Cherub Sculpture, Signed by Auguste Moreau
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and large sized Louis XVI style patinated bronze sculpture of a cherub, signed by Auguste Moreau, titled "Amour Sifflant". This is a fabulous piece that has been crafted b...
Category

Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Victorian Cast Iron "Lion" Inkwell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Figural lion inkwell boasting original paint with hinged lion's head concealing the well, circa late 1800s Patina / paint loss consistent with age / use.
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Wonderful French Large Louis XVI Bronze Three-Arm Bouillotte Lamp Tole Shade
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful French large Louis XVI bronze three arm bouillotte table lamp with feather handle adjustable black metal tole shade and acorn finial, flut...
Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Desk Accessories

Magnificent Antique English Gilded Bronze Hare Inkwell, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A truly fabulous Victorian novelty inkwell made from solid cast bronze in the form of a hunting Hare holding a rifle, smothered in the original gold with a fabulous antique patina. ...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Two 19th Century English Walnut Carved Victorian Dachshund Wiener Dog Inkwells
Located in Haarlem, NL
Set of two very cute original 19th century carved wooden Victorian era wiener dogs or dachshund inkwells. The bigger one, which is a dachshund head, has a hinged lid that opens to r...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th century Embossed Bronze Inkwell
Located in Savannah, GA
Bronze inkwell intricately embossed with scroll work. Features include a pen vest and back tray and double inkwells with griffins on the back gallery. A continental piece possibly Au...
Category

Late 19th Century German Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

English Brass Inkstand in the Form of a Lobster
Located in London, GB
English brass inkwell in the form of a lobster English, late 19th century Measures: Height 9.5cm, width 17.5cm, depth 33cm This bizarre yet charming brass inkwell takes the guis...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian English Sterling Silver Meat Skewers / Letter Openers
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, large pair of antique Victorian English sterling silver letter openers/meat skewers; an addition to our Victorian silv...
Category

1840s Great Britain (UK) Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Antique Continental Ceramic Pink & Gilt Striped Shell or Oil Lamp Styled Inkwell
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique ceramic inkwell is presumed to have been made in Continental Europe in circa 1880 in the period Victorian style. The inkwell is cl...
Category

Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Chalcedony Pin Cushion
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian sterling silver pin cushion modelled in the form of a shoe made by Adie & Lovekin Ltd; an addition to our animal related silverware collection. This exceptional antique sterling silver pin cushion...
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Fine English Letter / Postal Scale in Malachite by Sampson Mordan, circa 1860
Located in Bath, GB
A very fine and rare antique English desk or letter scale, the base covered in stunning green Malachite. The gilded brass or bronze fittings are all hand engraved and the two pans...
Category

1850s English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Malachite, Bronze

Pair of Grand Tour Armorial Dore Bronze Bookends/Paperweights
Located in New York, NY
A pair of antique 19th century Louis XVI style marble mounted dore bronze armorial Bookends/paperweights depicting "Peace and Music". Each is beautifully cast, hand-chiseled, and cha...
Category

1870s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Grand French Three-Piece Desk Set, Hand Painted Porcelain Inset, circa 1860
Located in Bath, GB
Wonderful to find a top-notch, highly decorative and most unusual desk set, French in origin dating to around 1860. Made from nutty coloured burl Walnut, all three pieces are mounted with the most wonderful polished brass mounts all inset with fabulous hand painted porcelain plaques. Our restorer had to remove all the mounts to professionally clean and on doing so found the name of the figure depicted on the plaques, "Ninon De Lenclos" a French Author, Courtesan, Freethinker and Patron of the Arts. The set is made up of a Stationery box with brass swing handles each side; the box complete with a working tasselled key. The box opens to reveal the wonderful original gilded leather lining with the original paper lining the sides of the dividers. The lock and hinges are beautifully engraved, a true sign of quality. The next piece is a hefty large oval Walnut Inkstand with a large glass inkwell...
Category

1860s French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century Bookstand
Located in High Point, NC
19th century bookstand from England made from rosewood. The handles are hand-turned along with the spindles, which terminate on the ends with lovely lyre inspired shaped pieces. The ...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Rosewood

Silvered Bronze Monkey Wearing a Hat Inkwell, France, 1900
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
French bronze inkwell, zoomorphic inkwell in the form of a monkey head in a hinged nightcap, with glass eyes bronze ink well statue in the form of a o...
Category

Early 20th Century French Victorian Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Victorian Cherub Bookends
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of Cherub bookends. Made of black metal and of the Victorian time period. Price is for the pair.
Category

1880s American Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Antique French Bronze Pocket Watch Stand / Match Strike, Equestrian / Horses
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous antique French pocket watch stand, from the Bordeaux "Le Bouscat" racecourse, the original blue enamel sign indicating this. Below this label is the little hook ready to hang your pocket watch, I only had this small one at hand for photography (not included). At the base the naturalistic tree trunk would have acted as a match holder, with the textured sides used to strike the non-safety...
Category

Early 1900s French Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Royal Copenhagen Louis XVI St. 1900s White Porcelain and Gilded Rams Lamp #11537
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Fabulous Royal Copenhagen XVI style, white porcelain table lamp dated between 1889-1922, in superb condition Sumptuously decorated with gilded swags, rams heads and bows Dated 1889...
Category

Early 1900s Danish Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Three Sterling Silver Mounted Commemorative Horse Hoof Inkwells
Located in London, GB
These interesting inkwells were crafted in Britain between the Victorian period and early to mid-20th century. The works have been created from horse hooves, applied with sterling silver mounts. Each hoof has been set onto a silver horseshoe and features a silver top and lid. Two of the tops have been engraved to imitate real horse hair, while the third is more simple, with banded ornament. All three have been given covers, two of which feature commemorative inscriptions. One lid states, ‘The Grey/1907-1917’ — presumably the name of the favourite racehorse, whose hoof this is — and another reads, ‘Mavourneen/ Died June 29th / Aged 53’. ‘Mavourneen’ is an Irish Gaelic word meaning ‘my beloved’. The dedicatee’s age of 53 implies that they were a human, perhaps a jokey, or racehorse owner. The lids open up onto a silver-lined interior, intended to be used for storing ink as part of a desk arrangement. The inkwells are stamped, on their underside, with silver hallmarks and maker’s marks, ‘J.T.’ and ‘C & CS’. This set of three horse hoof inkwells...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

English Officers Equestrian Silverplate, Enamel & Hoof Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Officers Equestrian silver plate, enamel and hoof inkwell, an exquisite example with a portrait of the beloved horse, expertly mounted, possibly b...
Category

1890s English High Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique English Onyx, Brass and Velvet Twin Photo Frame
Located in London, GB
This elegant photo frame was created in England in the late 19th century, during the reign of Queen Victoria. The item stands on three brass legs, forming an easel support. The frame...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Grand English Bulldog Novelty Inkwell with Glass Eyes, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A magnificent English Victorian inkwell made from solid English brass having been professionally polished to gleam. This grand figural dog inkwell was modelled in the form of an E...
Category

1890s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Early Victorian Carved Bone Cane Handle On Ebony Base
Located in Copenhagen, K
Early Victorian carved cane handle, covered in a variety of bas relief flowers, leaves, a lion head, and on opposite side, an angel.
Category

Mid-19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bone, Ebony

Magnifying Glass on Stand, 19th Century
Located in Vosselaar, BE
Magnifying glasses are already recorded as far back as the Ancient Greeks. Troughout history they were reserved for scientists, nobility and monks. During the Renaissance and culmina...
Category

19th Century Italian Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Softwood, Walnut

Antique English Novelty Equestrian Inkwell, Horse, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
This is only the second time in many years of being in the antiques business that I have come across this wonderful figural equestrian inkwell. B...
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique English Bronze, Brass and Glass Inkstand / Inkwell, circa 1870 Victorian
Located in Bath, GB
A truly unusual and quite spectacular Victorian inkstand made from cast polished bronze standing on cast reticulated feet. The gallery around the back is also pierced or reticulated ...
Category

1870s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Magnificent Antique English Novelty Inkwell / Pen Tray - Parrot With Glass Eyes
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful and impressive figural inkwell made from solid cast English brass, beautifully executed with a fabulous patina. Standing on little cast feet, the large leaf is of cour...
Category

1880s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

1890s, Antique Yellow Gold and Enamel Parasol Handle and Rib Tips
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique yellow gold and enamel parasol handle and rib tip set; an addition to our diverse enamelwork collection. This exceptional antique parasol handle...
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver, Enamel

Royal Blue Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Inkwell and Pen Tray in the Louis XVI Taste
Located in London, GB
An Ensemble de Bureau in the Louis XVI Taste Constructed using gilt bronze, and 'Sevres' style porcelain having 'Bleu de Roi' borders, and hand p...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Antique English Novelty Inkwell, Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut, circa 1890
Located in Bath, GB
Clearly created after the well known idiom "use a sledgehammer to crack a nut"; this is an unusual and fun figural inkwell. The walnut is the inkwell with a hinged lid which opens...
Category

1890s English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Victorian Female Bust Wood with Diamond Eyes Magnifier
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Victorian magnifier depicting a woman's head adorned with a 14-karat gold wire necklace with one diamond and diamond eyes on a 12.5" ebony stem with a 3.5...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Yorkshire Prattware Mexborough Chapel Moneybox
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Staffordshire Pottery Yorkshire money box which features Mexborough Chapel - with the box owners name, 'MIRIAM WINN', printed on the front. Flanked by two figures standing either sid...
Category

1840s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pottery

Victorian Sterling Silver Handle Page Turner, England, circa 1897
Located in Montreal, QC
Simply Fabulous! Vintage 19th century letter opener or page turner with an ornate sterling silver handle and bone blade. Hallmark corresponds to: Birmingham, England, circa 1897.
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Large Victorian Period Sterling Silver-Mounted Controlled Bubbles Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Large, Victorian period, sterling silver-mounted controlled bubbles crystal inkwell with hinged lid, Boston, circa 1895, Bigleow ,Kennard and Co. makers. Measures: 3 3/4 inches high ...
Category

1890s American Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Asprey Desk Set and Document Holder, English, circa 1875
Located in Incline Village, NV
The Asprey Company is an iconic British luxury home goods maker, located in London, England and was established by William Asprey in 1781, They established their current residence in London on Bond Street between 1847 and 1859 after a couple of acquisitions. They were the Nieman-Marcus of the day and made only the finest products, utilizing the best quality materials; dealing in everything from jewelry to fashion, and appealing to those wanting to buy gifts for weddings, occasions, and events. This is a customized desk set, consisting of a crystal cut glass inkwell with a brass hinged lid, resting in a velvet lined well. Markings on the velvet lining under the inkwell indicate Asprey manufacture and Bond Street location “Asprey London, 166 Bond Street 22 Albemarle Street”. To the sides of the well are two Wedgwood cameos with the typical Greek mythology themed blue and white jasperware. Resting inside the recessed pen holder is a 14-karat gold nib pen marked “no. 3”, made by Aiken & Lambert, an American company (New York City) and manufacturer of fine quality gold fountain pens. Hand engraved brass mounts are applied to the surface, while the oval shaped inkwell and pen holder rests on three bun feet. The wood is an ebonized calamander (coromandel wood) which is a rare and valuable hardwood from Sri Lanka. Also included as part of the desk set is a hinged, fold over, double sided document holder with a blotter lined interior. The exterior of the document holder is also of calamander wood, with hand engraved brass mounts to the top surface. As with the desk inkwell and pen holder, the document holder has a Wedgwood blue and white jasperware cameo...
Category

1870s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Onyx and Bronze Inkwell Desk Set
Located in Stamford, CT
Onyx and bronze inkwell desk set depicting Louis Pasteur. A nicely cast bronze with double ink holders on an onyx pen and pencil base.
Category

1920s Louis XVI Vintage Desk Accessories

19th Century Large Gorham Inkwell
Located in High Point, NC
19th century marked Gorham inkwell with a sterling top and collar and handblown base. It retains the original handblown ink pot.
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

1880s Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Lantern Inkwell
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, unusual antique Victorian English sterling silver inkwell in the form of a lantern; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver inkwell has been realistically modelled in the form of a lantern. The cylindrical body of this impressive Victorian ink bottle is encompassed with vertical pales. This antique ink bottle...
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Carved Walnut Stamp Box
Located in Baltimore, MD
Beautifully carved VictorIan stamp box of a Spaniel on a tasseled cushion. A wonderful addition to an antique desk. The box measures 2 1/2" wide by 1 3/4" de...
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Walnut

Post Box, 19th Century Victorian School House Letter Box
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Victorian school house letter box, post box. The post box is a very attractive piece, it has a slot in the top for letters and a picture of St Georges Scho...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pine

English Brass and Mahogany Yacht Binnacle Southampton, Circa 1870
Located in Hollywood, SC
English yacht binnacle mounted on a mahogany rope motif base, oval glass viewing port, with the original removable brass vented side light and carrying handle. Binnacle is fitted with an interior compass submerged in alcohol signed...
Category

1870s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Sterling Silver-Mounted Pairpoint "Controlled Bubbles" Crystal Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Sterling silver-mounted, Pairpoint "controlled bubbles" crystal inkwell, Goodnow & Jenks, Boston, circa 1890s-1900. Monogrammed (script, interlocking HLL?) sterling silver lid has se...
Category

19th Century American Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

French Victorian Enamel Urn Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
French Victorian enamel urn shaped inkwell with round base.
Category

19th Century French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Enamel

Regency circular bronze inkwell
Located in London, GB
A small early 19th century Regency period circular bronze encrier, engine turned throughout, having pierced mirrored lid, bearing label ‘from the Duche...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

French Victorian Green Marble Inkwell with Tiger
Located in New York, NY
French Victorian green marble double inkwell with bronze trim and centered figure of tiger.
Category

19th Century French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Gold Leaf

19th Century French Figural Bronze and Gilt Inkstand
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This beautifully detailed French bronze and gilt inkwell shows a Revolutionary figure sounding an alarm of impending uprise while standing on a cobblestone street with a gilt metal document box...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze, Metal

19th Century Bronze and Marble Desk Set
Located in New York, NY
This rare four-piece bronze and marble desk set includes a pen holder, inkwell stamper, and letter holder.   
Category

1890s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Victorian Ebonized and Rosewood Looking Glass
Located in Spencertown, NY
The Turned Rosewood Handle and Rim with later ebonized interior edge.
Category

19th Century Great Britain (UK) Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Rosewood

French Louis XVI Style Marble and Gilt Bronze Inkwell
Located in Pembroke, MA
Rouge marble and gilt bronze inkwell with seated angel, in the neoclassical style, signed "Francois Flamand".
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

Bronze Violin Player w/ Original Patina by Adolph Maubach 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
A large version of the 19th century bronze of boy with violin by Adolph Maubach with a wonderful patina. Please note, this item is located in one of ou...
Category

Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Victorian Period Sterling Silver Footed Cherub-Motif Inkstand By William Comyns
Located in New York, NY
Outstanding, Victorian Period, sterling silver, footed inkstand with matching sterling silver-mounted crystal inkwell, London, year-hallmarked for 1901...
Category

Early 1900s British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Sterling Silver Page Turner
By George R. Unite
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Victorian silver page turner the repousse silver handle with center medallion and swirl pattern the blade etched on both sides with an i...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

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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