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Desk Accessories For Sale
Art Nouveau Figural Double Sided Hotel Front Desk Call Bell
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid Art Nouveau Young Boy Figural Double Sided Hotel Front Desk Call Bell Marked Dep.
Category

1920s French Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Aesthetic Movement Oak Pipe Rack with a Japanese Style Brass Fretwork Backplate
Located in London, GB
Aesthetic Movement. An oak pipe rack with a Japanese-style brass fretwork backplate, and a tobacco draw with brass handle.
Category

1870s English Aesthetic Movement Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Tiffany & Co. Porcelain Lidded Box Designed for Tauck World France
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Tiffany & Co. porcelain round trinket box. Tiffany & Co. porcelain round map box designed for Tauck World, Made In France. The porcelain lid cover is decor...
Category

Late 20th Century French Neoclassical Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Weltron Model 2001 Space Ball, AM/FM Radio 8 Track Stereo
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Step into the retro-futuristic charm of the Weltron Model 2001 8-track stereo AM-FM radio, a timeless piece that seamlessly blends nostalgia with space-age ae...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

Walter Bosse Midcentury Deer Fawn Brass Figurine, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A lovely fawn / baby deer sculpture made of brass from the 1950s. Designed by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller, Austria. In good condition with nice p...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Vintage Abstract Bronze Intertwined Figurative Sculpture on White Marble Base
Located in North Miami, FL
This beautiful intertwined abstract figure bronze sculpture on a white marble base is very sensual and has an amazing and different presence from every angle. The bodies are intertwi...
Category

1960s American Organic Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Carrara Marble, Bronze

Carl Auböck Model #4273 'Foot' Brass Paperweight
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4273 'Foot' brass paperweight. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly clean and refined Viennese paperweight is hand fabricated in polished brass by Werkstätte Car...
Category

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

Materials

Brass

Large Vintage Ceramic Pop Art Bayer Aspirin Paperweight or Display
Located in New York, NY
A big ceramic Bayer Aspirin from a store called Think Big in SoHo, NYC in the 1980s . Fun. Decorative piece for display, art in a bathroom or a paperweig...
Category

1980s Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Plaster

Vintage 1980s Gucci Desk Set Accessories - Leather Pen + Paper Holder & Tray
Located in St. Louis, MO
Nice 1980s Gucci - Italy designed leather desk accessories set, includes pen holder, note paper holder and small tray. The leather pieces have the classic green and red stripe, with ...
Category

1980s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Leather, Suede

Antique French Bronze Goose Ink Well
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
A rare Antique French Bronze Goose Ink Well. Very good condition, Circa 1880. Great detail and a functional piece of desk furniture.Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, makin...
Category

Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Art Nouveau Figural Woman Silhouette Table Night Lamp
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Art Nouveau figural woman table lamp. This beautiful petite lamp is a classic piece of Art Nouveau design. The nude woman graces with elegant the fron...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Hans Jensen 6-Piece Vanity Set – Embossed Silver-Plated Alpacca, Denmark
Located in Bochum, NRW
Hans Jensen Danish Silver-Plated Vanity Set – 6-Piece Antique Collection with Embossed Classical Scenes, Marked "Prima Alpacca Import" A rare 6-piece antique vanity set...
Category

Early 20th Century Danish Neoclassical Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Vintage Ladys Gentlemans German Wooden Sterling Walking Stick Dress Cane
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stylish Solid Polished Ebony and Sterling Silver Lady’s or Gentleman’s Walking Stick with Traditional Crook shaped handle of German origin, complete with its original bi-metal polish...
Category

Late 19th Century German Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Vintage Marble Lighter, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage marble lighter is an original decorative object realized in the 1970s. Original marble and metal. Made in Italy. Dimensions: 13 x 18 cm...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

A Vintage Italian Grand Tour Specimen Marble Ruler, 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The 7 1/4" ruler with 8 different specimens inset with in a black marble frame.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Grand Tour Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

SeaGull Seaplane Lighter, 1970s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a SOC-3A Seagull Plane. This two-place scout observation plane of the U.S. Navy was used for both land and sea landings, as well as used fo...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Decorative Blue Marianne Brandt Avantgarde Bauhaus Letter Scale, 1930s, Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
An iconic light-blue sheet metal postal letter scale from the1930s in blue, designed by Marianne Brandt, executed by Ruppel Werke, Ruppelwerk in Gotha, G...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Iron, Sheet Metal

Set Aimara Rectangular Alpaca Silver Trays
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Set / Dimensions : 30x15x3.5 cm / 12" x 6" x 1.4" 40x22x3.5 cm / 16" x 9" x 1.4" 50x26x3.5 cm / 20" x 10.2" x 1.4" The waves on a choppy lake, rough by the wind, inspire the design...
Category

2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Sheet Metal

Knotted Tissue Box Square Home Office Accessories By André Fu Living
Located in Admiralty, HK
Description: Tissue box Color: Caramel Size: 14 x 14 x 15 H cm Material: PU Collection: Knotted.
Category

2010s Thai Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Faux Leather

Cubic3 Dutch Design Table or Desk Lamp "Nachtschade", Nightshade Plants Inspired
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique, adjustable and rotational, stylized plant table lamp, from 1987. This rare and interesting table lamp is number 65 of a limited edition of only 100 and one of the others is in the famous Dutch "Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen". Illuminate your workspace with "Nightshade", the innovative desk lamp that blends functionality with botanical beauty. Crafted by hand this adjustable lamp brings a touch of artisanal charm to your desk or sidetable. Designers Ton Hoogerwerf en Gerwen van Vulpen must have been inspired by this particular group / family of plants (a family that grows particularly well in the night and in the shade, hence the name Night-shade) and the result of their design ideas has become a collector's item at home and abroad. Obviously for a lamp to have such a design and such a name makes this work of lighting art a true result of fresh creativity. The bottom part represents the flower pot, then the stem with the leaves and at the end the flower with the bulb as a stamen. Cubic 3 Design...
Category

Late 20th Century Dutch Organic Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Copper, Nickel

Antique Tiffany Studios Bronze Doré Pen Tray Neoclassical Taste
Located in Norwich, GB
Antique Tiffany Studios New York gilt bronze pen tray/desk tidy. Neoclassical Taste. Maker's Stamp. Circa 1900. The tray has a lovely patina, commensurate with age and use. Showing ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Revival Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

An American Art Nouveau Bronze Sculptural Blue Crab Inkwell by, Tiffany Studios
Located in Englewood, NJ
A a rare and early American Art Nouveau patinated bronze "Crab" Inkwell by, Tiffany Studios. The crab inkwell is cast in a very realistic and naturalistic design after an Atlantic Bl...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

20th century French Glass Paperweight, 1980s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Paperweight/glass sulphide from the 1980s, made of clear glass with a vibrant green central inclusion topped by a drop- or bud-like shape. A unique decorative piece that catches bot...
Category

1980s French Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Blown Glass

Vintage Red Swivel Desk Storage Organizer by Rino Pirovano for Art 900
Located in East Quogue, NY
This vintage red swivel desk organizer, designed by Rino Pirovano for Rexite in the mid-1970s, is a celebrated example of Italian design. Made of ABS plastic, it features four rotati...
Category

1970s Italian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Carl Aubock II Hand Paperweight & Wall Hook
Located in New York, NY
Carl Aubock II Hand Paperweight & Wall Hook, Model #4223. Werkstatte, Austria. 1950s. Stamped "Made in Austria" to each. Scuffs and scratches to finish. Price is for 1 - Both wal...
Category

1990s Australian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Solid Russian Malachite Lion
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Malachite lion - perfectly suited for a desk object / sculpture or paperweight. A perfect gift for anyone who loves organic, yet chic pieces.
Category

20th Century Russian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Malachite

Vintage Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique Fountain Pen with Papers & Boxes
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This fountain pen was made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. This fountain pen is their 'Meisterstuck' model and has...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold, Stainless Steel

18th/19th Century English Georgian III Period Matthew Boulton Inkstand
Located in Forney, TX
A fine quality Georgian III period silver plated inkstand by celebrated English silversmith Matthew Boulton, displaying all of the timeless eleganc...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

WMF Württembergische Metallwaren German Jugendstil Pewter Desk Stand and Inkwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish German Jugendstil pewter desk stand and inkwell by renowned makers WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) and dating from around 1906. The stand comprises of a centr...
Category

Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Vintage Marble Egg, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Marble egg is an original decorative object realized in the mid-20th century. Made in Italy. The work is realized entirely in marble. The egg is re...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Vintage Marble Egg, 1950s
Vintage Marble Egg, 1950s
$143 Sale Price
40% Off
Vintage Olivetti Divisumma 14 Calculator - Iconic 1940s Mechanical Masterpiece
Located in Manzano, IT
Vintage Olivetti Divisumma 14 Calculator - Iconic 1940s Mechanical Masterpiece Discover a true gem of mid-20th-century design with this authentic Olivetti Divisumma 14 calculator from the 1940s. Crafted in Italy, this mechanical calculator epitomizes the innovative spirit and meticulous craftsmanship of its era. Whether you're a vintage collector, a design enthusiast, or seeking a striking conversation piece for your office, this rare instrument offers both functionality and timeless aesthetic appeal. Authentic 1940s Design: A genuine mechanical calculator from the 1940s, showcasing Olivetti's renowned commitment to design excellence. Iconic Italian Craftsmanship: Meticulously engineered in Italy, the Divisumma 14 reflects the pioneering innovation of post-war office technology. Collectible Office Technology: Perfect for collectors and design aficionados, this vintage calculator...
Category

1940s Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

1980s (1989) Gorgeous Swatch Twin Phone "1st Model Candy". Memphis Style
Located in Milano, IT
1980s Gorgeous Swatch twin phone 1st model in production called Candy. It's in excellent condition. It works perfectly. Memphis style. It was an icon for its amazing design. A true p...
Category

1980s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass Giant Octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown Italian art glass Statue, paper weight or sculpture. Showing a giant octopus. Colors are a blue, white, black and clear. A beautiful nice addition to your...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage Blown Art Glass Paperweight Blue and White Flower
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown blue and white Italian art glass paperweight. Gorgeous vintage studio hand blown crystal art glass paperweight with a cobalt blue base and a white cascading flower or frost. The inside of the paperweight has a large flower and is filled a large controlled bubble in the centre with multiple small controlled bubbles. Vintage Crystal Ball...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Antique Green Cut Uranium Glass Inkwell
Located in Vienna, AT
A stunning green inkwell with dore bronze setting. The inkwell has a amazing bright green color and it is made out of green uranium glass. When you illum...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Uranium Glass

Stylized Green Art Glass Cat Sculpture / Paperweight by Murano Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous stylized cat sculpture / paperweight in emerald green by Murano Glass, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity; ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Rare Andre Villien Paris Art Nouveau quality Bronze & Marble Desk Inkwell Stand
By André Villien
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning desk piece. This good size Art Nouveau ink-stand is signed by Andre Villien (see image 7). Villien was a French sculptor and decorator who work...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique Bronze Plate, Signed "D´Aubrée", France, Jewelry Tray, 20th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Antique bronze plate from France. Signed by the artist "D'Aubrée" on the top. Beautiful elaboration of the floral decoration.
Category

Early 20th Century French Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Lamp on Circular Fluted Base, New York. Circa 1920
Located in Charleston, SC
Tiffany Studios bronze desk lamp with original iridescent shade, scrolled bulbous harp, and resting on circular fluted base with the original five bal...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze, Wire

French Empire Style Green Glass Inkwell with Gilt Mounts
Located in Nashville, TN
Second Empire green glass inkwell circa 1870 .rare color .Encased in gilt metal Empire styled mounts ,swans drinking from a fountain. The lid shows a woman with bust . The ovoid gree...
Category

Early 1900s French Empire Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Daum France Blown Crystal Art Glass Paperweight Signed Egg Shape Red Blue White
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Daum France Blown Art Glass Paperweight Signed Egg Shape in Red and Blue Flower Swirl. Signed Decorative Egg Shaped Crystal Art Daum France, 1970's. Vintage Signed Etched Daum...
Category

Late 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Rene Lalique Glass 'Deux Aigles' Paperweight
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Rene Lalique clear & frosted glass 'Deux Aigles' paperweight, with details highlighted in grey staining. Features two eagle heads facing each other with a ball in their beaks. Moulde...
Category

1910s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

1970s Dior Home Style Mid-Century Modern Fake Tortoise Lucite Smoking Set
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A fake tortoise lucite italian smoking set composed by an ashtray, a cigarette box and a lighter not tested. Box side dimension is 12 cm, ashtray side ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Robert Loughlin “HEAD ACH” Painting on Vintage Paperweight Box
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paint on “The Excedrin Tablet” paperweight box by New York City picking and art legend, Robert Loughlin. “RL ‘Head Ach’” painted the on back. Featured in Patrick Parrish Gallery's “R...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Desk Accessories

Materials

Paint, Paper

1970s Antonio Da Ros 'Attr.' for Cenedese Clear Murano Spiral Glass Paperweights
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare pair of Mid-Century Modern vintage signed cone shaped paperweights with grey spiral inclusion within the clear glass. The design of this conical shaped desk paperweight / orname...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Small Modern Spinning Sculpture in Turquoise Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This modern geometric sculptures will add a touch of color to any space, you can place them on top of books on your coffee table or even as a centerpiece. The possibilities are endle...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Pair of 1970s Iron Sun and Moon Bookends by Curtis Jere
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculptural bookends with sun and moon on opposite sides. Silvered wrought iron. Signed and dated by artist. Price is for the pair.
Category

1970s Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

1970s Rare Elephant Dansk Animal Paperweight Silver Plated by Gunnar Cyren
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Modern Signed Dansk Silverplated Elephant Figure. Vintage silver-plated paperweight figurine designed by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk in the 1970s. Signed Dansk Designs Japan G...
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Classic Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Stylo Plume 'M' Fountain Pen Boxed With Guarantee
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Stylo Plume M Ribbed Palladium Fountain Pen With Cartier Box, Guarantee With Boxed Cartridges Manufactured by Montblanc The pen is made from Palladium...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold

Polished Petrified Wood Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice vintage polished petrified wood paper weight, circa old! The piece is in very good condition with wonderful brown and tan colors and measures 4.5"W x 3.5"D x 3.75"H. Col...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Congolese Mid-Century Modern Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Petrified Wood

Carl Auböck Bookends #4636
Located in Berlin, DE
Classis pair of Carl Auböck bookend in a patina and polish brass mix.  
Category

1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

XL Pair Bookends Salta, Onix Stone & Silver Alpaca
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
5.51 x 10.5 // 14 cm x 28 cm Salta bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library. Our...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

19th Century Handmade Bird with Inlaid Turquoise and Coral Stones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This handmade brass bird has inlaid coral and turquoise with small flakes of amethyst and shell. The work details are really amazing. It stands on its own brass inlaid perch or stand.
Category

Early 20th Century American Adirondack Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Mid-century Phone Tesla, 1980's.
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of Plastic With Aged Patina Cleaned Fully Functional Good Vintage Condition
Category

1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Tiffany Studios Bronze Inkwell New York Bookmark Pattern
Located in Toledo, OH
Lovely bronze inkwell from Tiffany Studios in the New York Bookmark pattern. Beautifully detailed octagonal design with round lid. Marked Tiffany Studios 1094. 3" x 3" x 2 1/2" tall.
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

French Champlevé Enamel & Ormolu Letter Rack, Late 19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Champlevé Enamel & Ormolu Letter Rack, Late 19th Century A richly ornamented French champlevé enamel and gilt bronze letter rack, dating to the late 19th century. This jewel-...
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ormolu

Movado1948 Calendermeto Triple Date & Moonphase Travel Purse Clock With Leather
Located in Miami, FL
Rare calendermeto travel clock designed by Movado. Beautiful and very rare calendermeto travel purse clock, created in Switzerland by the Movado Clock Factories, back in the 1948-1954. Crafted in stainless steel and leather with the purpose to use in desks, travels, in the pocket or a purse. Patented Ermeto winding device by means of the sliding case, with all original parts. The Movado Ermeto watch...
Category

1940s Swiss Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel, Stainless Steel

National Cash Register Co. Brass Cash Register
Located in Brea, CA
Antique National Cash Register Co. Brass Cash Register, it is a very beautiful cash register, you can't find another better condition th...
Category

20th Century American American Craftsman Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique Vintage English Walking Stick Cane Wooden Gold Plated Cow Horn Handle
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Very Stylish Fine Quality Polished Rosewood Wooden Lady’s or Gentleman’s Walking Cane of substantial quality and good weight very suitable to use as an everyday stick, with an elegant decoratively carved classical Cow Horn L shaped handle above a finely repousse chased gold plated collar with a cartouche engraved with H C. Last quarter of the Nineteenth Century, of English origin Condition: Good condition with nice patination, few small character dents to gilt mounts, complete with its original firm fitting solid steel and polished brass ferrule which is slightly worn. Nice straight stick in wonderful condition. Length: 32.75" (89cm) Width of handle: 4.25" (10.75cms). Location: Dublin City, Ireland. Affordable fixed price Worldwide Store to door Shipping offered by Seller. *TIP: When deciding to purchase a Walking Stick on-line, always check the dimensions especially its length. Many antique sticks...
Category

Late 19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Erling Torvits Wide Brazilian Rosewood Secretary Desk
Located in Berkeley, CA
Origin: Denmark Designer: Erling Torvits Manufacturer: Klim Møbelfabrik Era: 1960s Materials: Rosewood Measurements: 49.25″ wide x 18.25″ deep x 48″ tall, Desk:34.75" wide x 28.75" d...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Rosewood

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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