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Desk Accessories For Sale
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
Murano Art Glass Multi Color Spiral Paperweight Sculpture, Italy, 1960s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Beautiful abstract Murano blown glass sculpture. Artist unknown. Italy, 1960s
This art glass paperweight sculpture has an eye-catching design with spiral shape standing on a clear g...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$1,749 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Desk Set in Elegant Art Deco from 1930s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A very elegant desk set in art deco probably from 1930s or earlier. The desk set is made of patinated brass and consists of two parts. An ink stand with pen stand and a rocker blotter...
Category
1930s European Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$1,275 / set
Montblanc Meisterstück Black Fountain Pen With Original Box, Inkwell & Paperwork
By Montblanc
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Montblanc Fountain Pen Set.
A Montblanc Meisterstück Black Fountain Pen With Original Box & Paperwork.
Sold With and A Glass Black Inkwell With Pe...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
Golf Inspired Chess Set in White Bird's-Eye Maple
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
White bird’s-eye maple and green marble chess set. Hand painted Golf chessmen.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Birdseye Maple
$2,400 / item
Peacock or Pheasant Bird Desk Letter Mail Holder
Located in New York, NY
A desk letter or mail holder with a peacock or pheasant bird design, in the Art Nouveau design style, circa early to mid-20th century. A desk letter mail holder with beautiful bird d...
Category
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Art Deco PAIR of Period Photo Frames Handmade in Oak with Fan Sides, circa 1930
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful PAIR of photo frames from the Art Deco period, handmade from oak having a fan design and with glass inserts, which we date to circa ...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Oak
Antique Officer's Campaign Correspondence Box, English, Writing Case, Regency
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique officer’s campaign correspondence box. An English, flame mahogany and leather writing case, dating to the Regency period, ...
Category
Early 19th Century British Regency Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Wood
1970s Ashtray with Ceramic and Brass Lighter by Paolo Traversi , working
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Ashtray with ceramic and brass lighter by Paolo Traversi. 1970s, working
Paolo Traversi is a designer and manufacturer of interior furnishings known throughout the world. The curren...
Category
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
English Lap Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
Beautiful Early 19th century rosewood lap desk. Made in England, circa 1830. Has brass corners and brown leather writing surface with gold tooling. Left side...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Rosewood
$895
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
Cartier Pasha Limited Edition Platinum Finish Graduation of Lines Rollerball Pen
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Stunning Cartier Limited Edition Pasha Platinum Finish Rollerball Pen Graduation of Lines Blue Lacquer Pinstripe & Platinum Detailing
With Guarantee stamped 2008 & Box
A truly beau...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Platinum, Enamel
Vintage Clear Glass Magnifying Dome Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Clear Glass Magnifying Dome Paperweight
"a simple way to add some fun to your desk"
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Murano Multicolor Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Barcelona, ES
Murano glass faceted paperweight with multicolor murrina and air bubbles, Italy, 1960s.
Spectacular and luxury large Murano handblown colorful Millefiori paperweight...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Weltron Model 2001 Space Ball, AM/FM Radio 8 Track Stereo
By Weltron
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
$510 Sale Price
32% Off
Postmodern Howard Miller George Nelson 1984 Olympus Table Clock "Tempo 21"
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare "Olympus" table clock by Howard Miller Clock Company. From the 1984 "Tempo 21" collection. The circular red clock face is upheld by a green pyramid base...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Stylized Starfish Sculpture / Paperweight by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous stylized starfish sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on the un...
Category
Late 20th Century French Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Large Antique Campaign Burr Walnut Writing Box. English C.1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful burr walnut writing box or slope
Fabulous colour and figure in the wood
Good condition
Working secret drawers*
Replaced leather
With a key
Free UK shipping
*The draw...
Category
1860s English Campaign Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Il Bauletto Jewelry Box in Briar and Mahogany
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry box in briar and mahogany, matte finish, ultra suede lining. 24-karat gold plated brass accessories. With removable tray and necklace bar.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Suede, Mahogany
$1,500 / item
Malachite Box Gemstone Box Botanical Veins
Located in Somis, CA
This beautiful natural malachite box is finely crafted, using the finest malachite. Carefully selected fine-grade malachite in brilliant green displays spectacular concentric rings, ...
Category
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite
$399 Sale Price
27% Off
Antique Grand Tour Pietra Dura Specimen Top Paperweight, 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a superb decorative antique Italian Grand Tour marble Pietra Dura mounted desk paperweight, circa 1880 in date.
This splendid rectangular paperweight is exquisitely inlaid with a sumptuous arrangement of semi-precious stones including malachite, agate, onyx and amethyst.
It is beautifully inlaid on a slate base.
Not only is this desk paperweight very functional, but it is also an exquisite mineralogical wonder that can be admired by all discerning collectors.
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation,
Dimensions in cm:
Height 2 x Width 17 x Depth 10
Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 inch x width 7 inches x depth 4 inches.
Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art.
Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade.
The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian.
But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)"
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...."
Giovanni Montelatici...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Malachite, Onyx, Marble
Mid-century Typewriter Olivetti Studio 42, 1946 Italy
By Olivetti
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Italy in the 1940's by Olivetti.
Made of plastic, chrome.
Fully functional, re-polished, in original condition with signs of wear.
Category
1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Bronze Sculpture Mastiff by Charles Valton Dog Bronze Statue Animalier Antiques
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Bronze Sculpture Mastiff by Charles Valton Dog Bronze Statue Animalier Antiques . Signed and stamped. Valton was known for his big cats but probably his mos...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Metal
$19,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Sterling Silver Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Fountain Pen A Haviland-Nye
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Sterling Silver A Haviland-Nye Hallmarked Fountain Pen With A Schmidt Medium Nib, With A Black Tooled Leather Box
Hallmarked A Haviland-Nye 2002 London Made Specially for H.R.H Qu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Calligraphy Brush Red Coral Faux
Located in Somis, CA
This beautiful, handcrafted brush presents a striking contrast of natural and artistic elements. The handle is adorned with vibrant red faux coral pieces, each meticulously shaped an...
Category
20th Century Chinese Desk Accessories
Materials
Bone
$82 Sale Price
25% Off
Vintage wooden chess set in wooden box
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia
The set shows signs of use (see photo)
Figures have a patina
The board itself is a work of art, adorned with intricate inlaid floral patterns and bordered with...
Category
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Murano Seguso Orange White Gold Italian Art Glass Bird with Flower Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown orange, white and gold flecks Italian art glass bird with flower sculpture / paperweight. Documented to designer Archimede Seguso. The piece has a...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Leaf
Knotted Double Leather Tray Set Home Accessories By André Fu Living
By André Fu
Located in Admiralty, HK
Knotted double leather serving tray set.
Hand stitched calf leather.
Also, available in a larger size tray set of two, size 55 x 35 x 5.8 H cm.
Larger quantities available upon reque...
Category
2010s Thai Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Wood
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
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Inkstand, hHandicraft made in Italy
By Mario Vallè
Located in VALENZA, IT
The inkwell, rectangular in shape, was completely handmade obtained from a silver plate and finely embossed and chiseled with scrolls and flowers, typical of the Italian Baroque of t...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Baroque Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Walter Bosse Brass Poodle Figurine, Lucky Charm, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming poodle figurine, made of brass designed by Walter Bosse, executed in the 1950s by Hertha Baller, Austria. In excellent condition.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Daum France Crystal Cat Paperweight or Decorative Sculpture
By Daum
Located in Atlanta, GA
Daum, France, created this adorable crystal kitty cat figurine paperweight or ornamental sculpture by hand in the late 1960s. The sculpture features a lovely cat with dimensional car...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Midcentury Hand, Jewelry Holder, Europe, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
In original condition
made from plastic and steel under
sign of use
Category
1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Giant Golfball, 1980s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Giant vintage golfball in cream plaster/plastic. 8.5" diameter. Likely used as a store display. Whimsical desktop object or paperweight. Very heavy a...
Category
1980s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Paint, Plastic
Passione di Gioco Walnut Mahjong
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Mahjong in matt Canaletto walnut with brass parts in ruthenium finish.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Walnut
$2,300 / item
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
Antique Vintage English Walking Stick Cane Wooden Gold Plated Cow Horn Handle
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Very Stylish Fine Quality Polished Ebony 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 silver collar with a vacant cartouche and a wonderful wide mount with matching chased decoration. 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. Nice straight stick in wonderful condition.
Length: 35.5" (89cm) Width of handle: 4.25" (11cms).
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
Otterburn Chess Set & Board — Solid Hand-Patinated Brass and Walnut
Located in Washington, GB
A special chess set in solid hand-patinated brass. Handcrafted in the North to order. Available in a range of materials and finishes, Otterburn can tru...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Desk Accessories
Materials
Limestone, Stone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Bronze, Copper, Enamel,...
"Simone" Leather Desk Blotter Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Simone" is a leather desk blotter, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned.
Co...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Set of Bronze Artillery Cannons with Italian Royal Insignia
Located in New York, NY
Set of bronze artillery cannons with Italian royal insignia. Set of three vintage patinated bronze artillery models including a larger cannon on hand ca...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Inkstand, baroque revival
Located in VALENZA, IT
Faithful copy of the writing service by the silversmith Pietro Rubini, Milan c.1775
The inkstand is composed of a shaped tray supported by 4 rocailles feet, modeled along the entire profile by finely embossed and chiselled volutes, leaves and shells.
Above the tray are two ink holders and two pen holders with spiral workmanship and highly embossed vegetable decorations.
A bell in the center of the object rests on a FASTIGIO pierced with flowering vines.
By Fiorentini, Argenterie di Milano - Italy
for ARVAL ARGENTI VALENZA
Italian silverware...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Baroque Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Art Deco Silver Cigarette Case by Deakin & Francis, 1930s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Art Deco Silver Cigarette Case realized by Deakin & Francis in 1930s.
Made in Birmingham, UK
Sterling silver.
Hallmarks inside.
Very good condition.
Category
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
$453 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Set of 8 Bakelite Handles Germany, 1960
Located in Oirlo, LI
Vintage Set of 8 Bakelite Handles Germany, 1960
Additional information:
Dimensions: 2.5 W x 2.5 D x 2.5 H cm
Period of Time: 1960
Country of origin: Germany
Condition: In very goo...
Category
20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bakelite
$33 Sale Price / set
37% Off
Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Bird Figurine Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown clear, dark pink, and bubbles Italian art glass baby bird figurine. Documented to the Barovier e Toso Company. I have owned several with labels be...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Leaf
19th Century Wooden Letter Rack - Napoleon III
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique letter rack, made of Black ebonized wood, with brown patinated brass trims.
Made in the late Napoleon III period in France, around 1870-1880.
Bombay shaped fron...
Category
1870s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Tiffany & Co. Crystal Glass Musical Note Paperweight
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous crystal glass musical note paper weight
By Tiffany and Co.
USA, Late 20th Century
Measures: 3"W x 4.13"D x 0.75"H
Good original vintage condition.
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
BMW Cafe Racer Motorcycle Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a BMW cafe racer motorcycle. Made completely of metal with a hollow body. Beautiful burnished silver color with intricate details. Cool tobacco accessory and conversation piece. Working lighter...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Carl Auböck Paperweight #4751-1 Paperclip, Austria
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck Huge #4751-1 paperweight in the shape of a paperclip, Austria. New.
Category
2010s Austrian Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Figural Bronze Bookends, Signed Herzig, 1930s
Located in Devon, England
Beautiful Art Deco chromed bronze bookends, depicting swift birds on an arched branch. Engraved BRONZE and signed HERZIG. Originating from France.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Chrome
1950’s FROST triple blade oscillating desk fan / ventilator
By Frost
Located in Bern, CH
Beautiful 1950’s FROST triple blade oscillating desk fan / ventilator. With three variable speeds and adjustable angle. Desk or wall mountable. Lovely Nile Blue colour. In prime cond...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
$442 Sale Price
25% Off
1950s Candelabra for Three Candles in Stainless Steel, Handmade, Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1950s Stunning candelabra for three candles in stainless steel. Handmade, in excellent condition. Made in Italy
Dimension:
13,77 x 5,11 x 16,92 inches (size without candles)
cm 35 x ...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Stylish Mid-20th Century Made, Parisian Terrestrial Desk / Table Globe with Lamp
By J. Forest
Located in Lisse, NL
Quality made, metal and glass desk globe on a wooden base.
If you are looking for stylish and beautiful quality items to upgrade your interior (whether at home or in your office) then this Parisian...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
MCM Teak Perpetual Desk Flip Calendar, Security Pacific Bank
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool and hard to find MCM teak perpetual desk flip calendar from California's Security Pacific Bank, circa 1970's. The calendar is made of teak wo...
Category
20th Century American Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Teak
$160 Sale Price
20% Off
Art Nouveau Bat Inkwell by Unknown French Artist
Located in Chicago, US
Little is known about the origins of this amazing piece, apart from it being from France, circa 1900.
Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, ...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Late 19th Century Napoleon III Bronze Wood Marquetry Inkwell
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A refined antique inkwell, with two inkwells made of bronze, including glass cups. The base is made of veneered marquetry wood with a diamond pattern, framed in a bronze rim, resting...
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Amalric Walter and Daum Nancy "Crabe" Pâte de Verre Glass Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite “Crabe” pâte de verre glass paperweight, by Amalric Walter and Daum Nancy is decorated with a relief of a reddish-brown crab poised upon a bright contrast of green and...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Jade Green Resin Seated Buddha Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A vintage bright jade green resin seated Buddha, in the Chinoiserie style, circa mid to late-20th century. Dimensions: 4" depth x 3.5" width x 3.38" height ...
Category
Late 20th Century Chinoiserie Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
$360 Sale Price
20% Off
Venus de Milo White Granite Marble Female Figurative Statue Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful white granite marble reproduction of Greek goddess 'Venus de Milo' female figure statue sculpture in the Neoclassical style, circa early 20th century, Italy. A great deco...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Granite, Marble
1950s Style of Hermès Distressed Leather Note Pad Holder
By Hermès
Located in Chula Vista, CA
French style of Hermes leather wrapped wood memo note pad holder desk accessory vintage circa 1950s.
Unmarked.
1.5 h x 6.75 w x 4.75
Original unres...
Category
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Wood
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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