Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 1920s
Beautiful Bird Claw Bronze Letter Opener, Vienna Austria, 1920s Vintage Antique
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s Austrian bronze letter opener. Nice addition to your room, on your desk top or just for your collection of Austrian midcentury items. Found at an estate sale in V...
Category
1920s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Cartier Paris 1920 Art Deco Chinoiserie 18kt Desk Clock in Nephrite Jade Enamel
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
A desk clock designed by Cartier.
An impressive and beautiful desk clock, created in Paris France by the house of Cartier, during the art deco period, back in the 1920. This stunning rare piece has been designed with Chinoiserie patterns and carefully crafted up with parts in yellow gold of 18 karats and carved nephrite green jadeite jade. Accented with applications of navy blue enamel and fitted on top, with a hinged retractable handle.
The movement is mechanical It is accompanied with the associated original key for the winding. The dial is silver with guilloche, Roman numerals with gold hands and inscribed, Cartier.
Weight: 320.95 Grams, (205.74 Dwt).
Measurements: 69 mm by 31 mm by 78 mm (2.72 x 1.22 x 3.07 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with French marks, five times with the head of the eagle for the assay and guaranty of the gold, two times with the maker's mark JM inside of a lozange cartouche and signed on the reverse, "CARTIER 1649".
Literature: Olivier Bachet & Alain Cartier, Cartier Exceptional...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Jade, Gold, Silver, Enamel
Christian Thomsen, Royal Copenhagen Art Nouveau 1923 Porcelain Cock Rooster
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Christian Thomsen for Royal Copenhagen porcelain cockerel figurine.
Created in 1923, a classic collectible piece.
Signed and numbered 1126.
circa 1923.
Measures: height 4.25 inch...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Hollywood Regency Early 20th Century Page Turner or Letter Opener Horn and Brass
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very large and decorative Hollywood Regency 1920s page turner or letter opener made by hand out of a curl goat Horn and brass.
On the brass it reads: AER
But the some letters are h...
Category
Early 20th Century European Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York 'Zodiac' Bronze Rocker Blotter, circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous bronze rocker ink blotter featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 6"W x 2.75"D x 2.5"H.
Good original vintage c...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique Letter Opener, Ohligs Solingen
Located in Greven, DE
Vintage Letter Opener,
So beautiful, very nice condition!
Category
Early 20th Century Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Asprey, Novelty Silver Fox Letter Opener, Chester, 1928
Located in Bath, GB
Made in the Art Deco era, this splendid solid sterling silver letter opener has a handle featuring a handsome Fox's head, always highly sought-after.
What makes this particularly ...
Category
1920s British Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Pair of Chinese Abacuses by Lotus Flower
Located in Bradenton, FL
A pair of Chinese abacuses dating from 1912 to 1949. A black lacquered frame secured with brass corners houses 13 bamboo rods, each with five and two black wooden beads. The original...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Excellent Huge Wooden Box, Casket, circa 1900, Jugendstil, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
Huge wonderfully decorated wooden box, an original of the Jugendstil era, made in Austria. This casket is an impressive example of the craftsmanship of the period around 1900.
Only ...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Massive Vienna Bronze Double Devil Figure Match Holder with Tray
Located in Danville, CA
This is a rare massive double Devil figure desk tray match holder. The winged devils are holding a large vase in front of their chest. The vase can be used to store matches. The pair Devils stand on a high relief floral tray, which can be used as cigar ash...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco Wrought Iron Mistletoe Paperweight by Edgar Brandt 1921
By Edgar Brandt
Located in Antwerp, BE
Art Deco wrought iron Mistletoe paperweight by Edgar Brandt.
In French this model is called Boule de Gui.
Wrought iron with chromed finish. France 1921.
We have a pair available...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron
1930s Wooden Box with Iron Corners
Located in Marbella, ES
1930s wooden box with iron corners.
Category
Early 20th Century Asian Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron
Tiffany Studios New York 'Zodiac' Bronze Five-Piece Desk Accessory Set
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding bronze desk set featuring Zodiac designs. The five-piece set includes: desk calendar holder or picture frame, large inkwell, pen tr...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Henrik Wigström Russia Imperial 1915 Red Enamel Picture Frame In Gilded Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
Presentation picture frame from the imperial Russia.
Beautiful neo classic picture desk frame, created in Moscow Russia, back in the 1910's. It was carefully crafted in the Russia...
Category
1910s Russian Neoclassical Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold, Silver, Enamel
Cartier Paris London 1905 Belle Epoque Enamel Desk Clock 18kt Gold & Platinum
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
Belle epoque desk clock designed by Cartier.
An impressive and magnificent "mignonette" desk clock, created in Paris France by the house of Cartier, during the Edwardian Belle Epoque period, back in the 1905. This stunning piece is very rare and has been designed with neoclassic French patterns and carefully crafted with parts made up in yellow gold of 18 karats, silver and platinum. It is mounted with four spherical parts, carved from green chrysoprase. The five sides are embellished with applications of vivid purple enamel over a sunburst and linear guilloche ground and the borders are accented with a linear frame of white champleve enamel. Fitted in the reverse with a sistem to open and close the three winding parts to manipulate.
Movement: Mechanical 8 days, key winding and It is accompanied with the associated original key.
Dial: White ceramic with gold batons for the seconds, with Arabic black numerals and gold hands, inscribed, Cartier Paris-London.
Diamonds: The platinum part on top is mount, with 60 calibrated Old European rose cuts diamonds, 0.30 carats, F color, VS-1 clarity
Chrysoprase: Mounted with screws on the base, with 4 four spherical cabochon cuts carved from natural translucent green chrysoprase with a weight of 8 carats.
Weight: 272.8 Grams, (174.87 Dwt).
Measurements: 47 mm by 40 mm by 70 mm (1.85 x 1.57 x 2.75 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with French marks, the mark for the silver and gold assay and warranty, the maker's mark for Eugène Bako inside a lozange cartouche, the case numbers, the Cartier serial numbers and signed at the bottom, "CARTIER 2027 LONDON PARIS 11290 S".
Literature: Olivier Bachet & Alain Cartier, Cartier Exceptional objects, Palais Royal 2021, Volume 1, Pp-117 and 128, for two similars Illustrated, see figures.
Comparative Literature: Hans Nadelhoffer, Cartier, Jewelers Extraordinary, London, 1984, pl.18 Barracca, Negretti & Nencini, Le Temps de Cartier, Milan, 1989, p.34 A Cartier carriage clock of very closely related design was sold Antiquorum Geneva, The Magical Art of Cartier, 19 November 1996, lot 36 (illustrated in its travel case in Nadelhoffer). The dial design may be compared with other Cartier desk clocks of this period illustrated in Barracca et al.
Publications: Published in the Vogue Art...
Category
Early 1900s French Belle Époque Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Platinum, Silver, Enamel, Gold
Beautiful and Rare Mahogany Tennis Racket Tensioner from Early 20th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful and rare English Tennis Racket Tensioner from early 20th century or maybe late 19th Century. Made in mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) with brass details.
Wear consistent wi...
Category
Early 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Lode Van Boeckel Inkwell Holder with Wrought Iron Rosette
By Lodewijk Van Boeckel
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Inkwell holder with wrought iron rose bush, rose branch. Lode van Boeckel (Lodewijk, Louis) ± 1900
Ink jars possible from later date, they do not fit exactly in the holder.
35 ...
Category
Early 1900s Belgian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wrought Iron
Tiffany Studios New York 'Zodiac' Bronze Desk Calendar Holder or Picture Frame
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous bronze desk calendar holder or picture frame featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, early 20th century
Mea...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique Oval Silver Plated Double Inkstand, Scotland 1910, H549
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Oval Silver Plated Double Inkstand, Scotland 1910, H549
Scotland 1910
Silver plate and glass
Silver plated inkstand having two blue glass inkwells
A handle with three pen re...
Category
1910s Scottish Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
English Victorian Novelty Sterling Silver Ruler Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
Victorian sterling silver letter opener. Made by George Neal & George Neal in London in 1900. In form and with dimensions of a 12-inch ruler. Tapering point for getting underneath th...
Category
Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Patinated Bronze Match Box Holder
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Art Deco period patinated bronze match box holder featuring symbols of the Zodiac
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, early 20th century
...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Extreme Art Deco Bookends in Macassar, 1920s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of extreme Art Deco bookends in beautiful Macassar with chrome details.
Made in France during the 1920s.
Wear consistent with age and use.
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Antique Army Green Stenograph with Original Case c.1918 (FREE SHIPPING)
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
This is an original Master Model Four Stenotype stenograph from La Salle University with Bakelite keys, original case and original labels. Leather handle on the case. All th...
Category
Early 20th Century American Industrial Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
French Art Nouveau Rene Lalique Perruches Glass Cachet, 1919
By René Lalique
Located in Worcester Park, GB
An very rare and very early signed (R Lalique) original blue stained Rene Lalique 'Perruches' cachet -depicting a pair of parakeets, dating from 1919 (Marcilhac ref: 187). Cachets we...
Category
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Petite Classica Crystal Inkwell
Located in Sheffield, MA
Small and elegant crystal inkwell with a brass collar with a square base and faceted lid makes a wonderful accent on your desk or table top.
Ink-well, ink well, inkwell.
Category
Early 20th Century European Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Top Quality Carved Antique Swiss Black Forest Exhausted Stag Sculpture Inkstand
Located in Lisse, NL
Finest quality carved and very good condition Swiss black forest stag / deer sculpture.
For the collectors of the rarest and best quality Black Forest sculptures we also have this very detailed, hand-carved stag. Looking at the intricate details and the impressively realistic features of this possibly dying stag, this simply can only be the work of a Swiss master carver. Being capable of creating this much detail on a relatively small sculpture takes a god given talent and a lifetime of experience. With the anatomy, the posture AND the balance being perfectly correct, this work of art inkstand is simply devine. An experienced antique seller...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Antique Chinese Qing Enamel Mille Fleur Cloisonné Desk Writing Set Inkwell, 1900
Located in Portland, OR
A good quality antique six piece Chinese cloisonne desk set, circa 1900.
The desk set made of cloisonne (enamel on copper) and having a Miller Fleur (Thousand Flowers) design, the set comprises a hinged lidded flared inkwell, a rocking blotter...
Category
Early 1900s Chinese Chinese Export Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Copper, Enamel
E.F. Caldwell Champlevé Enamel and Jeweled Folio Cover, Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
E.F. Caldwell Champlevé Enamel and Jeweled Folio Cover, Early 20th century.
Category
Early 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Materials
Enamel
1925 René Lalique, Seal Dindon Butterscoth Glass, Turkey
By René Lalique
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Seal "Dindon" (turkey) made in butterscotch glass by René Lalique in 1925.
Engraved signature on the edge.
Perfect condition
Measure: height: 6 cm
Félix Marcilhac, René Lal...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass
Antique Art Deco Black Marble Five Piece Desk Set with Chrome & Brass Accents
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique desk set is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from the United States and date to approximately 1920 and done in the period Art De...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Chrome
Antique Bronze Tray, Desk Tray, Hazelnut, Signed "Louchet Ciseleur", circa 1900
Located in Greven, DE
Wonderful naturalistic utensil desk tray in the design of two hazelnut leaves and hazelnuts on top.
Signed at the bottom "Louchet Ciseleur".
At the bottom of the hazelnuts is a sta...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
1900s Signed Art Deco Metal Sculpture of a Woman with a Silver Tray
Located in Marbella, ES
1900s Signed Art Deco metal sculpture of a woman with a silver tray.
Category
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Silver
Fratelli Toso Murano Antique Millefiori Flowers Italian Art Glass Cabinet Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful antique Murano hand blown Millefiori Murrina flower mosaic Italian art glass decorative ornate handle cabinet vase / pitcher. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company, circa 1910-1930. The vase has an early design and unusual white backgrounds on the murrines. The vase has a scramble / all over design with a rainbow of colors in the flower designs. It has very large size murrines, with some unusual designs, including bullseye and a large rainbow...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Patinated Bronze Desk Accessory Set
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Art Deco period patinated bronze desk set featuring symbols of the Zodiac. The three-piece set includes: match box holder, ink well, and pen tray.
By Tiffany Studios
...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique Pair of American Made, Native Indian 'Ambush' Bookends by N. Partridge
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare pair of original, American made, Marked, Native American / Indian bookends.
In the earliest years of the 1900s a lady artisan working out of New York created these now very r...
Category
1910s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Vintage Bronze Bracelet Cuff Object with Unique Markings
Located in New York, NY
Exact origin unknown. Handsome desk accessory.
Category
Early 20th Century French Primitive Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Art Deco Period Marble Bookends with Sculpted Dice
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A pair of Art Deco period bookends with dice, made of Port Nero Marble, the dice are made of white Carrara marble. It is a decorative piece for on a desk or in the bookcase. Made in ...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Carrara Marble
English Lectern or Book Stand of Brass
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English table top lectern, missal or book stand of brass, featuring a reading top with pierced quatrefoils at each corner. The revolving recta...
Category
Early 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Brass
Lovely Art Deco Bronze Sculpture of a Girl with Sparrows on a Portor Marble Base
Located in Ulm, DE
Sculpture
Girl with sparrows
Bronze, patinated
Portor marble base
Original Art Deco, France 1930s
Width: 60 cm
Height: 46 cm
Depth: 15 cm
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Restored Typewriter, Paillard, Switzerland, 1915
Located in Praha, CZ
The entire machine is expertly disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, all repaired and fully functional
The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the age...
Category
1910s Swiss Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
French Set of Champleve Enameled Small Inkwell and Letter Opener
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a small bronze champleve enamel set of an inkwell and letter opener. Both of them depicts colorful hand painted flowers, “C” scrolls and foliages. The resting plate of the in...
Category
Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Restored Typewriter/ Naumann Ideal San, Germany, 1915
Located in Praha, CZ
The entire machine is expertly disassembled, cleaned, lubricated, all repaired and fully functional.
The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the ag...
Category
1910s German Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
French Art Nouveau Rene Lalique Butterfly Glass Cachet 1, 919
By René Lalique
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A very early and exceptionally rare signed original blue stained Rene Lalique 'Papillon Ailes Ouverte' (Butterfly with wings open) cachet, dating from 1919. (Ref: Marcilhac 192) Cach...
Category
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Gargoyle Moboloil Gas Pump Globe, Double Sided, with raised letter and logo
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Very Rarer Mobiloil 1-Piece Gargoyle Gas Globe
Stunning all original Mobiloil Gargoyle Cabinet Globe. This globe has no touchups or repairs or cracks anywhere. You don't find them like this often.
Perfect Gift for any collector : Gas / Oil / Automobilia / Hood Ornament / Car Mascot / Porcelain signs / Automotive . Vintage Mobiloil Gargoyle Original Paint Globe Gas Pump Oil
Gargoyle Moboloil Gas Pump Globe...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Opaline Glass
Mirrored Art Deco Paperweight Att. to Jean Luce, C 1930's
By Jean Luce
Located in New York, NY
Chic solid glass Art Deco mirrored paperweight, having bevelled edges.
This piece is in very good, original condition, clean and ready to display and use.
Made in the 1930's att...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Mirror
19th Century French Bronze Doré Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
A doré bronze and marble inkwell. It is French in the Empire style. Compartments have their little glass containers for ink and are all original.
Category
1920s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Tiffany Studios New York 'Zodiac' Bronze Doré Large Inkwell
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique bronze doré large inkwell featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 6.5"W x 6.5"D x 3.5"H.
Very good orig...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique English Novelty Duck Letter Opener by Sampson Mordan & Co.
Located in Bath, GB
A rare and highly collectable letter opener made from solid English sterling silver with the handle mounted with a charming Duck figure.
The underside is fully hallmarked London ...
Category
1920s British Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Inkwell, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Silverplated
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful silver inkwell with purple ornaments.
Nice authentic condition.
Art Nouveau.
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Metallic Thread
Fratelli Toso Murano Antique Fenicio Blue Orange White Italian Art Glass Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful antique Murano hand blown cobalt and sky blue, orange, and white Italian art glass decorative double handle cabinet vase. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company, circa 190...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Murrine, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
Tiffany Studios New York 'Zodiac' Bronze Pen Tray Desk Accessory, circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique bronze pen tray featuring Zodiac designs
by Tiffany Studios.
New York, USA, early 20th century
Measures: 10"W x 3"D x 0....
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Blotter Ends Early 20th Century
Located in Fulton, CA
A pair of bronze "Zodiac" desk blotter ends by Tiffany Studios. Early 1900's. Excellent original condition. Signed and numbered.
Category
Early 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
English Sterling Silver Capstan Inkwell With Pocket Watch - Edwardian
Located in London, GB
Very highly sought-after, this is a lovely example of an inkwell with the pocket watch lid. Made from sterling silver, the inkwell is hallmarked forBirmingham 1906, Edwardian in era.
The watch is the original and has been overhauled and cleaned by our clock repairer...
Category
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
1920s French Metal Birdcage
Located in High Point, NC
This metal birdcage with a square wooden base was made in France, circa 1920. Corrugated and smooth rods alongside thin wires were used to construct the...
Category
1920s French Rustic Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Wire
Antique American Modern Sterling Silver and Glass Inkwell on Stand
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver and glass inkwell on stand, circa 1920. Lobed melon-form glass bowl; sterling silver cover domed with overlapping ovoid ring finial. stand has well and large l...
Category
Early 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Rene Lalique Glass 'Deux Aigles' Paperweight
By René Lalique
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
Antique French Rococo Style Gilt Pewter and Porcelain Inkwell Signed Chatelain
Located in Barntrup, DE
Antique French Rococo style gilt pewter and porcelain inkwell from circa 1900, marked "Chatelain".
This beautifully shaped gilt pewter inkwell is adorned with flowers in the center ...
Category
Early 1900s French Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Pewter
Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Patinated Bronze Pen Tray Desk Accessory
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Art Deco period patinated bronze pen tray featuring symbols of the Zodiac.
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, Early 20th century
Mea...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
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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Desks Deco English
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