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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: Early 20th Century
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Antique English Equestrian Themed Silver Plate Inkwell.
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Antique English Equestrian Themed Silver Plate Inkwell. Horseshoe oak base and crystal inkwell with a jockey’s cap.
Category
1920s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Vintage Boho Tiffany Studios Letter Opener
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your desk or bookshelf with this exquisite vintage letter opener, attributed to the iconic Tiffany Studios. Showcasing timeless Art Deco-inspired detailing and a richly patin...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Rene Lalique Statuette drapee cachet clear & frosted with green staining C1919
By René Lalique
Located in Devon, GB
Rene Lalique Statuette Drapee seal highlighted with green staining
Modelled as a miniature naked figure with a cape draped over her shoulders
Marcil...
Category
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
$1,907 Sale Price
20% Off
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, s...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron
Art Deco Gray Stone Chinese Stamp with Hand Carved Guardian Lion Motif
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful Art Deco stamp was realized in China, circa 1925. It features a volumetric rectangular body crowned with a hand carved guardian lion (a Chinese leitmotif) and accompan...
Category
1920s Chinese Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Jade
George III Period Rococo Sterling Silver Wax Jack, Desk Accessory, 1767
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1767 by John Langford II & John Sebille, this elegant, Antique Sterling Silver Wax Jack, is in the Rococo taste, standing on three fee...
Category
1760s English Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
18th Century Dutch Delft Tile Panel with decoration of a liquor seller
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands
Rotterdam
Circa 1725 – 1775
A manganese tile panel of two tiles, probably the base of a pillar, with the decoration of a liquor seller, and by the look on his face h...
Category
Mid-18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Sterling Silver Globe Inkwell Centerpiece by Tiffany & Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
This superb inkwell centerpiece dating to the Edwardian era was designed by the legendary Tiffany & Co. Crafted from sterling silver and bronze, this stunning inkwell boasts a comman...
Category
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver, 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
TIFFANY & CO. 1905 Charles T. Cook Desk Magnifier Glass In .925 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
A desk magnifier glass designed by Tiffany & Co.
This is a desk magnifier glass created in 1905 at the Tiffany & Co. in New York City. This beautiful piece was carefully crafted dur...
Category
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver, Silver
$1,400 Sale Price
20% Off
French Ghiso Paris 1920 Art Deco Cards Case Box In Agate Diamonds And Platinum
Located in Miami, FL
Cards case designed by Ghiso Paris.
Gorgeous piece, created in the art deco style in Paris France by the luxury makers and jewelry house of Ghiso, back in the 1920. It was carved ...
Category
1910s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Agate, Multi-gemstone, Platinum
$4,760 Sale Price
20% Off
Art Deco French Bronze Sculpture of a Sphinx, Signed C. Charles
By C. Charles
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Art Deco French Bronze Sculpture of a Sphinx. Signed C. Charles
Bronze sculpture of the stone Sphinx of Giza in Egypt, on a rectangular marble base.
Signed C. Charles and Stamped Fra...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Max Blondat French Art Nouveau Gilt Bronze Vide-Poche
By Max Blondat
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau gilt bronze vide poche by Max Blondat. Titled "An Embrace". The vide poche features the heads and torsos of a man and a woman, sweeping up from the sides of the dish. Each of the lovers has an arm around the other. Circa 1900. Pictured in: Dynamic Beauty: Sculpture of Art Nouveau Paris, by Macklowe Gallery, The Studley Press, 2011, p. 57.
Signed, "MAX-BLONDAT" Founder mark "Siot...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique Old Vienna Paris Porcelain Inkwell and Ink Blotter Desk Set - 2 Pc Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Old Vienna Paris Porcelain Inkwell and Ink Blotter Desk Set - 2 Pc Set. item features Painted scenes, beautiful color, crown mark to inkwell, ver nice antique set. Circa Ear...
Category
Early 1900s Other Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Scandinavian Art Nouveau Brass Desk Letter or Napkin Holder
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Swedish hammered brass desk letter or napkin holder, Art Nouveau design, circa early-20th century, Sweden. Piece is hammered brass with an Art Nouveau leaf-design. Marked...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Set "Zodiac" Pattern
Located in Austin, TX
This Tiffany Studios bronze desk set embodies past elegance through its intricate "Zodiac" pattern. Known for exceptional quality, attention to detail, and use of high-quality materials, these sets are crafted with intricate designs, reflecting Louis Comfort Tiffany's artistic vision. With meticulous craftsmanship and high-quality bronze, these sets captivate collectors seeking luxury in workspace decor due to their historical importance and association with Tiffany. Rare and intricately designed, their value is influenced by scarcity and craftsmanship.
THE SET INCLUDES 2 BOOKENDS, 1 LARGE AND 1 SMALL INKWELL, 1 HORSE HAIR BRUSH, 1 MATCHBOOK HOLDER...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
$3,800 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Collection Gilt Leather Bound Library Book Set
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Decorate your sturdy / Library room with this collection set of gilt leather bound library book set of eighteen volumes. Germany in storm and stress ...
Category
1910s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper, Leather
$1,890 / set
18th Century French Tole Painted Ink Stand
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
18th Century French Tole Painted Ink Stand. Unique piece purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
18th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Small 18th Century French Rococo Brass Planter Flower Pot
Located in Copenhagen, K
French Rococo Planter or Flower Pot in Brass, Circa 1780
Period French flower pot with beautiful large Rococo decorations.
Category
Late 18th Century French Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$550 Sale Price / item
29% Off
Antique Arculus Close Concentric Millefiori Glass Paperweight
By Clichy, Whitefriars
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique English glass paperweight.
By Arculus.
Of a medium to low dome form.
Dates to the early 20th century (pre-1930).
With a close-concentric millefiori design, featuri...
Category
Early 20th Century British Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass
Early 20th Century Enamel Miniature Dollhouse Furniture
By Napoléon III
Located in London, GB
Enamel Dollhouse furniture, consists of table, settee and four chairs, decorated with single figures and romantic scenes.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Napoleon III Desk Accessories
Materials
Enamel
Knud Kyhn Royal Copenhagen, Designed 1920's Sung Glaze Stoneware Mammoth #20207
By Knud Kyhn
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Knud Kyhn designed this sung glazed stoneware Mammoth in the 1920's for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark.
This item was purchased 45 years ago at Georg Jensen in New York and is in 'as new...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Desk Accessories
Materials
Stoneware
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
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Notepad Holder
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Arts & Crafts period "Zodiac" pattern gilt bronze notepad holder
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 4.63"W x 7.5"D x 0.5"H.
Good original v...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Three Blue and White Miniature Vases, C 1725, Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Era
Located in seoul, KR
During Yongzheng era, such miniatures were appreciated for their craftsmanship and aesthetic value. They were also often used in scholars' studios as part of the 'wenfang', or study ...
Category
1720s Vietnamese Qing Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
20th Century Sterling Silver Galleried Double Inkstand
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver galleried double inkstand; an addition to our ornamental office silverware collection
This exceptional...
Category
1910s English Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silver Writing Set, with Hallmarks, Antonio J. Santa Cruz, Cordoba, Spain, 1773
By Antonio Jose de Santa Cruz
Located in Madrid, ES
Silver writing set. With hallmarks. Córdoba, Antonio José de Santa Cruz (Córdoba, 1733 -?) and Juan de Luque and Leiva, Spain, 1773.
It shows some fault in some container and adds b...
Category
1770s Spanish Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Dutch Walnut Writing Box with Brass Mounts, Early 18th Century
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Dutch walnut writing box with brass mounts
Early 18th century
Measures: H. 20 x W. 47 x D. 28 cm
The interior is divided in various compa...
Category
Early 18th Century Dutch Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
William McDonald for Rookwood Pottery Collie Dog Bookends, circa 1926
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This handsome pair of American art pottery bookends were designed by William McDonald, (1864-1931) for acclaimed Rookwood Pottery of Cincinnati, Ohio. The bookends have been made in the form of Rough...
Category
1920s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Pottery
Scandinavian Art Deco Letter Opener in Brass, 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Aviation inspired paper knife in solid brass. Distinct art deco styling. It was made in Scandinavia during the 1920s or 30s. It has previous owners initials to one side of the blade....
Category
Early 20th Century Scandinavian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Letter Opener
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze letter opener featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios (signed on the side)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Me...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Walker & Hall Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver and Glass Desk Standish
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver and glass desk standish; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection
This magnificent antique silver desk...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
20th Century French Cognac Colored Leather Five Pieces Desk Set by Saint Gill
Located in Sofia, BG
French leather desk set of five pieces all wrapped in genuine leather in special cognac colour. The set contains a large desk pad, a small open paper tray, a bigger paper box with orange leather interior and a cover and two small leather boxes with orange leather interior as well. All pieces are decorated with small anchors at the corners. They also have scratches and stains due to the age and usage but there were no restorations and the authentic look is beautiful. Super elegant set for your desk. All items stamped Saint Gill Paris...
Category
Early 20th Century French Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Antique Cast Brass Bouilotte Style Table or Desk Lamp Base with Green Onyx
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique bouilette style desk or table lamp is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England and date to approximately 1920 and done in the French Empire revival style. The lamp is composed of cast brass with a fleur de lis stylized finial and a three light candelabra with an adjustable central post. The base has a cast brass surround with an inset piece of polished green onyx. The height is adjustable, and the shade can be raised as high as twenty five inches and as low as twenty one and a half inches. Please note that the worn cardboard shade...
Category
Early 20th Century English Empire Revival Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Brass
English Silver Car Cigar Holder
Located in New York, NY
The 12 cigar holder detachable top reveals a compartment for additional usage, the top of the engine lifts up to reveal a compartment for matches, the top...
Category
1910s English Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Antique English 1907 Pocket Watch Inkwell Sterling Silver Top Burst Base Crystal
Located in Stamford, CT
This is part of a private collection, we have acquired over 350 small antiques which are all from the 18th & 19th century.
Antique 1907 partners base sterling silver pocket watch inkwell...
Category
Early 1900s Great Britain (UK) Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Sterling Silver
"The Kiss, " Romantic, Rare Bronze Inkwell/Pen Tray with Nudes and Aquatic Motif
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Rare and striking, this large, bronze desk accessory, a combination inkwell and large pen tray, depicts nude male and female figures, shown at the crest of a wave, in the midst of a gentle kiss. This sculpture puts the couple in an aquatic setting, almost as if they are mermaid and merman, with the movement of water and the cresting of waves shown throughout the piece. The sculptor, Otto Strandman...
Category
1920s Swedish Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Two Bronze Gnome with Base Paperweight Figurine with Globe Antique France 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful bronze Figurine paperweight or desk accessory. Some wear with a nice patina, but this is old-age. Made of bronze and enameled parts. Shows two Gnomes standing on a base w...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Metal, Enamel
Antique Art Nouveau Silver Inkwell, Letter Opener, Dip Pen and Seal Set, in Box
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s travel set or desktop accessories inkwell, dip pen, letter opener and seal. Made of silver (marked 800) and crystal glass. Nice additio...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Silver
Famille Verte Porcelain Inkwell by Samson
By Samson & Cie
Located in Paris, FR
Small famille verte porcelain inkwell decorated with enameled flowerpots, foliage, and stylized rinceaux. The inkwell is set on a gilt bronze b...
Category
Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Desk Accessories
Materials
Enamel, Bronze
Secessionist Silver Cigarette / Match Holder, Desk Accessory, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Buffalo, NY
Secessionist sterling silver cigarette / match holder, desk accessory, attributed to Josef Hoffmann, Stunning design, superior quality, hand executed, stamped sterling, also retains ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Art Deco Letter Opener
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Art Deco letter opener
Bronze material with brown patina
Circa 1928 Origin France
Reason: female figure
Signed and dated LUCIEN BAZOR.
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
French Chinoiserie Turquoise-Blue Porcelain Encrier Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
The underside of the cherry-blossom decorated palanquin forming the shade over the court figure with phoenix resting on the gilt-bronze mounted carton Pierre panel.
Category
Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Desk Accessories
Materials
Ormolu
$4,640 Sale Price
53% Off
Antique Early 20th Century Desk Set by Thornhill & Co London Circa 1910
By Thornhill
Located in London, GB
Travel back in time with this impressive antique desk set by Thornhill & Co, London, dating back to circa 1910.
Crafted with care and wrapped in rugged Nile crocodile skin, this se...
Category
1910s English Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crocodile, Alligator
19th Century Baccarat Crystal Inkwell with Elaborate Sterling Silver Top
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This exquisite inkwell exhibits the mastery of Baccarat's workmanship. The molded crystal body is decorated in one of their more rare Classic patterns Moulure Russe with concentric swirling spirals...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Swedish Sewing Set of Scissors Folding Knife early 20th century Eskilstuna
By Eskilstuna Armaturer
Located in Sweden, SE
Made by famous Eskilstuna workshops of Emil Ohlson and Carl Walfrid Dahlgren. The set is decorated with decorative motifs in the form of cotton flowers and foliage, and is decorated ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Plate, Stainless Steel
French Art Nouveau Silver Plated Nude Lady Letter Opener
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French 1930's Art Nouveau Silver Plated Letter Opener In the Shape of a Nude Lady
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of Bookens Seal Figure 'Art Deco'
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Seal figure bookens
Signed ((M. Bertin))
bronze and portoro marble
Art Deco, France.
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
$720 Sale Price
20% Off
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
Garibaldi Bronze Medal by Italian Manufacture, 1902
Located in Roma, IT
Giuseppe Garibaldi silver medal is an original silver medal realized in Italy by Italian manufacture in 1910.
This silver medal celebrates Giuseppe Garibaldi with a portrait.
On ...
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
1920s Antique Arts & Crafts Danish Sterling Silver Table Bell
By Georg Jensen
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Danish sterling silver table bell in the Arts & Crafts style; an addition to our range of ornamental silverware.
This exceptional antique Danish sterling silver table bell has a plain bell shaped form.
The surface of this fine example of antique silverware is plain and has a planished finish.
The lower portion of this silver table bell is plain applied moulded border to the sound bow.
The table bell is fitted with a sterling silver handle modelled in the form of a bird amidst iconic Jensen style scrolling leaf and bead ornamentation.
This impressive antique table bell is fitted with the original hallmarked clapper.
The hallmarks struck to the reverse of this antique silver table bell...
Category
1920s Danish Arts and Crafts Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Edwardian Double Inkwell with Horseshoe Pen Holder
Located in Middleburg, VA
Early 20th century Edwardian double inkwell with horseshoe pen holder
This double inkwell desk set has two glass inkwells that sit upon a wooden base with an attached horseshoe that...
Category
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Wood
Edwardian Sterling Silver 'Anvil' Inkwell by George Unite & Sons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare and unusual antique Edwardian English sterling silver anvil inkwell; part of antique silver and glassware collection.
This exceptional an...
Category
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
William Hornby - Patented Silver Seal Stamp - Retailed by Asprey in 1902
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1902 by William Hornby, and retailed originally by Asprey of London, this handsome, Edwardian, Antique Sterling Silver Seal Stamp, i...
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Patinated Bronze Letter Rack, Circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique patinated bronze desk letter rack featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the back)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 9.63"W x 2.5"D x ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Giuseppe Garibaldi Silver Medal by Italian Manufacture, 1910
Located in Roma, IT
Giuseppe Garibaldi silver medal is an original silver medal realized in Italy by Italian manufacture in 1910.
This silver medal celebrates Giusep...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Antique French Art Nouveau Silver & Enamel Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau inkwell. Made by Emile Langlois in Paris, ca 1920. Hemispheric clear glass bowl with garland acid-etched to sides and diaper cut to underside. Neck collar 950 silver as i...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Enamel
Very Rare Edwardian Sterling Silver & Shagreen Desk Set, London, 1910
By Samuel Jacob
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1910 by Samuel Jacob, this incredible antique sterling silver & Shagreen desk set, comprises a pair of candlesticks, an ink stand and a pen tray, all featurin...
Category
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Large Antique English Oak Perpetual Desk Calendar c.1910
Located in Bath, GB
A good large Edwardian perpetual calendar made from solid English Oak. The keys either side are used to forward and return the rollers inside, changing the day, date and month.
Da...
Category
Early 1900s British Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Oak
Bronze Doré Calendar Holder in the Graduate Pattern signed Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Crafted by the iconic Tiffany & Co., this Bronze Doré calendar and memorandum holder exemplifies early 20th-century elegance, crafted in the United States, circa 1910. Designed in th...
Category
1910s American Aesthetic Movement Vintage 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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