Desk Accessories
Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories
Marble
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Teak
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Naugahyde, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1960s Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Rosewood
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century English Country Desk Accessories
Felt, Glass, Paper
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Pottery
1970s Belgian Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather
1970s Italian Organic Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass, Murano Glass
1970s Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Lucite
1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
1960s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Iron
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Cut Glass
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
1950s Unknown Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass, Blown Glass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Crystal
1940s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
1950s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather, Oak
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather, Cork
Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century French Medieval Desk Accessories
Brass, Nickel
1970s Scottish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Bronze
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
1960s Swedish Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Gold Leaf
1930s North American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Enamel, Steel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century English Desk Accessories
Wood, Machiche
1940s Hungarian Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Walnut
1950s Vintage Desk Accessories
Malachite
1940s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver
1970s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Teak
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
1950s Vintage Desk Accessories
Onyx
1950s Vintage Desk Accessories
Marble
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Plastic
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Horn
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.