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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Period: Early 1900s
Pair of Picture Frame, Polished Brass, Made by J.H. France, 1900s
Located in Verviers, BE
Pair of Picture Frame, Polished Brass, Made by J.H. France, 1900s Pair photograph frame (or miniature frame) with classical Victorian design. Typical frame for wedding photographs....
Category

Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Gorgeous Highly Polished Rainbow Obsidian Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A gorgeous highly polished rainbow obsidian paperweight, circa 1960s. The piece is in very good condition with wonderful colors and measures 6.25"W 4....
Category

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

Materials

Stone

Rare Antique Tiffany Sterling Silver & Leather Paperweight
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rare Antique Tiffany Sterling Silver & Leather Paperweight
Category

Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Baroque Style Brass Inkwell Set and Letter Holder Stand
Located in Doylestown, PA
Baroque style solid brass double inkwell set with letter holder, c. 1900-1910. A gorgeous desktop accessory ornately adorned with cherubs, flowers and scrolling acanthus leaves. In...
Category

Early 1900s European Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Vintage Petrified Wood Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice vintage petrified wood paper weight, circa old! The piece is in very good condition with wonderful brown and tan colors and measures 3"W x 3"D x 1.5"H; felt liner on the ...
Category

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

Materials

Petrified Wood

18th century mythological Dutch Delft tile with decoration of a Castle
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Amsterdam 1800 – 1825 An unusual landscape tile with the decoration of a castle at a river with in the front a man with a boat, painted within a circle. With a very ...
Category

1740s Dutch Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

18th century mythological Dutch Delft tile with decoration of Vertumnis & Pomona
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Rotterdam Ca. 1740 Atelier Hendrick Schut A very fine painted tile with mythological decoration after Ovidius. What is special is that this tile has a decoration from Roman mytholog...
Category

1740s Dutch Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

18th century mythological Dutch Delft tile with decoration of Hersillia & Juno
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
Rotterdam C. 1740 Workshop of Hendrick Schut A very fine painted tile with mythological decoration after Ovidius. What is special is that this tile has a decoration from Roman mytho...
Category

1740s Dutch Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

Antique 20thC Royal Solid Silver Desk Compendium, William Hurcomb c.1904
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Antique early 20th Century Edwardian solid silver desk compendium, rectangular form, the four sides opening outwards to reveal the gilt interior, in the centre a small taperstick, th...
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Leaf holder model "Tree of life" by TIFFANY Studios
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Desk paper holder made of gilded bronze (Ormolu), “Tree of Life” model, made by TIFFANY Studios. Signed TIFFANY STUDIOS, NEW YORK, 1021 United States, CIRCA 1900.
Category

Early 1900s Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

17th Century Dutch Delft Tile with Decoration of a Tulips
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Circa 1630 – 1660 A finely painted blue and white Dutch Delft tile with the decoration of two tulips. With so-called oxheads as corner decoration. The tile is in a ...
Category

Mid-17th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Pewter book stand Dated 1765
Located in Bakewell, GB
Dated 1765 a pewter book stand size 20cms high open 25cms x 30cms flat
Category

18th Century English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Set of four 18th Century Blue and White Delft Tiles Framed in Custom Iron Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of four 18th Century Blue and White Delft Tiles Framed in Custom Iron Frame
Category

Late 18th Century Dutch Rococo Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Ophelia, Stamp In Gilt Bronze, By Maurice Bouval
Located in Saverne, Grand Est
Magnificent gilt bronze stamp representing Ophelia, character from Shakespeare's famous play "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark", more commonly referred to by the abbreviated ...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile with Pikier, Mid 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Amsterdam Circa 1625 – 1650 A blue and white Dutch tile with a decoration of a Dutch soldier from the period of the 80 Years War. This soldier could be a member of t...
Category

1620s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

Rare 17th Century Dutch Delft Tile with Decoration of a Predator Bird with Prey
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Gouda Circa 1625 – 1650 A polychrome Dutch tile with the decoration of a proud hawk with a prey, a duck?, under his paw. This t...
Category

1630s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

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 Chinese Qing Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile with Carnation, 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Circa 1660 – 1680 A blue and white Dutch tile with the decoration of two carnations. One in the bud and one in bloom. With small oxheads as corner decoration. The t...
Category

1660s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

17th Century Dutch Delft Tile in Chinese Wanli Style with bird
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Circa 1620 – 1640 A blue and white Dutch tile with a decoration of a Chinese garden with a bird on a rock. Influenced by the Chinese porcelain from the Wanli Period....
Category

1620s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

17th Century Dutch Delft Tile with decoration of a Goat
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Rotterdam Circa 1625 – 1650 A blue and white so-called candelabra or baluster tile with the decoration of a goat. It looks like a heavy rain cloud is on its way! Thi...
Category

1630s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile with Artist, Mid 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Hoorn Circa 1630 – 1660 A very rare and fine blue and white tile with the decoration of a painter in his workshop, painting a still life painting. Very nice details ...
Category

Mid-17th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

17th Century Dutch Delft Tile with decoration of a flamed orange tulip
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Circa 1620 – 1640 A polychrome Dutch tile with the decoration of an orange flamed tulip. This tile with a very large tulip was ...
Category

1620s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile: The Carrying of the Cross, 18th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Utrecht Circa 1775 – 1800 A fine manganese Dutch tile with a New Testament biblical decoration of the Carrying of the Cross, Luke 23 v 25: ”As the soldiers led him a...
Category

Mid-18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile: Vase with flowers, 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Circa 1620 – 1640 A blue and white Dutch tile with the decoration of a vase with flowers. The scene is painted within a cartouche with a Wanli corner design, inspire...
Category

1630s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile: John 9 v 1, Jesus cures blindness, 18th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Amsterdam Circa 1725 – 1775 A fine blue and white Dutch tile with a New Testament biblical decoration of Jesus healing a blind born man, John 9 v 1. These series of ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile: The supper at Emmaus, 18th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Rotterdam Circa 1725 – 1775 A fine manganese Dutch tile with a New Testament biblical decoration of the Supper at Emmaus, Luke 24 v 30: ”When he was at the table wit...
Category

Mid-18th Century Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile: Stil life with vase and fruit, 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Circa 1700 A fine blue and white Dutch tile with a still life painting of a vase with leaves and grapes and an apple on the sides. The scene is painted without corn...
Category

1690s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

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, Majolica, Faience

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile with Pikier, 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Amsterdam Circa 1625 – 1650 A blue and white Dutch tile with a decoration of a Dutch or Spanish soldier from the period of the 80 Years War. The decoration of this t...
Category

1620s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

Edwardian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel-Mounted Magnifying Glass
By George Hope
Located in New York, NY
Large, Edwardian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel-mounted magnifying glass, Birmingham, England, 1906, Geo. Hope - maker. Measures almost 9 inches long x 3 3/4 inches diame...
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile with Musketeer, Mid 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands Amsterdam Circa 1625 – 1650 A blue and white Dutch tile with a decoration of a Dutch soldier from the period of the 80 Years War. The decoration of this tile is very...
Category

1620s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

Rattan Pencil Reed Desk Organizer Mid Century Modern
Located in Oxford, GB
This elegant mid century modern rattan pencil reed desk organizer features a beautiful texture and gold accents. Its three compartments offer practica...
Category

Mid-18th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Rattan

Antique Bronze Renaissance Style Desk Letter Rack
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Early 20th century French bronze letter rack, richly decorated with ornaments, scrolls and heads, in Renaissance style. Heavy quality bronze as well as very refined. Made in France, ...
Category

Early 1900s French Renaissance Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Arts & Crafts Sculptural Owl Forged Iron Inkwell by Goberg Hugo Berger Antique
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
Fantastic hand-forged Arts & Crafts figural Inkwell in shape of an owl, believed to be made by Goberg ~ 1900. The owl is made of forged iron with a lovely patina and bears yellow gla...
Category

Early 1900s German Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron

Antique Paris Le Sacre Coeur Souvenir Double Inkwell Stand Architecture Building
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s - 1910s double inkwell, with a souvenir building of The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. Nice addition to your writing desk or just to display them in your ...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

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

Renaissance Italian Inkwell Calamelli workshop, Faenza, second half of the 16th
By Virgiliotto Calamelli
Located in Milano, IT
Inkwell Calamelli workshop (attr.). Faenza, second half of the 16th century Height 4.33 in; length 8.07 in; depth 2.95 in (11 cm; 20.5 cm; 7.5 cm) Weight: 0.800 lb (363 g) State of conservation: some chipping to the top of the mask around the mouth. Handle glued, without any restorations; minor chips in some raised areas. This object has the shape of a foot wearing Greek-style footwear, as can be seen in some raised areas. The foot is anatomically modeled with bare toes, while the ankle is partially covered by the footwear. On the heel, there is a small circular handle to support the object. The mouth of the container is shaped like a mask. The interior, completely enameled, suggests that the piece was intended to be used as an inkwell or to contain some other liquid. The base, however, is not enamelled. The painted decoration, scant and brief, consists of rapid cobalt blue shading between the toes of the foot, with more precise emphasis on the nails. It is accompanied by yellow citrine accents to enhance the forms. The mask is painted with the tip of the brush, to accentuate the tense nature of the eyes and to accentuate their outline. Thin strokes of yellow-orange line the interior of the mouth. Since the Renaissance, this decoration has been referred to as "compendiaria" and it characterizes the period of production extending from the mid-16th century to approximately the middle of the following century. It significantly influenced tastes at the time. It evolved from the polychrome style "istoriato" and transformed into a new style that "summarized" (compendia), or condensed, the ornamentation of the works into a few colors, placing greater prominence on the shapes. It was often inspired by metal specimens. Since the Renaissance, this decoration has been referred to as "compendiaria" and it characterizes the period of production extending from the mid-16th century to approximately the middle of the following century. It significantly influenced tastes at the time. It evolved from the polychrome style "istoriato" and transformed into a new style that "summarized" (compendia), or condensed, the ornamentation of the works into a few colors, placing greater prominence on the shapes. It was often inspired by metal specimens. This artwork finds parallels in similar objects all characterized by this refined style and produced in the city of Faenza and other Italian centers starting from the mid-16th century. The closest comparable example in majolica is a foot acquired by the British Museum in 2011 (inv. 2011, 8008.1). This was previously published by Carmen Ravanelli Guidotti in 1996 and later by Dora Thornton in 2016 during the conference on Renaissance ceramics...
Category

16th Century Italian Renaissance Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Maiolica

Art Nouveau Bronze Inkwell with an Owl
Located in Stockholm, SE
An Art Noveau or Jugend patinated bronze pen and inkwell with an owl sitting in the center. The owl have inset glass eyes. Made ca.1900. Possibly Swedish. Symbolism of the owl: The...
Category

Early 1900s European Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century Polished Brass Renaissance Style Inkwell
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An antique ink stand, made of polished brass, completely in Renaissance style, with richly pieced scroll motifs. The inkwell has two removable ink we...
Category

Early 1900s French Renaissance Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

George III Gold & Enamel Magnifying Glass with Red Leather Case, circa 1770
Located in London, GB
An important, and extremely rare, early George III Gold & Enamel Magnifying Glass, with original red leather case. Made almost certainly in London circa 1770. The Gold case is of sh...
Category

18th Century English George III Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold, Enamel

Italian antique marble sampler paperweight
Located in Milan, IT
Italian antique marble sampler paperweight
Category

Early 1900s Italian Grand Tour Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Card holder dragons, 1900 , Style: Art Nouveau, Liberty, jugendstil
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'View All ...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Beautiful Highly Decorative Letter Scale Antique, German, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful highly decorative letter scale. All written in German. With porcelain Enamel Face. Nice item for your writing desk or just as a display item at your cupboard.
Category

Early 1900s German Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Antique Art Nouveau Silver Inkwell, Dip Pen and Seal Set, in Box, Italy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s travel set or desktop accessories inkwell, dip pen and seal. Made of silver and crystal glass. Nice addition to your writing desk or just to display them in your ...
Category

Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Silver

Large Turquoise Rock or Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous large turquoise rock / paperweight from central Nevada. The piece has great color and texture and measures 4.5"W x 4.25"D x 3.5"H. Great deco...
Category

15th Century and Earlier American Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone

Baroque Style Putti Letter Rack with 2 Inkwells This is a very grand desk top i
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Baroque Style Putti Letter Rack with 2 Inkwells This is a very grand desk top inkwell, the letter sections are decorated with Putti and Cherubs th...
Category

Early 1900s Baroque Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Margaret Gilmour School. An Arts & Crafts brass inkwell with Celtic interlacing.
By Margaret Gilmour
Located in London, GB
Magaret Gilmour School. An Arts & Crafts brass inkwell with a dome lid and Celtic interlacing around the inkwell body and to each side of the base with a shallow pen holder at the fr...
Category

Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

18th Century Mexican Chest from New Spain
Located in Marbella, ES
Mexican chest. New Spain, 18th century. In polychrome wood. Slight paint losses on the lid. Measurements: 7 x 16 x 6.5 cm. Wooden chest from the vicerega...
Category

Mid-18th Century Mexican Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

WMF Secessionist Art Nouveau Pewter Inkstand of Rectangular Organic Flowing Form
Located in London, GB
WMF. Secessionist Art Nouveau Pewter Inkstand. Germany. The inkstand is of rectangular organic form with stylized clovers to the front border, plain deep welled front, and smaller si...
Category

Early 1900s German Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Erhard & Söhne Jugendstil Inkwell 1910 Austria
Located in Den Haag, NL
An early 20th century, Jugendstil period inkwell by Erhard und Sohne. Austria ca. 1910 .Burl wood with Brass inlay  .Beautiful crafted piece .
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Pair of Picture Frame, Polished Brass, Style of J.H. France, 1900s
Located in Verviers, BE
Pair of Picture Frame, Polished Brass, style of J.H. France, 1900s Pair photograph frame (or miniature frame) with classical Victorian design. Typical frame for wedding photographs...
Category

Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

'Lover's Knot' Double Picture Frame, Polished Brass in The Style of J.H. France
Located in Verviers, BE
Original Victorian period double photograph frame (or miniature frame) with classical Victorian 'Lover's Knot' design. Typical frame for wedding photographs. Made of solid cast brass...
Category

Early 1900s French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Liberty & Co. An Arts & Crafts Pewter Inkwell with Violet Enamel Decoration.
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. Regent Street. London. An English Arts & Crafts Pewter Inkwell with violet-colored enamel decoration to the top, and to each of the circles at the four corners. Stamped...
Category

Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Edwardian Glass and Sterling Silver Match Striker / Paperweight
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, antique Edwardian English glass and sterling silver match striker; an addition to our ornamental collection. This exceptional antique Edwardian sterling silver and glass match striker has a globular form. The surface of the glass body is embellished with a serrated texture which composes a match striker. The upper portion of this example of antique silverware retains the original, plain hallmarked sterling silver mount which continues to line the match receiver; this solid silver lining indicates the high quality of the piece. By virtue of its size and weight, this versatile match striker could be utilised as a paperweight. Condition This antique 20th century match striker glass match holder...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

English Equestrian Horseshoe Silver Plate & Oak Desktop Inkwell Inkstand c. 1900
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb antique English Edwardian silverplate and oak inkwell inkstand with a pen rest, circa 1900. This fine inkstand has the original lovely cut cr...
Category

Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate

Leggio da Tavolo Italiano Tiglio Scolpito con Motivi Fogliati e Dorato Metà 1700
Located in Milan, IT
Dall'Italia Settentrionale un affascinante accessorio da scrivania, un Leggio da Tavolo Scolpito e Dorato della metà 1700 in legno di tiglio, appoggiato su quattro piedini torniti ch...
Category

Mid-18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Giltwood

Edgar Gilstrap Simpson ARTS & CRAFTS INKWELL, RUSKIN POTTERY LINER C.1900
Located in Stourbridge, GB
A fantastic quality beaten copper with turquoise finial arts and crafts inkwell signed by Edgar Simpson. A superb jewellery designer whose workmanship is of the very highest quality ...
Category

Early 1900s British Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

AUSTRIAN COLD PAINTED BRONZED CARPET SELLER INK STAND AFTER FRANZ BERGMAn
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely made in Austria stamped Ink well depicting an Arabic carpet seller which is after and original design by Franz Bergman This is a very ...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Victorian Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Spelter

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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