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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1930s
Iconic Kartell 4672 Dark Brown Plastic Paper Basket - Ufficio Tecnico Design
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Paper basket in dark brown plastic model 4672, designed by Ufficio Tecnico Kartell and produced by Kartell in the 70s. This square base basket has rounded edges, a signature of the ...
Category

1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Michel Mangematin Bronze Paperweight, circa 1970, France.
Located in Brussels, BE
Michel Mangematin stone shaped paperweight, circa 1970, France. Polished bronze. Signed with the two inverted M and numbered 16. Dimensions: 7 cm W, 5 cm D, 3 cm H. All purchases ar...
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Italian Big Sterling Silver Magnifying Lens
Located in VALENZA, IT
Large, completely handmade, sterling silver magnifying lens Perfect for a prestigious desk. The lens frame is smooth while the hand is embossed by hand on both sides with scrolls ...
Category

1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Albert Paley 1994 "Medallion" Paperweight in Blackened Steel with Bronzed Patina
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Albert Paley large handcrafted steel medallion paperweight. Small edition for Arts Patrons. Formed and fabricated blackened steel with chemical patina...
Category

1990s American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Revolver Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a revolver. Made completely of metal with a hollow body. Classic silver color with beautiful details like a checkered grip. Cool tobacco ac...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

1970s Willy Rizzo for Metal Art Gold Ball Ornaments
Located in Roma, IT
A wonderful pair of plexiglass ornaments designed by Willy Rizzo (1928 -2013) for Metal Art in the 1970s. A suspended gold orb sits within each ornament. They can be used as purely d...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

Rare Gucci Alligator / Crocodile Leather 5 Piece Desk Set
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A fabulous and rare Gucci 5 piece desk set in either Alligator or Crocodile real leather or embossed leather. Likely from the 1970's although I've seen pieces attributed to the 1960'...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

20th Cebtury Italian Big Sterling Silver Letter Opener
Located in VALENZA, IT
Large, completely handmade, sterling silver letter opener. Perfect for a prestigious desk. The blade is smooth while the hand is embossed by hand on both sides with scrolls and fl...
Category

1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Giant Excedrin Pill Pop Art
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Monumental vintage Excedrin pill in cream plaster/ceramic. 3.75" diameter. Likely used as a store display. Whimsical desktop object or paperweight. Green felted bottom. Great piece o...
Category

1970s American Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plaster, Paint

Set of Four Plated Animal Paperweights by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice set of four plated animal paperweights by Gunnar Cyren for Dansk, circa 1970s. The set include an elephant, giraffe, hippo and gazelle. They ...
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Zinc

Vintage Hand Painted Inkwell, China Inkwell, Scotland
Located in Vancouver, BC
Vintage hand painted inkwell, China inkwell, Scotland 1930, H315 Scotland 1930 Hand painted inkwell with hinged lid Lovely hand painted flowers Nice condition no crack or chips Mea...
Category

1930s Scottish Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

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

Seguso Murano Black Red Gold Leaf Italian Art Glass Decorative Flower Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Rare, and beautiful, vintage Murano hand blown black and red bands Italian art glass flower sculpture. Documented, and signed by designer Archi...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Leaf

Vintage Professional Tape Dispenser by Nopifan, 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A patented stationary tape dispenser from the Danish Company Nopifan. Its made from enameled cast iron and weighs in around 8kg. Regardless of how strong the pull or how strong a tap...
Category

1930s Danish Bauhaus Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Art Glass Sommerso Blue Bird Paperweight Figurine
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Abstract blue art glass bird figurine was hand blown in sommerso technique, with flue and white speckled gather of colored glass encased in clear glass. Minimal, sculptural tail and...
Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Postmodern Murano Sommerso Glass Fish Figurine Paperweight
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Festive green and yellow tropical fish figurine or paperweight is made in sommerso technique; colored glass gather, dipped into pigments, is cased over with clear glass. Controlled b...
Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Cenedese 1980s Italian Modern 24K Gold Dust Twisted Murano Glass Tree Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Italian crystal glass tree ornament of organic sleek modern design, a vintage creation part of a collection assembled by Cosulich Interiors & Anti...
Category

1980s Italian Organic Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold

Modern Letter Opener Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic post modern design. Form + function. Whimsical spinning cube. Signs of wear. Some scratches on the tip with patina. Presents well. Nice desk accessory...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Vintage Modernist Paper Tray in Chrome 1970s
By Smokador, Knoll
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful letter tray in polished aluminium / chrome finish with black enamel lining. In the style of Smokador. Clean and minimalist design that is timeless and classic. Unique and...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Art Deco Bakelite Desk Writing Set, 5 pieces in box, France 1930s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning Art Deco Bakelite desk accessories writing set dates from the 1930s. The set is built of five pieces in its original box: a letter opener, paper cutter, pen holder, mec...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage Must de Cartier Silver Plated Vendome Crosshatch Cisele Ball Point Pen.
Located in High Wycombe, GB
One of the all time most beautiful and unique ball point pens by Cartier, the rare 80's version Vendome Crosshatch Cisele. The pen is a special in almost every way; the cross section...
Category

1980s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Dice Metal Statue on Marble Base Paper Weight Mid-Century Modern, German, 1970s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Super cool Art Deco design sculptural "High Roller" dice paperweight. Nice metal dice atop a marble base. The best addition to your desk or every room. Found at an estate sale in Nur...
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Arte Murano Swan Green White Sommerso Glass Figurine Paperweight
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Murano glass swan figurine or paperweight is made of white glass encased inside dark green glass in sommerso technique; controlled bubbles are used throughout the body of the swan.
Category

Late 20th Century Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

White 1930s Glamour Bakelite Telephone by Bell Systems
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage white bakelite 1930s glamor telephone made by Bell Systems for the Western Electric company. This phone is present in many Hollywood Glamor fi...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Bakelite

World Globe Art Glass Paperweight by Steven Correia
Located in San Diego, CA
Spectacular "World / Globe" art glass paperweight by Steven Correia, circa 1990s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 4"D x 4.25"H; it is signed on the undersid...
Category

Late 20th Century American Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage Brass Tennis Racket Clip 1980s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Brass Tennis Racket Clip 1980s. A vintage paper clip holder featuring a brass tennis racket. Brass Tennis Racket Paper Holder Clip, Desk and Document Organizer, Sports Lover ...
Category

Late 20th Century French Folk Art Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Art Glass Paperweight Cobalt Blue Clear Controlled Bubbles Signed
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Large modern studio art glass paperweight in cobalt blue and clear glass with controlled bubbles forming an abstract biomorphic shaped element within the piece is handmade and signe...
Category

Late 20th Century American Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Vintage French Equestrian Letter Opener, Christian Dior, c.1970's
Located in Bath, GB
An unusual and highly sought-after vintage silver plated letter opener by the world renowned, Christian Dior. The letter opener is fashioned in the form of a belt with engraved "s...
Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Art deco Porcelain Inkwell by A. Godard for Etling Paris, circa 1930
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Investing in this Art Deco Porcelain Inkwell by A. Godard for Etling Paris, circa 1930, is an opportunity to own a piece of exquisite craftsmanship that encapsulates the essence of t...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Art Deco Lacquered Calendar Desk Set, Two Inkwells With Retractable Lids 1930's
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Elegant Art Deco 1930's Monochrome Desk Set. Befit With Two Engine Turned Inkwells with Glass Linings and Lids That Retract. Fixed Pen Tidy and A Central Calendar. With A Green Baiz...
Category

1930s British Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Godinger Silver Plated Swan Letter Holder Made in Italy
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and classic swan figure as a letter holder from Godinger. This beautiful cast figure in silver plated finish is not only practical but full of glamour and style. The deli...
Category

1980s Italian Colonial Revival Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Travertine desk organizer, Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Travertine desk organizer Manufactured by Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s. H 8 cm - 6 x 18 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use
Category

1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Travertine

Vintage Olivetti Portable Typewriter Model Roma 1984
Located in Palermo, IT
Olivetti portable typewriter model Roma 1984 Produced, like the Lettera 82, in the Brazilian Olivetti factory. Intact and functional, equipped with transport cover. Features: Portab...
Category

1980s Brazilian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

1970s Antonio Da Ros 'Attr.' for Cenedese Clear Murano Spiral Glass Paperweights
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare pair of Mid-Century Modern vintage signed cone shaped paperweights with grey spiral inclusion within the clear glass. The design of this conical shaped desk paperweight / orname...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Beautiful Letter Stand in Art Deco with Thuja burl from the 1930s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A Beautiful Letter Stand with Thuja burl from the 1930s. Very period Art Deco design. The letter stand designed with a drawer, rack for letters and pens. Wear consistent with age an...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Bronze Art Deco Galloping Horse Paperweight Sculpture
Located in Van Nuys, CA
5" tall cast bronze Art Deco galloping horse paperweight sculpture featuring a Clydesdale in a wide stride on a geometric base. The statue has unique...
Category

1930s American Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Art Deco French Set of Desk Accessories, 5 Pieces Wood and Inlaid
Located in Valladolid, ES
Gorgeous and very refined Art Deco French writing set made of hardwood, inlaid bone simil and glass. The complete set is preserved in perfect condition, consisting of the inkwell, th...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Hardwood

Volkswagen 'Bug' Beetle Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fun vintage table lighter in the shape of a Volkswagen Beetle. Made completely of metal with a hollow body and painted in a classic taxi cab yellow. Great details throughout and fini...
Category

1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Late 20th Century Magnifying Glass With Tripod Antler Handle
Located in Cookeville, TN
Gorgeous standing magnifying glass with metal surround and metal antler detail, sitting on a antler horn tripod base. The glass in great condition. Great for the office or on a shelf!
Category

Late 20th Century Unknown Rustic Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Lucite Paperweight Bird by Silvio Russo for Guzzini 1970s Italy
Located in Oakland, CA
1970s lucite bird paperweight by Silvio Russo for Guzzini of Italy, the design is meant to rock back and forth. Still retains the original label.
Category

1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

French Art Deco Palisander and Pewter Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
French Art Deco palisander and pewter inlaid inkwell with 2 crystal wells.
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Pewter

1970s Piero Fornasetti Astonishing Crystal Paperweight Sphere. Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Piero Fornasetti astonishing crystal paperweight sphere in excellent condition. Made in Italy. Dimension: diameter 3,14 x 1,57 inches diameter 8 cm x cm 4 H
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Tommaso Barbi Signed Grey Ceramic and Chrome Italian Picture Frame, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous Mid-Century Tommaso Barbi picture frame in a rare grey ceramic and chrome version. This iconic object was designed in Italy during the 1970s by Tommaso Barbi, and is signed ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

Art Glass Giant Octopus & Jelly Fish Aquarium Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopuses on top of a Jelly Fish Aquarium, floating on controlled bubbles. Colors are a blue, yel...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Floating Penny Geometric Lucite Paperweight
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Floating penny geometric lucite paperweight. Consisting entirely of 1972 pennies. Scratches and scuffs found throughout, consistent with age and use. Please refer to photos. Would w...
Category

1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

20th Century Mahogany Perpetual Desk Calendar c.1930
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A superb 20th Century perpetual desk calendar, made from mahogany. Featuring four knobs on one side, these are used to move forward and rewind the day and date behind three glazed ap...
Category

1930s British Other Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Wood

Large Wooden Dice- A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large pair of wooden dice. All sides show a 3. Show some signs of wear (please refer to photos). Would work well in a variety of interiors such as modern, mid century modern, Holly...
Category

1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Functional Tesla Phone 1985, Czechoslovakia
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition , - Unused, original packaging - Fully functional. - Tesla manufacturer typ- Es 4620
Category

1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Art Nouveau Style Gilt Metal Photograph Frame. English, C.1930
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Stylish Art Nouveau style photograph frame. Pressed tin. Original gilt Original wooden back. Good condition
Category

1930s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Tin

Pair of Post-Modern Marble Spheres / Paperweights
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous set of two post-modern marble spheres / paperweights, circa 1980s. The pieces are in very good condition with no chips or cracks and the largest one measures 3"D x 3"H and ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Fontana Arte - Pair of bookholder in glass
Located in PAU, FR
Fontana Arte - Pair Of Glass Bookends Pair of bookend sculptures by Fontana Arte in thick glass, worked with pliers. circa 1960 Height 23 cm Width 12 cm
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Cut Glass

Gucci Red Leather Desk Set, 1980s Italy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome red leather desk set by Gucci. Made in Italy, circa 1980s. Set consists of a note pad with paper, a pen holder and a letter opener. Rich colo...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Vintage Boho Onyx Bookends - Set of 2
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous pair of vintage Boho bookends. A chic solid onyx stone in a stepped design. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Category

Late 20th Century North American Bohemian Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone

Art Deco Model of a Boeing 314 Clipper Airplane Circa 1938
Located in London, GB
A superb Art Deco Model of a Boeing 314 Clipper Aeroplane Circa 1938. The Boeing Clipper was a long range Flying Boat made by the Boeing Aircraft Company i...
Category

1930s American Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Japanese Vintage Silk Kimono Belt 1970s Chrysanthemum
Located in Paris, FR
This is a Fukuro Obi made in Japan around 1970s. It is made with Silk. You can use as a decoration, a table runner and also as a kimono belt. Obi is a belt of varying size and sha...
Category

1970s Japanese Showa Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silk

Gorgeous Murano Italian Art Glass giant octopus Paperweight, Italy, 1980s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful Murano hand blown aquarium Italian art glass paper weight. Showing a giant octopus, on a glass bubble floating on controlled bubbles. Colors are different shades of blue, w...
Category

1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Italian modern paperweight by V. Nason & C. in transparent Murano glass, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern paperweight by V. Nason & C. in transparent Murano glass, 1990s Transparent Murano glass sphere-shaped paperweight. Inside the structure you can see a variation in the...
Category

1990s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass, Paper

Gucci Gold Metal Letter Opener in Black Leather Case
Located in New York, NY
Gucci gold cast metal letter opener with signature double G logo at handle. Engraved signature on reverse GUCCI Made In Italy Original black leather case with Gucci stamp on back.
Category

Late 20th Century Italian International Style Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

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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