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Desk Accessories

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Desk Accessories For Sale
Period: Late 20th Century
Period: 1950s
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

Pair of Rosewood and Inlaid Nickel "High Roller" Bookends
Located in Englewood, NJ
Super cool and large 21st century design sculptural carved rosewood and inlaid nickel wood "High Roller" dice bookends atop a nickel bases.  
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Nickel

Japanese "TomoKazu" Inlaid Marquetry Chess of Checkers board, Japan, circa 1980s
Located in Miami, FL
Post-Modern Japanese chessboard or checkerboard. Rendered in an intricate inlay marquetry of walnut, burl, birch, and maple. By Tomokazu, Japan, circa 1980s.
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Birch, Maple, Walnut, Burl

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

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

Mid-Century Coffee Grinder, 1950’s
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Germany Made of Wood, Metal,Steel The worm is no longer active Original condition.
Category

1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Steel

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

Post-Modern Polished Brass Double Letter Tray "Emphasis 6000" by Eldon
Located in San Diego, CA
Post-modern polished brass double letter tray "Emphasis 6000" by Eldon, circa 1980s. The tray is in good vintage condition and measures 11"W x 16.5"...
Category

Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Italian Lucite Pen Pencil Desk Holder By Designer Rede Guzzini
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Lucite pen, pencil, marker and small paper desk organizer/holder, Postmodern period or Modern style, by designer Rede Guzzini, circa 1980s, Italy. A great desk accessory a...
Category

1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

Midcentury Typewriter / Zeta, 1950s.
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of metal, steel, plastic The packaging of the machine has surface defects that are associated with the age of use,cannot be locked,there is no key. Re-...
Category

1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Steel

Seguso Vetri D'Arte Poli Murano Sommerso Italian Art Glass Squirrel Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, rare, and cute vintage Murano hand blown Sommerso green Italian art glass squirrel figure / sculpture. Documented to designer Flavio Poli for...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass

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

Set of Three Natural Antler Tips & Brass Desk Accessories
Located in East Hampton, NY
This set of three (3) natural antler tips desk accessories are backed with brass base. Perfect for an executive desk, two paperweights and a letter opener. Rich natural coloring an...
Category

Late 20th Century American Black Forest Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Vintage 20th Century Pair Of Solid Silver Clothes Brushes, Leslie Durbin c.1957
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A pair of mid 20th Century English solid silver clothes brushes. The brushes feature a wooden handle which has a solid silver edge band. Throughout the top of the handle, there are s...
Category

1950s British Other Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

1950s Candelabra for Five Candles in Stainless Steel, Handmade, Made in Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1950s Stunning candelabra for five candles in stainless steel. Handmade, in excellent condition. Made in Italy Dimension: diameter 11,81 x 16,92 inches (size without candles) diamete...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

Olivetti Synthesis Ettore Sottsass Paper Basket - 1970s Industrial Design Icon
Located in San Benedetto Del Tronto, IT
Step into the world of iconic Italian design with this melamine paper basket from the renowned Olivetti Synthesis Sottsass 45 Series, designed in 1973 by Ettore Sottsass and manufact...
Category

1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Woodline 6500 Double Letter Desk Tray in Walnut and Brass
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice Woodline 6500 double letter desk tray in walnut and brass, circa 1980s. The desk organizer is in very good vintage condition and measures 1...
Category

Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Leather desk set Jacques Adnet.
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This very nice and elegant desk displayer is made of a black leather. This is a model by famous French designer Jacques Adnet. Circa 1950
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Gordon Martz Marshall Studios Ceramic Bookends ca' 1950's
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of stylish, 1950s bookends by Gordon Martz. Circular pattern,beige ceramic tiles, inset into walnut frames, with brass extensions. Heavy and well made.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Walnut

Gordon Martz Marshall Studios Ceramic Bookends
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of stylish, 1950s bookends by Gordon Martz. Circular pattern, white ceramic tiles, inset into walnut frames, with brass extensions. Heavy and well made.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic, Walnut

Peter Lindbergh, Portraits 'Cards and Envelopes', 1997
Located in Praha, CZ
20 cards with 4 famous models and envelopes Tatjana Patiz, Linda Evangelista, Helenea Christensen, Kate Moss good original condition jr.
Category

1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Paper

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

Dice Crayon Pencil Pen Holder Stand Figure Germany Mid Century, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1950s German design wood dice sculpture as a pen holder stand. Nice addition to your table or just for your collection of design items. Made of wood. Found at an estate...
Category

1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Elegant Red Leather Desk Set by Le Tanneur, France, 1950s
Located in Paris, FR
Midcentury French modern full leather desk set by Le Tanneur composed by: Calendar L 18.5cm x L 11cm depth 5cm Pencil case L 23cm x L 8cm depth 2....
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

Rare Lalique "Chrysis" Mascot or Paperweight in Amber Crystal Art Deco France
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Presenting this fabulous "Chrysis" nude woman mascot or paperweight crafted in etched and polished amber crystal. This example is a limited edition release from the late 1990s produc...
Category

1990s French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Vintage 20th Century Mahogany & Brass Perpetual Desk Calendar c.1950
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Vintage mid-20th Century perpetual desk calendar, made from mahogany and brass. Featuring three knobs to each side, these are used to move forward and rewind the day, date and month ...
Category

1950s British Other Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Wood

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

Gucci, Italy - Vintage Equestrian Letter Holder / Desk Organizer c.1975
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous vintage leather and gilt letter rack dating to c.1975, made in Italy by the iconic fashion house, Gucci. The base is covered in leather, the top being a very dark green a...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Glass Sphere
Located in New York, NY
A transparent glass sphere on a square glass base decorative object or paperweight, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. A great decorative object for a desk, library, shelf...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

1950s Fornasetti Paperweight in Porcelain by Piero Fornasetti
Located in Milano, IT
1950s Astonishing rare porcelain paperweight designed by Piero Fornasetti with butterflies. Handmade.Made in Italy. Heavy ceramic construction for use as beautiful desk accessories. ...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

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

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

Murano Glass Dish
Located in Cathedral City, CA
1960s Murano glass clear, yellow and copper colors vide-poche.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass, Murano Glass

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

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

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

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 an...
Category

Late 20th Century French Folk Art Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Monique Gerber French Sculptural Cast Bronze Letter Opener Art du Bronze
Located in Chicago, IL
Monique Gerber French bronze cast letter opener in a very sculptural and minimalist form. Designed Monique Gerber. Can be used as a sculptural object or paper weight as well. Re...
Category

1970s French Minimalist Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

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

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

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

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

Modernist Abstract Sword Copper Plated Brass Letter Opener like Carl Aubock
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Honest time worn age. Heavy wear and patina to plating letter opener, beautiful understated piece. This was definitely the estate owners go to desktop tool. A bit over 8 inches lon...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

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

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

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

Mathieu Mategot Stich Leather Desk Set 1950s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Beautiful Desk Set .4 Pieces in Black stich Leather , signed Crystal Glass Ashtray on a Tray. Very nice notebook still with lots of original paper . Letter holder . And a beathiful D...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

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

Vintage FAMAS Assault Rifle Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a FAMAS (Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne) assault rifle. Made of metal and stands up on its own via bipod arms wh...
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

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

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

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

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

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

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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