Desk Accessories

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...

A very rare and important exhibition encrier by François Linke and Léon Messagé. French, circa 1900. Index number 709. Signed to the edge 'F. Linke'. This exceptional and ambitious encrier is modelled as two putti, each holding a standard and sitting on the water's edge, the two inkwells with hinged spirally-fluted covers with glass liners. This important inkwell is based on Léon Messagé's celebrated sculptural group 'La Source' and was originally intended by Linke to form part of his spectacular Stand at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Like seven or eight other pieces originally intended for inclusion on the Stand, it would seem the encrier was a casualty of both Linke's over-ambitious production schedule and the financial burden that the manufacture of such ornate and high quality work imposed. It was eventually shown on the Stand in September after the gilding was finished by Picard at a cost of 90 French francs. The costs of the model were very high: some 2024 francs (of which Message's combined fee was 1158 francs 40 centimes), underlining the originality and complexity. The 1900 Exposition example was sold, along with three important pieces of furniture from the Stand (the Grand bureau and associated armchair, and the Bahut Louis XV Mars et Vénus), to the South African banker and diamond merchant Solomon Joel. A further six encriers were produced up until 1925. Object Literature: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Époque of French Furniture, p. 90, pl. 97; p. 149, pl. 157; p. 150; pp. 182-183, pls 197 & 198 as exhibited at the Liege exhibition in 1905 & p. 480 for the original notes in Linke's Blue daybook of the late 1890s. François Linke (1855 - 1946) was the most important Parisian cabinet maker of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and possibly the most sought after cabinet maker of his period. He was born in 1855 in the small village of Pankraz, in what is now the Czech Republic. Records show that Linke served an apprenticeship with the master cabinetmaker Neumann, then in 1875 at the age of 20 he arrived in Paris where he lived until he died in 1946. It is known that the fledgling Linke workshops were active in Paris in the Faubourg St. Antoine as early as 1881, and during this time he supplied furniture for other more established makers such as Jansen and Krieger. The quality of Linke's craftsmanship was unsurpassed by any of his contemporaries and reached its peak with his spectacular Stand at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, where his Grand Bureau took the Gold Medal. He gambled his fortune and reputation on this Stand, exhibiting several breathtaking items of furniture with sculptural mounts of the most exceptional quality and proportion. His gamble worked and his reputation was established to such an extent that Linke continued to be the pre-eminent furniture house in Paris until the Second World War. As the Art Journal reported in 1900 on Linke's Stand: 'The work of M. Linke ... was an example of what can be done by seeking inspiration amongst the Classic examples of Louis XV and XVI without in any great sense copying these great works. M. Linke's work was original in the true sense of the word, and as such commended itself to the intelligent seeker after the really artistic things of the Exhibition. Wonderful talent was employed in producing the magnificent pieces of furniture displayed....' The formation of Linke's distinctive style was made possible by his collaboration with the sculptor Léon Messagé. Together Linke and Messagé designed furniture for Linke's 1900 exhibition Stand, with exuberant allegorical figures cast in high relief, that exemplified Linke's ability to seamlessly merge the different mediums of wood carving, bronze and marquetry into a dynamic unified whole. Today Linke is best known for the exceptionally high quality of his work, as well as his individualism and inventiveness. All of his work has the finest, most lavish mounts, very often applied to comparatively simple carcasses. The technical brilliance of his work and the artistic change that it represented were never to be repeated. Bibliography: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, (1855 - 1946), The Belle Époque of French Furniture, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2003. Meyer, Jonathan. Great Exhibitions - London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, 1851-1900, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2006; pp. 298 - 300. LeDoux - Lebard, Denise. Les Ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Les Editions de l'Amateur, (Paris), 1984; pp. 439-43. Revue Artistique & Industrielle, (Paris), July-August 1900. Coral Thomsen, D. (ed), The Paris Exhibition 1900, The Art Journal, 1901; p.341. Léon Messagé (1842-1901) had a brilliant, but short lived career. He is best known for his incredible sculptural collaboration with François Linke for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A gifted sculptor, Messagé was also responsible for much of the design and creative work for Roux et Brunet and Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. Messagé enjoyed great success as a designer/sculptor before his collaboration with Linke. Indeed he was mentioned as a Gold Medal winner at the 1889 International Exhibition and was especially praised for his work on a cabinet by Zwiener. He came into contact with Linke in 1885 and it appears from then on Linke employed him on a regular basis. Messagé was primarily influenced by Rococo ornament but he strove to re-interpret it. He did not produce slavish copies, and his original approach can be appreciated in Linke's celebrated Grande Bibliothèque and Grand Bureau exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A number of drawings by Messagé are recorded and after his success at the exhibition of 1889 he was encouraged to publish his designs. 'Cahier...

Crafted of brilliant doré bronze and fine brocatelle marble, this wonderful Napoleon III-period inkwell is as functional as it is beautiful. In a style reminiscent of Louis XV Rococo...

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...

Fitted with candle arms in the shape of horns surmounted by a nozzle with gadrooned circular drip pans and with headdress moulded as cover opening to reveal a circular detachable gla...

Exact origin unknown. Handsome desk accessory.

This desk lamp by Tiffany Studios, dating from circa 1910, features a damascene favrile glass shade on an adjustable patinated bronze harp base. With dichroi...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English 9-carat yellow gold vesta case; an addition to our boxes and cases collection. This exceptiona...

French Art Nouveau desk table lamp by Charles Schneider (Epinay-sur-Seine, Paris), France, C.1920 on stylised bronze base. The base also with concealed opening for an inkwell. The glass shade was made of blown double glass. Measures approximately 14.00 x 8.00 x 6.00 inches. Lamp shade, white, orange, and amber yellow. Signed Schneider on the shade (difficult to photograph see photos), also with signed base for probably the foundry. The Schneider Glassworks, established by brothers Charles and Ernest Schneider in Epinay-sur-Seine, France, in 1917. Very small chip to top shade fitting, see last photograph. The Schneider Glassworks, established by brothers Charles and Ernest Schneider in Epinay-sur-Seine, France, in 1917, was among the leading producers of fine-art glass between the two world wars, creating exuberantly colorful vessels...

French Empire-style (19th Century) bronze double inkwell with eagle on top and rectangular green marble base.

Pair of figural bronze paperweights over cararra marble bases. circa early 19th century; models of "Il Porcellino" and "Wounded Stag" Item # C104009 A superb pair of 19th century p...

A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered paperweight dating from the early to mid-19th century. The plinth of rectangular form surmounted by a fully sculpted giltbro...

'Oro Vug in Fuchsia I' is a unique handblown pink glass sculpture by the British artist, Samantha Donaldson. Created from layers of clear and rich...

French Empire-style (19th century) bronze dore rectangular inkwell on 4 clawed feet with relief (signed BARBEDIENNE).  

French Empire-style (19th Century) 4 piece bronze inkwell set with swan design. Inkwell, paperweight, pen holder, sandwell for cleaning nibs.(PRICED AS SET...

A great tabletop lighter depicting. It is traditional in Brazil to wear a figa symbol to ward off bad luck.

Signed: Jaimal Odedra Jaimal Odedras’s elegant bookends have rough, textured sides, an edge of polished bronze, and a shape unlikely for their task. They nonetheless perform it ad...

Signed: Jaimal Odedra Each piece is modeled and cast by hand using a traditional Moroccan sand casting method.

An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage Elizabeth II English 9 karat yellow gold presentation cup and plinth; an addition to our diverse presentation silverware collection This exceptional vintage yellow gold presentation cup has been modelled in the form of a 17th century drinking cup. The surface of this vintage cup is embellished with impressive chased interlacing scrolling leaf and floral decoration, all on a matte background. The decoration to the cup incorporates a vacant shaped cartouche. The lower portion of the drinking vessel is encompassed with chased fluted decoration. The vessel surmounts a circular baluster shaped, knopped pedestal to a swept spreading foot, ornamented with further chased fluted decoration on a matte background. The outer circumference of the foot is embellished with a band of simplified leaf decoration. This impressive vintage gold cup...

French Art Nouveau bronze floral design inkwell with handles and iridescent glass well.       

Among the most visually alluring and technically excellent of all Tiffany Studios New York's desk accessories, the exciting design for this refined but robustly rounded inkwell features green blown glass in pinched triangular forms that appear to dance in perfectly coordinated movement around the circumference of the piece. The negative space between the blown green glass appears in the form of stylized flowers with Minimalist linear accents in patinated bronze. Artist: Tiffany Studios New York Country: United States circa 1900 Dimensions: 3.75" height, 6.25" diameter Materials: Leaded glass, bronze Signed: "Tiffany Studios New York 25055” along with the Tiffany Studios monogram...

Signed: Jaimal Odedra Each piece is modeled and cast by hand using a traditional Moroccan sand casting method.

Signed: Jaimal Odedra Each piece is modeled and cast by hand using a traditional Moroccan sand casting method.

French Victorian bronze square inkwell with 2 cornucopia pen holders.  

English Victorian papier mache rectangular inkwell with gold stenciled and floral painted decoration with a small center box between 2 square sh...

French Art Nouveau (Secessionist-style) bronze dore double inkwell with floral design and green fabric under glass base.  

English Victorian bronze inkwell with 2 crystal wells with finial tops and side handles on 4 scroll legs.  

Sculptural fountain pen by Hervé Obligi. Gold leaf lacquer, rock crystal, yellow gold. Marked: HO. Unique piece.

French Victorian bronze inkwell of standing pheasant with roll blotter. (priced as set).  

French Victorian bronze inkwell of standing pheasant with roll blotter. (priced as set).   

A small wonderful penholder. Made of bronze and steel, late 19th century. The casted boot is standing on a horseshoe and is of absolute top quality.

Wonderfully charming and boasting a high level of detail, this bronze walrus also serves as an inkwell. The incredible artistry of Viennese bronze work i...

This "Babouin," or "Baboon," patinated bronze sculpture by Georges Lucien Guyot, executed by Susse Fondeur in Paris is a wonderful piece that brings the architectural wonder that eve...

Pencil holder in stainless steel. When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates ...

A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered inkstand from the first quarter of the 19th century. Of rectangular form with an acanthus leave decorated border on round fe...

Large French gilt bronze marine inkstand, circa 1875.

Eclectic collection of five Continental dog-form inkwells Continental, circa 1900 Measures: Largest: Height 12cm, width 30cm, depth 18cm Smallest: Height 10cm, diameter 7.5cm T...

Pencil holder in stainless steel. When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates ...

Gilt bronze goat inkwell, circa 1875.

Small gilt bronze compote, French, circa 1860.

Tray in copper with a rose gold finish. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store paper...

Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...

A fine Louis XV Style gilt bronze and Sèvres style Porcelain inkwell. French, circa 1890. This elegant and sophisticated inkwell is of sarcophagus form with finely painted por...

Trays in copper with rose gold finish. Dimensions for trays: 35.4 x 23 x 2H cm; 23.5 x 7.5 x 2 H cm; 12.5 x 7.5 x 2 H cm.  

Tray in copper with a rose gold finish. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store paper...

Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...

Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...

Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...

Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...

Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...

Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...

Charles X.

A Louis-Philippe Gothic Revival gilt and patinated bronze inkwell Rising from two-tone gilt bronze bracket feet, the patinated bronze rectangular inkwell having a band of circular...

French Art Nouveau oval shaped bronze inkwell with pine cones and needles design (signed: ALBERT CHEURET)

This exquisite tray is part of the Tip Top collection and was entirely made in stainless steel that was then given a brass finish to obtain its distinctive golden glow. This worm hue...

This exquisite tray is part of the Tip Top collection and was entirely made in stainless steel that was then given a copper finish and its pink-like glow. This worm hue adds a gentle...

An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage Elizabeth II 9-karat gold pencil; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional vint...

Gilt bronze figural inkwell, E.F. Caldwell and Co., circa 1900.