Desk Accessories
Mid-20th Century Asian Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories
Mohair
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Aluminum, Chrome
1890s Grand Tour Antique Desk Accessories
Glass
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1970s Italian Industrial Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass, Murano Glass, Stained Glass
1840s French Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Stone, Onyx, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Desk Accessories
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary British Desk Accessories
Ceramic, Cork
2010s Portuguese Modern Desk Accessories
Marble, Carrara Marble
20th Century Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Porcelain
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
1940s South American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather, Oak
Early 1900s Italian Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal, Bronze
2010s Desk Accessories
Brass
1880s English Antique Desk Accessories
Metal, Silver
2010s Argentine Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Onyx, Stone, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Belgian Black Marble, Silver
1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 19th Century Antique Desk Accessories
Sèvres
Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Porcelain, Wood
20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Louis XVI Desk Accessories
Rock Crystal, Bronze
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Concrete
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Concrete
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
21st Century and Contemporary American Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Metal, Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Suede, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
20th Century French Empire Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s American Modern Desk Accessories
Brass, Stainless Steel, Steel
1990s American Modern Desk Accessories
Iron
1880s English Antique Desk Accessories
19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Bronze
20th Century Italian Classical Greek Desk Accessories
Bronze
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Concrete
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Chrome
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Petrified Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic
1970s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Plaster, Paint
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
1990s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Wood
1930s Swiss Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Stone, Silver
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.