Desk Accessories
Desk Accessories For Sale
Color: Silver
Set Tronador Medium Mini Boxes, Onyx Stone and Silver Alpaca
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Onyx
Modernist Italian 800 Silver Desk/Jewellery Box c.1960
Located in Bath, GB
A great looking box, Italian in origin made from 800 silver wrapped around a wooden interior.
Both the base and lid are hallmarked "800" together with an additional mark "833 F1"....
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
20th Century Arts & Crafts Large Solid Silver Photo Frame, c.1907
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
20th century Arts & Crafts, hand hammered silver photograph frame, mounted on a leather bound easel support and set with glass, top with a shield shaped cartouche, engraved with elab...
Category
20th Century British Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Jean Filhos for Christofle Silvered Bronze Erotic Letter Opener Nude, 1974 Franc
By Christofle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury silvered erotic letter opener or bookmark with nudes by the French artist Jean Filhos, (1921-2002)
This model was created as the official 1974 ...
Category
1970s French Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
French Victorian Embossed Sterling Silver and Glass Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
French Victorian rectangular double glass inkwell with incised monogrammed sterling silver hinged lids. (Hallmarked).
Category
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Silver
Asprey & Co. Ltd Antique Cut Glass and Sterling Silver Desk Inkwell
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, large antique George V cut-glass and English sterling silver mounted desk inkwell made by Asprey & Co; part of our antique silver and glassware collection.
This fine antique George V cut glass and English sterling silver mounted desk inkwell has a plain cuboid form with rounded corners.
The neck of the antique glass inkwell is encircled with an impressive silver mount and fitted with a compressed circular hinged hallmarked sterling silver cover.
The cover opens to reveal the removable glass ink liner.
The interior of the cover retains the original gilt interior.
The impressive glass body of this inkwell is embellished with hobnail style deep cut glass ornamentation to the underside.
This fine example of antique silverware has been crafted by the renowned London silversmiths Asprey & Co Ltd.
Dimensions:
Height to top of cover 10cm/3.9"
Width 11.3cm/4.4" square
Diameter of liner 2.5cm/1"
Height of liner 2.8cm/1.1"
Condition:
This antique glass inkwell is an exceptional gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition.
The inkwell has been professionally polished and is in presentation condition.
The glass is in perfect condition.
Full hallmarks struck to the surface of the mount have wear but remain legible.
The part hallmarks to the interior of the cover are all very clear.
Maker: Asprey & Co Ltd
Date: 1921
Origin: London, England
Video: A video of this fine piece is available upon request.
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this example of antique glassware...
Category
1920s English Other Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Kerr American Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Bookmark
Located in New York, NY
Turn of the century Art Nouveau sterling silver bookmark. Made by William B. Kerr in Newark. Dagger blade engraved with interlaced script mono...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Horse Equine Sterling Silver Plate Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
A substantial sterling silver plate letter opener with horse head handle made by Reed & Barton, circa mid-20th century, USA. A great desk, office, library, etc., accessory. With make...
Category
Mid-20th Century American American Classical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
20th Century Silver Plated Italian Tea Tray By Broggi
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
With its rope-tie handles, it is easy to picture this tray being used in one of the luxurious liners for whom they produced dining room accessories...
Category
20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Italian Brass Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A simple and elegant Italian Brass letter opener with a silver plate blade. The styling of this piece is very simple and sophisticated - a compliment to any desk or work station and ...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Danese Milano Koro Wastepaper Basket in Silver by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Koro is a waste paper basket intended for the workplace and in public spaces. The cylindrical form is made of injection-moulded polypropylene.
Enzo Mari is one of the masters of I...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Sterling Silver Paperweight / Model of Pig
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive vintage cast English sterling silver paperweight/model of a pig; part of our animal related silverware collection.
This exceptional, fine and impressive vintage sterling silver pig ornament/paper weight has been realistically modelled in the form of a whimsical pig, sat waving.
This cast silver ornament has been embellished with details reproducing the fine features of the pig's skin and anatomical features.
This exceptional and comical model is fitted with a leatherette covering to the underside.
This impressive example of vintage silverware...
Category
1990s English Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
John Charles Grinsell Antique Edwardian Cut Glass and Sterling Silver Inkwell
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian cut glass and English sterling silver mounted desk inkwell; part of our antique silver and glassware collection
This exceptio...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Letter Opener
By Maria Pergay
Located in New York, NY
Silvered metal letter opener with handle mimicking deer antlers.
Category
1960s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Metal
Carl Aubock Art-Deco Salt and Pepper Shaker Set, Pre-War Production, Early 1930s
Located in Vienna, AT
Art-Deco Salt and pepper shaker set. Prewar production - very early 30s.
The body of the shakers (apple and pear) is made of coloured Bakelite, the stems are of silver plated brass....
Category
1930s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate, Brass
Sterling Silver Model of an Irish Setter
By BSE Products
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A fine contemporary cast English sterling silver model of a setter; part of our animal related silverware collection
This fine contemporary cast sterling silver ornament...
Category
2010s English Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
French Trophy Style Cup on Marble Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful Silver cup with a brass band detail on a marble or granite base. The cup, while perfectly suited for a small gathering of flowers or to store pencils on a desk, is actually a small trophy. While it isn't prominent, a small brass icon...
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Granite, Carrara Marble, Silver Plate
Art Deco Silver Table Center 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
ART DECO SILVER TABLE CENTER
In silver with relief and pierced decoration with central body with two removable baskets and two bases with mirrors, 'boar II' contrast, 833 thousandth...
Category
Early 20th Century Portuguese Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Silver Plated and Clear Glass Ink Well by Walker and Hall
Located in Cheshire, GB
A silver-plated and clear glass ink well and stand, shaped square plated Stand with gadroon borders raised on four claw and ball feet supporting square ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Naturalistic Victorian Sterling Silver Ink Stand, Charles & George Fox, 1846
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1846 by Charles & George Fox, this charming, Victorian, Antique Sterling Silver ink stand, features an ornate scroll ...
Category
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Magnifying Glass
By Maria Pergay
Located in New York, NY
Silvered magnifying glass with handle mimicking deer antlers.
Category
1960s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Metal
English Art Nouveau Sheffield Sterling Silver Mounted Large Magnifying Glass
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century desk accessory with Art Nouveau organic decor of chased flowers and leaves embraced in scrolls, this magnifying glass has its handl...
Category
Early 20th Century British Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel, Silver
Vintage English Solid Silver Novelty Golf Club Letter Opener, London 1984
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous twentieth century solid sterling silver letter opener, English in origin and made from solid sterling silver fully hallmarked for London 1984.
Cast in the form of a gol...
Category
1980s English Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Set Four Turn-Dishes Silver Plated Leaves
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
What to put in place of the usual placemats to embellish the table ? Four ivy garlands, but silvered ! to illuminate the table and make it more precious. Invented by an Italian.
ref...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian International Style Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Glass Inkstand / Desk Standish
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass inkstand / desk standish; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection.
This magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular shaped form.
This Victorian inkstand is plain and embellished with an applied moulded border to the rim.
The surface of this exceptional example of antique silverware incorporates two elongated oval recesses, composing pen wells.
This antique hallmarked silver inkstand is supported by four impressive cast bracket style feet embellished with scroll and leaf decoration.
The body of the inkstand incorporates two circular ink bottle receivers protruding from either side and conjoined with a central rectangular stamp box via two impressive elevated scrolling leaf decorated brackets.
The impressive large glass ink bottles each have a compressive spherical form, ornamented with cut glass decoration.
The lower portion of each bottle is fitted with a hallmarked sterling silver mount/foot, accented with a screwfit attachment, allowing the piece to stand securely in situ; this fitment is a fine feature and indicates the high quality of the piece.
The upper portion retains the original hallmarked mount and hinged cover encircled with chased volute scrolling leaf motifs.
Each ink bottle is surmounted with an impressive cast finial modelled in the form of two opposing masks.
The central sterling silver stamp box...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Silver Plated Monogramed Inkwell, Scotland 1897, H552
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Victorian Silver Plated Monogramed Inkwell, Scotland 1897, H552
Scotland "1897"
Shaped pen holder on the back
Cut glass inkwell with silver plated lid
Standing on a square b...
Category
1890s Scottish Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
20th Century Edwardian Solid Silver & Glass Inkwell with Clock, Chester, c.1907
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
20th century Edwardian silver capstan shaped inkwell with an 8 day goliath clock. The hinged cover is set with a silver plated clock, with a white dial w...
Category
20th Century British Edwardian Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Hermes Desktop Magnifier Paperweight in Silver, 1960s
By Hermès
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Hermes Paris magnifying glass desk accessory with domed lens ensconced in a silver frame with a belt design. We've left the oxidation and patina untouched and simply added a ...
Category
1960s French Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silver Photo Frame with Pink Quartz Flowers, Gratitude Round
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Gratitude round is a unique wonderful photo frame recto-verso, decorated both front and back, design signed Laura G Art with Heart.
The photo frame is hand braided in golden silver and it carries pink quartz flowers...
Category
2010s Italian Romantic Desk Accessories
Materials
Quartz, Silver
Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver Ink Stand, London 1798 Henry Greenway
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1798 by Henry Greenway, this handsome, George III, antique, sterling silver ink stand, is plain in style, and feature...
Category
1790s English Neoclassical Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Ink Stand / Inkwell with Taper Stick 1851
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Antique Victorian solid Silver Inkstand with two fitted glass lined Inkwells and a removable taper candlestick. The body of the inkwell has an elegant pierced design on the sides mirrored on the bodies of the inkwells. The base of the Inkstand has an ornate engraved design and a sunken recess to hold pens. Each Inkwell has an engraved crest on the hinged lids and on the back of the inkstand.
Made in London, England in 1851 by E & J Barnard and retailed by Widdowson & Veale (Strand, London).
Approx. gross Weight incl glass - 1440 g
Approx. Length - 34.5 cm
Approx. Width - 22.2 cm
This Victorian Inkstand...
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Three Metal Signed Copper, Brass and Silver-Plate Small Bowl Mid Century Modern
Located in North Miami, FL
This Mid-Century Modern handvwrought Mexican 3 metal bowl is sliced in metals like a pie. Brass, copper and silver-plate. it has copper footed 3 ball feet. It was professionally poli...
Category
1950s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Copper, Brass, Silver Plate
Petite English Electroplated Nickel on Silver Lidded Container with Flame Finial
Located in Atlanta, GA
A petite English electroplated nickel on silver lidded container from the 20th century, with flaming finial and bead-and-reel motifs. Created in England during the 20th century, this...
Category
20th Century English Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate, Nickel
Aesthetic Ornate Grape Shears, Sterling Silver by Gorham Silversmiths, circa 1
By Gorham
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic ornate grape shears -- sterling silver by Gorham Silversmiths, circa 1870. Steel reinforcement blades are attached to the sterling blades. Measures: length: 6 1/2"; width, 2 1/2" at handles. Weight: 5.8 troy ounces, approximately.
These heavy cast shears were carefully maintained, with all of the intricate detailing still intact.
During the heyday of American silver manufacturing, Gorham was highly influential. The White House has used Gorham silver services during many administrations. Mary Todd Lincoln...
Category
1870s American Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Art Nouveau Sterling Silver and Engraved Glass Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau sterling silver and clear glass inkwell. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Bellied and lobed clear glass base with short inset foot and carved and engraved stylized flow...
Category
Late 19th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Inkstand Inkwell, London 1899 Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Antique silver inkstand inkwell, London 1899 Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co. Plain rectangular form on four turned feet, shaped Chippendale li...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Thomas Wheatley Newcastle Sterling Silver Inkstand
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique George IV Newcastle sterling silver inkstand made by Thomas Wheatley; an addition to our orn...
Category
1820s English Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Antique Art Deco Sterling Silver Dartboard Presentation Trophy
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, unusual antique George V English sterling silver Art Deco presentation trophy in the form of dartboard; part of our silverware collection.
This exceptional and unusual antique sterling silver trophy has been crafted in the form of a Yorkshire or Kent doubles dartboard*.
The face of the dartboard clearly depicts the appropriately numbered segments and the wirework spider.
This fine George V trophy is supported by an ebonised wood mount and an Art Deco style angular ebonised wooden base.
The base displays six hallmarked vacant presentation plaques; each plaque may be engraved with a personal inscription if so desired.
The posterior surface of the wooden mount is plain.
* This variation of dart board does not incorporate a triple ring, only the double and bullseye.
"By the late 1920s a standardised dartboard was introduced and remains the most popular dartboard today across the world. However, the 'standard' dartboard (also known as the 'London' or 'Clock' board) was not an overnight success in the UK. Initially it had to compete with other different existing target boards played on in some localities. These have come to be known as 'regional dartboards' and were usually named after their region of origin, for example, the Yorkshire Doubles board, Kent Doubles, the London Fives and the Manchester Board" - Patrick Chaplin PhD (Darts Historian)
Condition
This unusual antique trophy...
Category
1930s English Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silver Dunhill Letter Opener with a Horse Head London, 1981
By Dunhill
Located in London, GB
An impressive quality Silver Dunhill letter opener with an intricately carved horses head on one end. The shape of the horse head is curved wonderfully ...
Category
1980s English Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Tiffany & Co. Silver-Soldered Stamp Box and Cover
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Tiffany & Co. Silver-soldered stamp box and cover.
Early 20th. Century.
Of slightly-curved rectangular form.
3 by 2 1/4 in., Weighted.
Category
20th Century Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Antique Victorian 1898 Sterling Silver Gallery Inkstand by John Grinsell & Sons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver fox inkstand; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection.
This exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular form.
This inkstand is fitted with a gallery, embellished with impressive pierced and applied scrolling foliate ornamentation.
The shaped, incurved rims of the body and anterior rim of the sterling silver inkstand are ornamented with a paralleling applied gadroon decorated border.
The surface of the fox silver inkstand incorporates a concave oval pen receiver.
The body of the inkstand incorporates two ink bottle receivers flanking a rectangular stamp box.
The impressive hallmarked ink bottles each have a tapering cylindrical form and are embellished with further pierced scrolling foliate ornamentation; these ink bottles secure to the stand with a screw fitment to the underside.
Each ink bottle is fitted with a plain domed hinged cover and opens to allow access to the original glass liner.
The central sterling silver stamp box...
Category
1890s British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique English Sterling Silver Victorian Inkstand
Located in New Orleans, LA
A very handsome double inkwell from the Victorian era.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Double Ink Well Red and Black with a Pen Wipe London, England
Located in Stamford, CT
Early 20th century crystal double ink well with a sterling silver lid from London England circa 1906. The crystal ink well is for red and black ink an...
Category
Early 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Vintage Set of Bridge Pencils, English, Sterling Silver, Games, Mid 20th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage set of bridge pencils. An English, sterling silver cased gaming accessory, dating to the mid 20th century, circa 1960.
Graceful presentation and superb finish pe...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Open Letters Caucasian Rusian
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Open letters Caucasian Rusian
Circa 1900 Silver Solid
Islamic inscriptions
with Niele enamel.
Category
Early 1900s Belarusian Islamic Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Enamel
WMF German Jugendstil Silver Plated Large Hound by Fritz Diller
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A scarce German Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik WMF Jugendstil silver plated model of a large standing hound by Fritz Diller and dating from circa 1906...
Category
Early 1900s German Jugendstil Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Indian Colonial Silver Engraved Presentation Padlock 1912
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century engraved Indian colonial unmarked silver and steel presentation padlock 1912.
Engraved “Kasiram . Das, Institution Katwa 1912 FCR” ...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Table Bell
Located in VALENZA, IT
Elegant table bell in solid 925 sterling silver.
The bell is smooth and features some circular lines that make the object balanced and increase the sound of the bell.
The wooden h...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Other Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Edwardian Sterling Silver-Mounted Onyx Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian, sterling silver - mounted onyx inkwell, Birmingham, England, year-hallmarked for 1915. Measures 3 3/4 inches wide (at widest point) x 2 1/4 inches high x 4 inches deep. So...
Category
1910s English Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Sterling Silver
Art Nouveau Foliage Silver Overlay Black Glass Inkwell Four Piece Desk set
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Rare silver overlay on black glass desk set containing an inkwell (2 pieces), blotter, double pen holder and letter opener. The set is decorated with ...
Category
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Silver
19th Century French Silver Plated Cachet Engraved at the Bottom
Located in Sofia, BG
Silver plated cachet engraved at the bottom with a sward and decorations.
France, circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Antique Glass and Sterling Silver Match Striker / Paperweight
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver and glass match striker; an addition to our ornamental coll...
Category
1910s English Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Letter Knife Produced in Sweden
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Letter knife by unknown designer. Produced in Sweden.
Category
20th Century Swedish Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Sheffield England Double Inkwell Stand
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Beautiful Sheffield silver plated and cut glass double inkwell. The cut glass round inkwells with a Russian pattern with repousse hinged lids fit neatly onto the base which has a miniature candlestick...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sheffield Plate
Georg Jensen 79D Handcrafted Sterling Silver Pill Box
By Georg Jensen
Located in New York, NY
Round Art Nouveau Georg Jensen pill box.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen 469 Sterling Silver Letter Opener by Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe
Located in New York, NY
Stylish, playful and infinitely eye-catching, Torun’s sterling silver paper knife is carefully crafted taking both form and function into consideration. With no apparent beginning or...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Art Deco Tennis Racket Bookends
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of silver plate metal bookends depicting a tennis racquet and ball.
Made in France.
Circa: 1940.
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of Crystal Inkwells on Silver Tray, England, 1850
Located in Stamford, CT
Beautiful pair of crystal inkwells on an oval silver plated tray. The tray has a nice rope detailing. Circa 1890 England.
Category
19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, 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.
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