Modern Desk Sets
MODERN STYLE
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”
Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.
Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chair — crafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.
It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.
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Style: Modern
Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Zinc
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large B Retangular Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Savannah
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Wine
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large B Retangular Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Black
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large B Retangular Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Wine
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Ghidini 1961 Omini Pen and Cards Tray in Polished Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Pencils tray in brass
Omini is a family of products that plays on the inclusion and the relationship between the human figure with a series of monolithic ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
21st Century Concrete Cement Tray Centrepiece Handmade Pink Flamingo Color
Located in Rome, Lazio
Renzo in a family of multipurpose trays with a very smooth surface and soft curved edges, now available in a different color composition. Each piece is a unique, no two are the same....
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Concrete
Reeve Crystal Bookends by Greg Natale
By Greg Natale
Located in Sydney,, NSW
Inspired by shards of ice, the Reeve Bookend is our newest bookend style. A study in decorative function, these stylish statement grabbing bookends will elegantly support your favourite coffee table...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal
Portapenna attribuita a Fontana Arte Pietro Chiesa Gio Ponti
Located in Lugo, IT
Portapenna in cristallo attribuito a una produzione di Fontana Arte su disegno di Pietro Chiesa o Gio Ponti.
Piccolo segno interno, in foto e in video si vede ma non rotture e segni ...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal
Hermes Paris 1960 Vintage Modernist Desk Box Round Covered Dish In silver
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Round covered dish designed by Hermes.
This is a very beautiful and highly decorative piece, created in Paris France by the luxury house of Hermes, back in the 1960. This useful des...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Silver
Set of 4 Eggshell Vases. From the Oygg series
By WKND Lab
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Set of 4 Eggshell Vases, 2023
From The Oygg series
Material: Egg Shells, Jesmonite
Dimensions: 41.2 W x 10 D x 19.3 H (cm)
Individual size: 10.3 W x 10 D x 19.3 H (cm)
Weight: 5 kg
...
Category
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Shell, Eggshell
Seo of 4 Eggshell Vases. From the Oygg series
By WKND Lab
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Seo of 4 Eggshell Vases, 2023
From The Oygg series
Material : Egg Shells, Jesmonite
Dimensions: 41.2 W x 10 D x 19.3 H (cm)
Individual size: 10.3 W x 10 D x 19.3 H (cm)
Weight: 5 kg...
Category
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Shell, Eggshell
Table Tray Set - Set of 5 decorative trays in different colors - Handmade
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Table Tray Set - Set of 5 decorative trays in different colors
Include:
- 2 (two) Leather Tray, Small Square Tray Color: Vanilla
Dimensions:
Height: 1.58 in (4 cm)
Width: 6.89 in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Decor Tray Set - Set of 4 decorative trays in different colors - Handmade
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Decor Tray Set - Set of 4 trays in different colors
Include:
- 1 (one) Leather Tray, Small Square Tray - Color: Vanilla
Dimensions: Height: 1.58 in (4 cm)
Width: 6.89 in (17.5 cm)...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Medium A Rectangular Tray - Handmade in Brazil - Color: Clay
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large A Square Tray - Handmade in Brazil - Color: Saffron
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Medium B Rectangular Tray - Handmade in Brazil - Color: Zinc
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Medium A Rectangular Tray - Handmade in Brazil - Color: Wine
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Fountain pen, Ballpoint pen and tray for a Desk Set green enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
4640-5320 - Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels on guilloché, cm. 9 x 17.5. For fountain pen (4568-5201) with two-tone st...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver
Fountain pen, Ballpoint pen & Tray for Desk Set enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with hand-painted fired enamel like turquoise stone, cm. 9.5 x 18. For fountain pen (4577-5210) with 18 carat gold n...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage Blue Perfume Flacon Bottle with Gold flecks
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A spherical perfume flacon in cobalt blue murano glass decorated with gold flecks. Its in working order and complete. This object does not contain any perfume but is refillable.
Meas...
Category
1980s European Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Art Glass
Contemporary Coloured Crystal Perfume Diffuser.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Contemporary coloured crystal perfume diffuser.
Contemporary perfume diffuser in cut and coloured crystal.
A beautiful diffuser vase not only enhances the visual appeal of a space, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal
Contemporary Coloured Crystal Bookend, Model BOO.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Contemporary coloured crystal bookend, Model BOO.
Modern bookend in cut crystal, coloured in bright, warm colours.
h: 20cm, w: 14cm, d: 7cm
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal
Coloured crystal Bookend Featuring a Horse's Head.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Coloured crystal bookend featuring a horse's head.
A superb crystal bookend makes a sophisticated and functional accessory, adding a touch of luxury while keeping books neatly in pl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal
Rare MC2 Fleming Hermes Wallet / Mississippiensis Alligator
By Hermès
Located in Munich, DE
Nice hermes wallet in wonderful burgundy alligator leather.
Category
1990s French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather, Alligator
Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car
By Xavier Froissart, Daum
Located in New York, NY
Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car. Highly detailed large glass depiction of a classic car with frosted tires and engine. Designed by Xavier F...
Category
20th Century French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal
Weltron Model 2001 Space Ball, AM/FM Radio 8 Track Stereo
By Weltron
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Step into the retro-futuristic charm of the Weltron Model 2001 8-track stereo AM-FM radio, a timeless piece that seamlessly blends nostalgia with space-age aesthetics. Encased in a p...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Chrome
Leather Tray, Large B Retangular Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Zinc
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Military
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large B Square Tray, Handmade in Brazil - Color: Caramel
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For different uses, the line of Monochrome Trays can be used separately or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so use your creativity to build a uniq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Solid Brass Aesop Oil Burner by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Solid Brass Aesop Oil Burner by Henry Wilson
Dimensions: W 13 x D 11 x H 7 cm
Materials: Brass
An object of substance and beauty, a unique, refined alternative to traditional burners. Designed for Aesop by Studio Henry Wilson...
Category
2010s Australian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
21st Century Concrete Cement Tray Centrepiece Handmade in Italy Light Grey Color
Located in Rome, Lazio
Renzo in a family of multipurpose trays with a very smooth surface and soft curved edges, now available in a different color composition. Each piece is a unique, no two are the same....
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Concrete
Italian modern Black metal and plastic squared baskets by Neolt, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Black metal and plastic squared baskets by Neolt, 1980s
Pair of square-based office bins. The main structure is made of a perforated metal sh...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
20th Century Pink Glazed Ceramic Shiva Flower Vase by Ettore Sottsass, Spain
Located in Barcelona, ES
One of our favourite designs. It has been in production since 1973, and has converted into BD’s sign of identity all over the world. Sottsass designed the vase when travelling to Bar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Ceramic
"Italo" Leather In and Out Tray Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Italo" is a leather out tray and paper holder, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Colors combination to be cho...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
"Simone" Leather Desk Blotter Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Simone" is a leather desk blotter, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned.
Co...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Vintage PM Craftsman Brass Figural Clown Bookends - A Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage PM Craftsman Brass Figural Clown Bookends - A Pair. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 5.25" H x 5" W x 3.5" D
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Gucci Italy Brown Leather Desk Set Pen Holder with Gold Plated Equestrian Decor
By Gucci
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gucci Italy designed this luxury modernist desktop accessory during the 1970s. The pen cup holder is made of cocoa brown fine calf leather and is ornated on both sides with a 24K gol...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal, Gold Plate
iconic 1. edition chopard happy diamonds for men
By Chopard
Located in Munich, DE
this design was the biggest success in the history of chopard. designer
ronald kurowski was inspired by water droplets sparkling in the sunshine at a waterfall and decided to design ...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Gold
Italian modern office bins in black metal and plastic by Neolt, 1980s
By Stile Neolt
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern office bins in black metal and plastic by Neolt, 1980s
Pair of square-based office bins. The main structure is made of a perforated sheet met...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
WRITING SET WRITER'S LENS CUTTER CLOCK-WRITER'S LENS in moss green shagreen
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
The fascinating shagreeen skin composed of a myriad of bead-like beads matches the design contemporary in the desk set composed of magnifying glass, letter opener and paperweigh...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
England modern Round wastepaper basket in red and white metal, 1990s
Located in MIlano, IT
England modern Round wastepaper basket in red and white metal, 1990s
Round-based wastepaper basket in painted metal with red and white spiral stripes design. The upper profile is rou...
Category
1990s English Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Tiffany and Co Sterling Silver Key Chain with Heart Return Address and Blue Bag
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An iconic loop with Ball key chain in Sterling Silver - the piece comes with a sterling heart with return address, if lost, with serial number. This piece has been engraved PS, whic...
Category
20th Century Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Complete Henning Koppel Desk Set 1232
Located in Hellerup, DK
An extremely rare Georg Jensen Henning Koppel desk set design #1232, by Henning Koppel in 1978. This entire set is all from 1978, the year of design. A complete nine piece set with a...
Category
20th Century Modern Desk Sets
Set coordinato LENTE DI INGRANDIMENTO E TAGLIACARTE - Collezione esclusiva
By Nino Basso
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Elegante e funzionale set coordinato con lente di ingrandimento e tagliacarte della nostra collezione esclusiva ESSENZE.
Realizzato con maestria artigianale, questo set di accesso...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood
Geometric Decoration Set Ceramic, White Porcelain, Sculptural Object 'Cubism'
By Manolo Eirin
Located in Carballo, ES
Geometry set of 3 pieces made of ceramic, with high quality stoneware in the Galician town of Buño, known throughout the world for its quality in the pottery technique. The shapes in...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Ceramic, Stoneware, Terracotta
SET LENTE DI INGRANDIMENTO E TAGLIACARTE design moderno edizione esclusiva
By Nino Basso
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Raffinato set lente di ingrandimento e tagliacarte della nostra collezione esclusiva ESSENZE.
Nato dall'idea creativa del designer Nino Basso, questo coordinato lente e tagliacarte...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood
PORTAPENNE con base in radica di erica e canotto in metallo design contemporaneo
By Nino Basso
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
PORTAPENNE della nostra collezione esclusiva "Essenze" con base quadrata in Radica di Erica, la radica utilizzata abitualmente per costruire accessori da fumo, abbinata al contenit...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood
Desk glass enameled handle like lapis lazuli stone Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Desk magnifing glass in 925/1000 sterling silver with fire-enameled handle like lapis lazuli stone. Contemporary modern style. Lens diameter cm. 7, total length cm. 19.5. Silver weig...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Beautiful Hermés, Ashtray, 2nd Half of the 20th Century
By Hermès
Located in Madrid, ES
Hermés, ashtray, 2nd half of the 20th century.
Gray horse on a lining crib with gold rim.
Underside covered with gray felt.
Marked on the side: Hermés- P...
Category
20th Century French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Modernist Chrome and Tortoiseshell Lucite Desk Pad, France 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This beautiful French modernist desk blotter pad features streamlined high polish chromed metal framing with tortoise (tortoiseshell) Lucite insert. The inside is in yellow butter si...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal, Chrome
scatola con penne, anni 90
Located in Felino, IT
scatola portapenne in legno, con 20 penne stilografiche e a sfera miste. usate, ma tutte in ottime condizioni. le penne sono descritte nelle foto allegate. varie marche e vari stili....
Category
1990s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic, Wood
Tiffany & Co. 1981 Angela Cummings Aerodynamic Twisted Pen .925 Sterling Silver
By Angela Cummings, Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
Sculptural twisted pen designed by Angela Cummings.
Sculptural pen, created back in the 1981 in New York city at the Tiffany Studios. This fabulous sculpt...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Curve pen holder
Located in Milano, IT
Studio IB Milano's Curve Pen Holders are a testament to the brand's unwavering pursuit of excellence in design, craftsmanship, and sustainability. These luxury Italian marble pen holders...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Marble
Antique Brass Plated Desk, Pols Potten Studio
By Pols Potten
Located in Geneve, CH
Antique brass plated desk, Pols Potten Studio.
Dimensions: W 120.5 x D 51 x H 75.5 cm.
Materials: Black powder coated iron frame, aluminium, anti...
Category
2010s Dutch Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Aluminum, Brass, Iron
Pair, Modernist Chromed Steel Railroad Tie Bookends Circa 1980
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair, Modernist Chromed Steel Railroad Tie Bookends Circa 1980.
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Onyx Stone Pen or Pencil Holder, Mexico, 1980s
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Onyx Stone Pencil Holder, Mexico, 1980s.
Category
20th Century Mexican Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Stone, Onyx
Brass silver-plated chiseled Pencil Holder, Hommage Collection, Weaving Pattern
By Carole Serny
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This Pencil Holder is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics highlig...
Category
2010s French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Modern desk sets for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Modern desk sets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desk sets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, tables, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern desk sets made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and Spain pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desk sets, popular names associated with this style include Ghidini 1961, Elisa Giovannoni, Valerio Ciampicacigli, and Jaime Hayon. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desk sets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $75 and tops out at $57,800 while the average work can sell for $530.
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