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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
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
21st Century Concrete Cement Renzo Tray Centrepiece Handmade Perla White 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
21st Century Concrete Cement Tray Centrepiece Handmade in Italy Blue 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
Wooden Christmas Tree Set CEDAR – Cedar
Located in Orlando, FL
The handcrafted solid cedar Christmas tree set is designed to complete your holiday theme with a warm and natural atmosphere. Inspired by the natural structure of cedar wood, the abs...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set – Cedar, Medium Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The minimal modern handcrafted tree set is designed to bring a natural and aesthetic atmosphere to your holiday theme. These solid cedar decorative Christmas objects...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Italian modern Square drawing roll holder in orange metal sheet by Neolt, 1980s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Square drawing roll holder in orange metal sheet by Neolt, 1980s
Drawing roll holder in curved sheet metal painted bright orange. There are 4 square-based compartments with rounded corners for the drawing tubes...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Scissor, Letter Opener, Leather Desk Set
Located in Denton, TX
Gold leaf design on bankers green leather holder with nickel plated letter opener and D shaped handle forged scissors.
Category
20th Century North American Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Steel
Blitz Marble Bookends Nero & Arabescato By Greg Natale
By Greg Natale
Located in Sydney,, NSW
The Blitz Bookends comprise two contrasting marbles honed to achieve a sophisticated finish. Inspired by the avant-garde ingenuity of the 1980’s London-based Blitz Club, these booken...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Marble
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
Vintage Georg Jensen Black Pen Tray or Desk Organizer
By Georg Jensen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pen tray or desk (drawer) organizer.
By Georg Jensen.
In black powder coated metal (we assume aluminum).
In the form of a large rectangular tray with 7 scalloped sections.
...
Category
Late 20th Century Danish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Aluminum
Wooden Christmas Tree Set – Cedar, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
Modern minimalist holiday décor trees offer a natural and elegant option to complete your Christmas decorations. This solid cedar minimalist decorative tree set abstractly reinterpre...
Category
2010s Asian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
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
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
Renzo Set Concrete Tray Made in Italy Red&White Cement Christmas Edition
Located in Rome, Lazio
Now available in Christmas Edition!
Renzo Line is a family of multipurpose trays with a very smooth surface and soft curved edges, now available in different color compositions. Eac...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Concrete
Corporate Christmas Gift Box 1
Located in Orlando, FL
The Corporate Christmas Gift Box is an aesthetically refined and functional gift set, specially designed to meet the needs of the business world. Developed in collaboration with LEON...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Oak
Posacenere stile Jean Luce Saint Gobain Fontana Arte
Located in Lugo, IT
Posacenere nello stile di Jean Luce per Saint Gobain o produzione Fontana Arte.
Buone condizioni.
Grazie
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal
Bang & Olufsen BeoCom 1401 Telephone
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This BeoCom 1401 telephone is a time capsule gem, and still has the original, unused, paper address booklet inside. Introduced in 1998 as the successor of the 1400, the model that fo...
Category
1990s Danish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Aluminum
Italian modern orange rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date 2020
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern orange rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Knotted Vide Poche Set of 2 Beige Desk Home Accessories By André Fu Living
By André Fu
Located in Admiralty, HK
Description: Tray set of 2
Color: Beige
Size of big tray: 20 x 20 x 3 H cm
Size of small tray: 15 x 15 x 3 H cm
Material: Leather
Collection: Knotted.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large B Retangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Military
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
"SEKITEI" Coffee Table by Yulia Pyanzina (Marble, Italy)
Located in Pastrengo, IT
The SEKITEI coffee table which makes part of the ORIGAMI Collection is a fruit of collaboration between MARMI REGINA, company that creates prestigious works in marble and natural sto...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Marble
Italian modern green rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern green rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in green plastic. The ring has t...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Elegant Blue Shagreen Leather Magnifying Glass - GALUCHARME Collection
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Discover the timeless elegance of this refined magnifying glass with a handle made of genuine blue shagreen leather, a fine material also known as galuchat. Characterized by a unique...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Desk Set with Magnifying Glass and Letter Opener - Ammonite Fossils
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Add a touch of elegance and history to your desk with this exquisite set, consisting of a magnifying glass and a letter opener embellished with authentic fossil ammonites from the Me...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Italian modern yellow rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date 2020
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern yellow rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in yellow plastic. The ring has...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Wooden Christmas Tree Set JUNIPER – Cedar
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER decorative solid handmade Christmas tree set adds warmth to your holiday theme with its minimalist and natural design. Inspired by the aesthetic form of the juniper tree,...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set FIR – Cedar
Located in Orlando, FL
The natural cedar minimalist Christmas trees are unique decorative pieces that blend the natural beauty of the fir tree with a modern design. This luxurious handcrafted solid cedar t...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set FIR – Cedar
Located in Orlando, FL
The natural cedar minimalist Christmas trees are unique decorative pieces that blend the natural beauty of the fir tree with a modern design. This luxurious handcrafted solid cedar t...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Pencil Holder in Polished Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
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 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Stainless Steel
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
Italian modern light brown rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date 2020
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern light brown rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in light brown plastic. Th...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Christian Dior Home Desk Waste Basket in Metal, Lucite and Rattan, circa 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
This lovely wastebasket was designed for the Christian Dior Home Collection circa 1960. The geometric shape boasts a gilded brass gallery and real rattan or wicker embedded in the cr...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Italian modern brown rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern brown rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in brown plastic. The ring has t...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Italian modern gray rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern silver gray rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in silver gray plastic. ...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Italian modern white rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern pearl white rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in pearl white plastic. Th...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Italian modern dark green rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern dark green rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s
Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Da...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic
Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Vanilla
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Versace for Rosenthal "L'Ange Gabriel" Plate, 1996 20th Century
By Versace
Located in Madrid, ES
Versace for Rosenthal "L'Ange Gabriel" Plate, 1996
Rosenthal "Versace" Christmas plate, 1996. Porcelain, white with colorful decor, maker's mark "Rosen...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Porcelain
Penholder with Authentic Fossil Ammonite and Nickel-plated Brass Detail
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
A genuine meeting of contemporary design and geological wonders, this aesthetically striking pen holder is made from a real fossil ammonite dating back some 350 million years from th...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Stone, Brass
Blackened Tape Dispenser by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Blackened Tape Dispenser by Henry Wilson
Dimensions: W 14 x D 4 x H 7 cm
Materials: Bronze (Blackened)
The bronze tape dispenser is a hefty piece of st...
Category
2010s Australian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Bronze
Olivetti Divisumma 28 Mario Bellini Design Years '70
Located in Biella, IT
Olivetti divisumma 28 Mario Bellini design years '70, perfect working and very good condition.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic
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
Leather Tray, Medium Square Tray, Handmade - Color: Savannah
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Leather Tray, Large B Retangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Wine
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Hermès blue leather pencil case 1990s
By Hermès
Located in Paris, IDF
This blue Hermès pen case from the 1990s is an elegant and functional piece. Made from Epsom calfskin, a leather embossed through heat printing, it features...
Category
1990s French Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Bymyside Desk Accessories by Rectangle Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Bymyside desk accessories by Rectangle Studio
Dimensions: W 25 x D 2 x H 48 cm
Materials: White marble
Bymyside desk is a complementary design accessory that is manually shape...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Marble
SHAGREEN PEN HOLDER sage green striped metal details exclusive design
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Pen holder with design essential and contemporary coated with the very special shagreen leather in the seductive sage color.
Handcrafted with skilled craftsmanship, the pen h...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Christmas Tree Ceramic Head, Red, Large, Cedar (Limited Edition)
Located in Orlando, FL
-Cedar, Fir, and Juniper, designed to evoke the form of cedar, fir, and juniper trees, abstracted and inspired by their names, to create a perfect atmosphere for your New Year concep...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Cedar
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
Pair of Desk Accessories Faux Shagreen Sharkor Ray Skin Pen Pot & Desk Tidy
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of desk accessories in Faux Shargeen shark skin
A very good looking and well made pair, ideally suited as a letter rack and pen pot...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Fabric
Old Model of a Private Plane Falcon, 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Old model of a private plane falcon. Very interesting model of a private plane model falcon. Years 70. It is made entirely in massive aluminum. Totally we...
Category
20th Century American Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Aluminum
Thin Book Ends in Contemporary Bronze and Steel in various Patinas
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Thin bookends explore a miniature variation of Kin & Company’s iconic Thin Chair. Beautifully paired with books, plants, or small accessories, the Thin ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass, Steel
Italian red typewriter Valentine by Ettore Sottsass Perry King Olivetti, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern typewriter Valentine by Ettore Sottsass and Perry A. King for Olivetti, 1970s
Iconic typewriter model Valentine with rectangular base and rounded corners, in bright re...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Zinc
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
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
Leather Tray, Medium A Rectangular Tray - Handmade - Color: Wine
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Italian Photo Frame Modern Wood, Humour Pink Wood
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Humour wood is a phot frame of the Italian collection of photo frames
Laura G Art with Heart realized by Italian handcrafts in natural wood.
painted in fuchsia acrylic. It is a very funny and beautiful photo frame
for your images of life. It can be hanged at a wall as well, and you may
create a wonderful wall decorated as designed by an artist.
It is “c'est la vie Art with Heart “ , bring a piece of Italy into your home.
You may simply keep the photo frame on your table, as a
wonderful top photo frame for your photos. Humour pink wood may hold 4 photos, each one size, 3.9 x 3.1 inches (10 x 8 cm) or 2 long photos...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood
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: 1.78 in (4,5 cm)
Width: 7.09 ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Ghidini 1961 Omini Tape Mate in Polished Brass by Stefano Giovannoni
Located in Villa Carcina, IT
Scotch holder 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 objects from geometric and...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Leather Tray, Medium A Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Saffron
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Wooden Christmas Tree – Large, Cedar, Juniper
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER decorative solid cedar handmade Christmas trees are simple yet elegant pieces of holiday décor, inspired by the aesthetic form of the juniper tree. Crafted from the uniqu...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
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.