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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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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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
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
$572 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
$381 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
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
Everest Z5R Hand Crank Calculator, Italy
By Everest
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Everest Z5R hand crank calculator. In greyish metal, the Everest Z5R is a 10-key pinwheel calculator from the 1950s. It has a 13-digit main register in the top left corner, an 8-digi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Wooden Christmas Tree Set FIR – Cedar
Located in İzmir, İzmir
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
Knotted Double Leather Tray Set Large Home Accessories By André Fu Living
By André Fu
Located in Admiralty, HK
Knotted double leather serving tray set.
Hand stitched calf leather.
Also, available in a smaller size tray set of two, size 36.2 x 24.7 x 5.8 H cm.
Larger quantities available u...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
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
$419 Sale Price
20% Off
Corporate Christmas Gift Box 1
Located in İzmir, İzmir
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
"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 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 İzmir, İzmir
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 CEDAR – Cedar
Located in İzmir, İzmir
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 İzmir, İzmir
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
Wooden Christmas Tree Set FIR – Cedar
Located in İzmir, İzmir
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
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
Genuine Fossil Ammonite Pen Holder with Nickel-plated Metal Detail
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
An extraordinary object that combines nature and design: this unique pen holder is the result of the union of a real fossil ammonite from the Sahara, belonging to the Goniatite famil...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Stone, Brass
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Wooden Christmas Tree Set JUNIPER – Cedar
Located in İzmir, İzmir
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
Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Vase, Pink Glazed, Ceramic, Spanish, 20th Century
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Shiva vase is sculpture and vase. It is a symbol of Ettore Sottsass and an icon.
Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Christmas Tree Ceramic Head, Red, Large, Cedar (Limited Edition)
Located in İzmir, İzmir
-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
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
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
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
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
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
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
$144 Sale Price / set
30% Off
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
Renzo Set Concrete Tray Made in Italy White & Green 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
$381 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
$396 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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
Blitz Marble Bookends Travertine & Coral 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
Essenze Magnifying Glass and Letter Opener Set by Nino Basso
Located in Milan, IT
Elegant letter opener set having a sophisticated handle made of erica, the precious wood used to make luxury pipes, combined with an elegant and decorative element made of ebony wood...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood
Agate Onyx and Brass Desk Pen Holder, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A '70s modern brass and onyx/agate desk pen holder. Onyx/agate is a red burgundy hue. Pen is in fine working order.
Picture frame and brass tape dispenser...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Agate, Onyx, Brass
$300 Sale Price
36% Off
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
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, 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
21st Century Concrete Cement Mirror Tray Centrepiece Handmade in 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
Honeycomb Desk Set, Hand Blown Contemporary Glass, in Stock
Located in New York, NY
The honeycomb desk set is comprised of four separate organizing containers that create a contemporary look on any desk environment. Made with gold topaz color, the set includes a large catch all (2.5" x 8.5") and three accompanying smaller containers...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Blown Glass
Italian Leather Desk Organizer 5 Box Storage Area
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian black leather desk organizer, circa late-20th century, 1970s, Florence, Italy. This desk piece organizer is black leather, comprised of five (5) boxes with a rich clear lacquered wood back, brass hinges, and a center rest area (shown with car key, and small change purse...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Leather Tray, Large B Retangular 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
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
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
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
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 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
Shiva Flower Vase by Ettore Sottsass, Pink, Glazed Ceramic, Spanish, XXth
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered many cultures, religious symbolism, and inspiration on his travels. The smooth, curving...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Ceramic
Renzo Set Concrete Tray Made In Italy White&Red 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. Each...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Concrete
$333 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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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