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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
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
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
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
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
21st Century Concrete Cement Tray Centrepiece Handmade in Italy Green 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 – 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
"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
21st Century Renzo Set Concrete Tray 100% Handmade in Italy
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 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
21st Century Concrete Cement Tray Centrepiece Handmade in Italy Pink 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
1980s Chevron Desk Accessory Set Aachen Germany Design
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1980s Desk Accessory Set Aachen Germany Design
Letter Opener Scissors Pen Boxed
inscribed Chevron Land and Development Co
1.5 h x 12.5 w x 5.75 d boxed
Original vintage preowned cond...
Category
1980s German Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Stainless Steel
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
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
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, Terracotta, Stoneware
Desk Glass fired two-tone stripes enamel on guilloche hand-engraved 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
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Shagreen Leather Desk Set - Galucharme Collection
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
From the exclusive Galucharme collection, designed by Nino Basso, a refined coffee-colored desk set, perfect for those who love elegant and timeless design.
Included in the set:
• ...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal, Brass
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
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
Wooden Christmas Tree CEDAR – Cedar, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The minimalist solid cedar decorative Christmas tree brings a natural and refined atmosphere to your holiday décor. Inspired by the elegant form of the cedar tree, these festive piec...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Squared Small Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tray in brass. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store papers in the office or necess...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
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
Wooden Christmas Tree Set – Cedar with Ceramic Tip, Medium Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The Cedar, Fir, and Juniper ceramic-tipped wooden Christmas tree set is specially designed to complement your holiday theme. Enriched with colorful, handmade ceramic details and insp...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree FIR– Cedar, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The minimal solid cedar decorative Christmas tree is designed to enrich your holiday atmosphere, inspired by the elegant form of the fir tree. This handcrafted solid wood tree offers...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
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
Square table model "Mettsass" by Ettore Sottsass red glass, 20th century design
Located in Barcelona, ES
One of Sottsass first designs for BD, the "Mettsass" has lost none of the personality with which Sottsass designed it for BD some 40 years ago, in 1972. The structure is made of flat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Glass
Wooden Christmas Tree Set – Cedar with Ceramic Tip, Medium Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The Cedar, Fir, and Juniper ceramic-tipped wooden Christmas tree set is specially designed to complement your holiday theme. Enriched with colorful, handmade ceramic details and insp...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Knotted Tray Set Desk Office Home Accessories By André Fu Living
By André Fu
Located in Admiralty, HK
Description: Double tray set
Color: Grey
Size of big tray: 55.2 x 35 x 5.8 H cm
Size of small tray: 38.8 x 16 x 2 H cm
Material: PU
Collection: Knotted.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Faux Leather
Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo CEDAR – Cedar with Brass Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The gold-accented natural cedar Christmas tree is a unique decorative piece inspired by the natural texture of cedar wood. Completed with brass tip details, these natural holiday tre...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Oak
Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo FIR – Cedar with Brass Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The gold-tipped solid cedar decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday theme with simplicity and elegance. Inspired by the natural form of the juniper tree and re...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Medium Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The luxury bronze-tipped Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday décor with natural elegance. Inspired by the aesthetic forms of three distinct trees—Cedar, Fir, and Juni...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo CEDAR – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The bronze-tipped decorative solid cedar Christmas tree is designed to blend the unique texture and form of natural cedar wood with the warmth of the holiday season. Each tree is one...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo JUNIPER – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER Wooden Christmas Tree Duo Set is designed to bring a natural and refined aesthetic to your holiday decorations. Inspired by the abstract and minimalist form of juniper tr...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo JUNIPER – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER Wooden Christmas Tree Duo Set is designed to bring a natural and refined aesthetic to your holiday decorations. Inspired by the abstract and minimalist form of juniper tr...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo FIR – Cedar with Brass Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The gold-tipped solid cedar decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday theme with simplicity and elegance. Inspired by the natural form of the juniper tree and re...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo FIR – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The bronze-tipped solid cedar Christmas tree set is inspired by the graceful form of the fir tree and specially crafted to bring the festive spirit into your living spaces. Featuring...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
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 Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
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
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 Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Cedar
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
"Proust" Leather Mouse Pad Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Proust" is a leather mouse pad, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned.
Colors combinatio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather
Knotted Double Leather Tray Set 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 larger size tray set of two, size 55 x 35 x 5.8 H cm.
Larger quantities available upon reque...
Category
2010s Thai Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Leather, Wood
Pampaloni Italian Modern Classical Sealing Wax Set in Case
By Pampaloni
Located in New York, NY
Modern Classical sterling silver sealing wax set. Made by Pampaloni in Italy. The spirit lamp has domed bowl and loose-fitting snuffer cap. The stamp has fluted shaft and ball handle...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Sterling Silver
Portuguese Telephone Exchange PBX from the 50s/60s
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Telephone exchange, PBX from the 50s/60s. Manual telephone system used to interconnect several lines in a company or organisation. With a wooden ca...
Category
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Optima Elite 3 Portable Typewriter, Germany
By Elite
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
The Óptima Elite 3 portable typewriter, grey in colour, was produced at the VEB Optima factory in Erfurt, GDR. It was the third iteration of the Elite model after the Erfurt typewrit...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Metal
Modern Acrylic Paper Spring
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Acrylic paper spring. With large dimensions, made of translucent acrylic with a smoky hue. Inspired by the traditional shape of clothespins, this piece combines functionality with a ...
Category
Late 20th Century Portuguese Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Acrylic
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
Renzo Set Concrete Tray Made in Italy Green&Brown 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
Renzo Trays + Vertebra Concrete Candleholder 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. E...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Concrete
Knotted Vide Poche Set of 2 Purple Desk Home Accessories By André Fu Living
By André Fu
Located in Admiralty, HK
Description: Tray set of 2
Color: Purple
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
Modern Desk Set of Pewter for Letters and Visit Cards by Jean Goardere
By Jean Goardere
Located in Schöfflisdorf, CH
Modern desk set of pewter for letters and visit cards by Jean Goardere
Measures: 26 x 20 cm 5 cm
20 x 14 cm 3 cm
11 x 6 cm 3 cm.
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Pewter
Corporate Christmas Gift Box 2
Located in Orlando, FL
The Corporate Christmas Gift Box is a thoughtfully designed and unique gift set tailored to meet the expectations of the business world. Developed in collaboration with LEONE Patisse...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Oak
Galucharme Black Desk Set - Handcrafted Elegance and Refinement
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Add a touch of class to your office with the Galucharme Black desk set, an exclusive work by designer Nino Basso, entirely handcrafted.
This exquisite set includes a matching pen ho...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
Desk Set of Natural Stone Oxide Slate Minimalist Design Handmade in Spain Meddel
By Meddel, Joaquín Moll
Located in VALVERDE DEL MAJANO, CL
Desk Set of Natural Stone Oxide Slate Minimalist Design Handmade in Spain Meddel
Transform your workspace with our elegant rust slate screen rest, made in Spain. This subtly designed...
Category
2010s Spanish Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Stone, Slate
Knotted Photo Frame 5R Desk Office Home Accessories By André Fu Living
By André Fu
Located in Admiralty, HK
Description: Photo frame in premium leather and wood 5R
Color: Grey
Size: 20.5 x 6.5 x 18.5 H cm
Material: Premium leather and wood
Collection: Knotted.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Wood, Faux 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
Trio of Shagreen Genuine Leather Desk Accessories - Galucharme Collection
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Add a touch of timeless elegance to your desk with this refined burgundy-colored genuine shagreen leather accessory set. The special texture, characterized by small bead-like grains,...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Brass
"ZEN" Coffee Table by Yulia Pyanzina (Cristallo, Italy)
Located in Pastrengo, IT
The ZEN coffee table which makes part of the ORIGAMI Collection is a fruit of collaboration between MARMI REGINA, company that creates prestigious wo...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Sets
Materials
Marble
Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 1 Small Cube Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian 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.