Ceramic Desk Accessories

French Art Nouveau Inkwell by Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, France, circa 1890. A rare and exquisite Art Nouveau inkwell by renowned French ceramist Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910). This finely crafted piece showcases Dalpayrat’s signature red copper-glazed stoneware, especially rich and luminous near the base. Elegantly mounted in pewter, the design exemplifies the organic flow and refined detail of the Art Nouveau period. Dimensions: Height: 3.54 in. (9 cm) Diameter: 5.12 in. (13 cm) Materials: Stoneware with pewter mount Condition: Excellent+++++, museum-quality preservation Markings: Incised signature "Dalpayrat 1500" under the base (see photo) This inkwell is a collectible example of French ceramic art at the turn of the century—perfect for collectors of Art Nouveau, 19th-century French ceramics, or the works of Dalpayrat. Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910): A Pioneer of French Ceramic Innovation Adrien Dalpayrat was a French ceramicist and researcher who played a key role in the revival of stoneware at the end of the 19th century. Born in 1844 in Limoges, Dalpayrat studied drawing and porcelain painting in his hometown before beginning his professional career at the Jules Vieillard faience factory in Bordeaux. There, he met his wife, Marie Tallerie, with whom he had two sons—Albert and Adolphe—who would later become his primary collaborators. Throughout his early career, Dalpayrat worked for several major ceramic manufacturers, including Ashwin (Valentine), Fouquet (Toulouse), François Blanc (Monaco), and Léon Sazerat (Limoges). In 1889, seeking greater independence, he moved to the Paris region and established his own studio in Bourg-la-Reine. Collaborations and Artistic Evolution Dalpayrat’s creative vision expanded through his collaboration with sculptor Alphonse Voisin-Delacroix. Together, they explored neo-Gothic and Palissy-inspired motifs, creating a remarkable ceramic bestiary. Following Voisin-Delacroix’s death in 1893, Dalpayrat partnered with Adèle Lesbros, which marked a shift in his work toward simpler, more refined vase forms influenced by Japonism. Japanese art had been introduced to France during the 1867 Universal Exhibition, but it wasn’t until the 1878 Exhibition, particularly through the ceremonial stoneware used in the Japanese tea ceremony, that Japonism truly captivated French artists. This influence led Dalpayrat to create vessels with organic, vegetal, and animal-inspired forms. Technical Mastery: The Secrets of Copper Red Among all the ceramists of his time who sought to replicate the elusive Chinese “sang de boeuf” (oxblood) glaze, Adrien Dalpayrat was arguably the most successful. He didn’t simply reproduce the legendary copper red—he transformed it. By manipulating glaze thickness, firing temperature, atmosphere, and copper oxide content, he developed a unique palette of flamed and mottled red glazes that became his signature: the renowned Dalpayrat red. He further enriched his pieces by introducing streaks and inclusions of turquoise, blue, green, and yellow—freeing the red glaze from monochromy and turning it into an expressive, living surface. His work pushed stoneware beyond function into expressive art, merging form and glaze in bold, sculptural harmony. Beyond Ceramics: Bronze Mounts and Architectural Works Dalpayrat also collaborated with renowned jewelers such as Ernest Cardeilhac and Keller to produce pieces mounted in gilt bronze, blending ceramics with decorative arts at the highest level. In an effort to make his work more accessible, he opened a second faience workshop focused on simpler, more affordable pieces inspired by Nevers and Rouen ware. However, this venture faced financial difficulties and closed by 1900. The main family studio followed in 1906 as the popularity of Art Nouveau declined. Dalpayrat then returned to Limoges, devoting his final years to painting and drawing until his death in 1910. Legacy and Recognition Despite financial struggles during his lifetime, Dalpayrat’s ceramics were widely acclaimed at major international exhibitions: Bronze medal, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago (1893) Silver medal, Antwerp International Exhibition (1894) Gold medal, Exposition Universelle, Paris (1900) Today, his work is part of prestigious museum collections. In 2020, the Petit Palais in Paris acquired a large bird motif vase created in collaboration with Voisin-Delacroix, now on view in Room...

Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design for Ritzenhoff, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution mark. Additional inf...

1960s Original astonishing porcelain catchall / vide-poche "La Gioconda" by Piero Fornasetti. Heavy porcelain construction for use as beautiful desk accessories. Marked on the bottom...

Jean Gerbino for Vallauris, France, ceramic glazed mosaic lidded pot Sage green, terracotta and cream shades, beautifully crafted Circa 1960's Signed Gerbino to base Height 2.5 inch...

Handcrafted Christmas ceramic houses for candle light deco in shape of a village around 1970s The church dimensions are: Hight: 25cm Wide: 11cm De...

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...

A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...

Made in Italy, 1960s - 1970s. This is a teal hand -modeled, - glazed, - painted ceramic moneybox by Fanciullacci. Its "Italy" writing is typical of their production. It is a vinta...

Exceptional antique Inkwell with rich bronze ornaments and three porcelain vessels. The ink jars are painted in a beautiful rich green and embellished with gold colour. France, 1839. On the lid is written "ENCRIER BOUQUET" "MEDAILLE D´ARGENT...

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...

Superb bijou vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden from the Argenta collection. Decorated with a stylised fish of applied silver on mottled green stoneware. Circa 1930's Ba...

A German white, gold and copper porcelain jewelry dish by Danish Designer Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal Studio-Line, Germany, 20th century. A rectangular white porcelain dish with abs...

Gorgeous pair of iconic Tiffany "box with bow" crystal and porcelain trinket boxes by Tiffany & Co. circa 1990's. The pair are in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks...

A beautiful special edition English Wedgwood black basalt Jasperware small oval box with gold scallop seashell design, circa late-20th century, 1980s, England. Piece is matte black stoneware with gold scallop seashell design on top lid. The box was created in the mid-1980s as a special edition for members of the Wedgwood Collectors Society, marked on inside lid area in gold (as shown.) Markers mark 'Wedgwood', 'Made in England', on bottom as shown. Piece can neatly hold a cocktail ring or other small items, etc., or just be beautiful as a standalone piece decorative object. English wood box...

Tiffany & Co. porcelain round trinket box. Tiffany & Co. porcelain round map box designed for Tauck World, Made In France. The porcelain lid cover is decor...

French mid-century ceramic vase in the style of Saint Clement crackle finish pieces. Good quality craftsmanship. Unmarked. Measures: 6 1/8" diameter x 12" high.  

Nice 1980s Gucci - Italy designed leather desk accessories set, includes pen holder, note paper holder and small tray. The leather pieces have the classic green and red stripe, with ...

A rare and unusual Hungarian art nouveau art pottery desk stand mounted with deer and decorated in eosin iridescent green glazes dating from around 1900. The desk stand has a boat sh...

A beautiful black and white ceramic pottery vase with 'eye' design. A great addition to any room. Dimensions: 5.75" Height For chair shown searc...

1950s Astonishing rare porcelain paperweight designed by Piero Fornasetti with butterflies. Handmade.Made in Italy. Heavy ceramic construction for use as beautiful desk accessories. ...

Ashtray with ceramic and brass lighter by Paolo Traversi. 1970s, working Paolo Traversi is a designer and manufacturer of interior furnishings known throughout the world. The curren...

A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...

A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...

A striking vintage black ceramic pottery female face bust sculpture, circa 20th century. A great piece for a column pedestal as shown, shelf, mantle, cocktai...

A beautiful English white porcelain coffee or teacup and saucer with a green malachite design and gold detailing on edge. Made in England.

The Netherlands Circa 1700 A fine blue and white Dutch tile with a still life painting of a vase with leaves and grapes and an apple on the sides. The scene is painted without corn...

A big ceramic Bayer Aspirin from a store called Think Big in SoHo, NYC in the 1980s . Fun. Decorative piece for display, art in a bathroom or a paperweig...

Glaze ceramic box made in Italy by Raymor, circa 1960s. Stunning bright yellow glaze covers the entire exterior of the box as well as the inside of the box. Great vintage condition. ...

Exquisite ruby Ordinary lustre york cup by Daisy Makeig Jones for Wedgwood, England. The interior of this delightful piece has a vibrantly coloured butterfly on a pale green mother of pearl background, with gilded interior patterning. Rich ruby red lustre mottled glaze, animated gilded butterflies...

ABOUT ​A 19th-century English porcelain letter seal in the form of a phrenological head. ​The areas of the skull numerically demarcated with the key surrounding the neck. Gilt accen...

A lovely vintage French cobalt blue porcelain pen tray with gilt border and floral design. Marked "Rochard Limoges France" on reverse. This beautifu...

This rare and decorative pen tray, designed by Gio Ponti for Ceramiche Joo in Milano in 1956, is a remarkable piece of design history with a unique connection to one of Ponti’s archi...

1950s Fornasetti original astonishing porcelain vide poche/catchall "Sonate- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" by Piero Fornasetti . Heavy porcelain construction for use as beautiful desk acc...

An English Wedgwood Jasperware black basalt and white stoneware rectangular jewelry dish with Neoclassical design, 1963, England. Piece is a matte bla...

Vintage Italian Mid-Century porcelain sculpture of a leopard, mid-stride, with open mouth. Italian hand-painted glazed porcelain standing leopard. M...

Sporting a 'Dutch Cut' to his coat, this adorable ceramic poodle stands tall and proud Collar and feet are gilded, the glaze is a delicious toffee caramel colour and the eyes are pin...

Stunning French Lavish Gilt Porcelain Ink Stand of Museum Quality and generous proportions, made by renowned French porcelain maker Jacob Petit. Last quarter of the Nineteenth Centur...

Set of four 18th Century Blue and White Delft Tiles Framed in Custom Iron Frame

Vintage Porcelain Floral Desk Set by Neiman Marcus with Letter Opener and Tray. A very nice two-piece brass and porcelain desk set, circa 1970s. The set is in good vintage condition ...

A small and beautiful Hans Theo Baumann and Emilio Pucci designed porcelain vessel for Rosenthal 'Studio-Linie', Berlin, circa late 20th century, Germany. Piece is a glazed white por...

Talavera Inkwell, 18th century. Glazed pottery Talavera ceramic inkwell, decorated with cobalt blue enamel on a white tin slip with restorations" Size: 16 x 16 x 7 cms.    

Charming 19th century Delft inkwell, hand-painted with stylized yellow blossoms and delicate green accents on a creamy glazed surface. The stepped design features two inkwell opening...

Knud Kyhn designed this sung glazed stoneware Mammoth in the 1920's for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark. This item was purchased 45 years ago at Georg Jensen in New York and is in 'as new...

1950s Astonishing rare porcelain paperweight designed by Piero Fornasetti with butterflies. Handmade.Made in Italy. Heavy ceramic construction for use as beautiful desk accessories. ...

Decorative, French vintage ceramic thermometer and casing by Mithé Espect (circa 1960s). A delightful piece with stylised bird and flower blossoms....

Unusual Argenta stoneware footed dish with applied silver swordfish central motif Tied silver banding to rim Designed by Wilhelm Kage for the Argenta series for Gustavsberg, Sweden...

An exquisite and decorative Italian porcelain jewelry box. Hand painted in pink, gold and white with flower motifs, the jewlery box is signed in the bottom "1972, Italy" Dimensio...

A beautiful Herend porcelain salmon orange roses with green leaves and vine/stem decorative object, 2001, Hungary. Marker's mark on underside as shown in last image. Dimensions: 6" x...

Unbelievably delicate and superbly crafted, Italian bisque porcelain fawn figurine Miniature in size with huge appeal Highly likely to be from the 1980's Hand painted matt finish H...

The "Il Viaggi di Nettuno" pattern is inspired by Luke Edward Hall’s love of Greco-Roman mythology, and particularly Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, and his wife Salacia, the coll...

Royal Doulton The Mendicant, Moroccan figurine of a man wearing a turban and playing a tamburine. High glazed, finely modeled bone china with exquisi...

This is a very good and complete board game of Marble Solitaire, with a hand turned hardwood board and 35 agate stone and clay marbles, which we date to t...

A rare set of 24 glass eyes, early 20th century. Glass and porcelain. Different sizes, colors and shapes. Highly collectable and a great talking curio. Dimensions: The...

A mid-20th century hand-painted porcelain desk accessories set by Meissen Porzellan, a prominent German porcelain manufacture. Ming Dragon pattern in...

A stunning French gilt bronze table inkwell tray or desk tray, adorned with exquisite Sèvres soft paste porcelain inset plaques. These hand-painted plaques showcase exceptional craft...

A desk letter or mail holder with a peacock or pheasant bird design, in the Art Nouveau design style, circa early to mid-20th century. A desk letter mail holder with beautiful bird d...

Rare Antique Mid-19th C Veuve Perrin French France Pottery Inkwell

This is a unique and rare fornasetti gold and white porcelain bell from Italy.

Chinese Porcelain Desk Vessel with Gilt Bronze Mount Origin: China, made for the European export market Material: Porcelain, overglaze decoration, glass liner, gilt bronze Date: Lat...

Thorkild Olsen for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark, porcelain crackle glaze tumbler pot Turquoise crackle glaze with gilded bands. Pale grey crackle interior Circa 1963 Stamped and numbere...