French Desk Accessories

This is one of a kind bronze letter opener from the period just after Napoleon's death. It is a testament to his popularity that even letter openers featured his face.

A Louis Philippe bronze and ormolu desk set, comprising two ink wells and a powder shaker in the form of crenelated urns with anthemion-bud finia...

A Fabulous pair of French Louis XVI style dore bronze mounted hand carved rock crystal swirling spiked candlesticks, attributed to Baguès. Each candlestick is exceptionally hand carv...

Handmade bronze inkwell consists of three removable cups, the largest of which has a removable top. Inkwell depicts leaves and flowers. Signed VieiAard.

Les sept Péchés capitaux (The seven deadly sins), by Line Vautrin. Gilded bronze paperweight decorated on both sides with the faces of the seven Deadly Sins. On one side, lust, lazin...

Michel Mangematin stone shaped paperweight, circa 1970, France. Polished bronze. Signed with the two inverted M and numbered 16. Dimensions: 7 cm W, 5 cm D, 3 cm H. All purchases ar...

Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car. Highly detailed large glass depiction of a classic car with frosted tires and engine. Designed by Xavier F...

Sweet and diminutive vase using the Neriage technique by Jean Gerbino for Vallauris, France Ceramic glazed shaped vase, with mosaic patterning and terracotta accents Circa 1960's Sig...

Art Deco bronze car mascot French bulldog signed by Gaston H. Bourcart. The hood ornament is in gilt bronze and stands on a marble base. France 1925. This mascot is illustrated plate nr. 329 Mascottes passion, Michel Legrand, Antic show éditions. More information: Mascottes automobiles...

Pair of Picture Frame, Polished Brass, Made by J.H. France, 1900s Pair photograph frame (or miniature frame) with classical Victorian design. Typical frame for wedding photographs....

Shipping policy: No additional costs will be added to this order. Shipping costs will be totally covered by the seller (customs duties included). 19th century banded agate seal...

One of the all time most beautiful and unique ball point pens by Cartier, the rare 80's version Vendome Crosshatch Cisele. The pen is a special in almost every way; the cross section...

Antique French Empire Cut Crystal and Gold Bronze Inkwell, Circa 1880.

Little is known about the origins of this amazing piece, apart from it being from France, circa 1900.

Little is known about the origins of this amazing lamp, apart from it being from France, circa 1900.

A fine, faceted French art glass paperweight. From the Zodiac series. By Baccarat. With a white sulphide depicting Aries, Chrysomallus the ram (from whom the Golden Fleece was sh...

A Wonderful Crystal Daum Pate De Verre Papillon Butterfly Perched On A Leaf & Flower Sculpture Paperweight

This stunning Art Deco Bakelite desk accessories writing set dates from the 1930s. The set is built of five pieces in its original box: a letter opener, paper cutter, pen holder, mec...

Open letters by C. villain Origin France Circa 1915 Empire style patinated bronze Soldier motif Excellent condition signed on the side FRENCH, 1853-1910 Jean Garnier was born in Mou...

A fine antique French Grand Tour cast bronze hippocampus, seahorse statue desk ornament, circa 1820. This wonderful bronze is cast by the lost wax method (cire perdue), it depicts a ...

Letter Opener by George Omerth Origin France Circa 1920 art deco style Excellent condition Gilt bronze and patina Omerth's life dates are not known in literature. He was a student of...

Open letters by Alfred Jorel Origin France Circa 1915 Gilded bronze Art nouveau style Excellent condition with some wear due to age. Jorel was a student of the sculptor Jean Carlus. ...

Vintage Brass Tennis Racket Clip 1980s. A vintage paper clip holder featuring a brass tennis racket. Brass Tennis Racket Paper Holder Clip, Desk and Document Organizer, Sports Lover ...

An unusual and highly sought-after vintage silver plated letter opener by the world renowned, Christian Dior. The letter opener is fashioned in the form of a belt with engraved "s...

A most impressive fine quality antique Louis XV style French ormolu encrier / inkstand. Born in France in the 19th century, almost certainly Parisian work, exquisitely chased, chis...

Investing in this Art Deco Porcelain Inkwell by A. Godard for Etling Paris, circa 1930, is an opportunity to own a piece of exquisite craftsmanship that encapsulates the essence of t...

Beautiful Desk Set .4 Pieces in Black stich Leather , signed Crystal Glass Ashtray on a Tray. Very nice notebook still with lots of original paper . Letter holder . And a beathiful D...

Gorgeous and very refined Art Deco French writing set made of hardwood, inlaid bone simil and glass. The complete set is preserved in perfect condition, consisting of the inkwell, th...

A Beautiful Letter Stand with Thuja burl from the 1930s. Very period Art Deco design. The letter stand designed with a drawer, rack for letters and pens. Wear consistent with age an...

PAIR OF 19th Century French CHENETS Louis XVI style, in gilded metal. Dim.: 29 x 13 x 5 cm good conditions

French Art Deco palisander and pewter inlaid inkwell with 2 crystal wells.

A very rare and important exhibition encrier by François Linke and Léon Messagé. French, circa 1900. Index number 709. Signed to the edge 'F. Linke'. This exceptional and ambitious encrier is modelled as two putti, each holding a standard and sitting on the water's edge, the two inkwells with hinged spirally-fluted covers with glass liners. This important inkwell is based on Léon Messagé's celebrated sculptural group 'La Source' and was originally intended by Linke to form part of his spectacular Stand at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Like seven or eight other pieces originally intended for inclusion on the Stand, it would seem the encrier was a casualty of both Linke's over-ambitious production schedule and the financial burden that the manufacture of such ornate and high quality work imposed. It was eventually shown on the Stand in September after the gilding was finished by Picard at a cost of 90 French francs. The costs of the model were very high: some 2024 francs (of which Message's combined fee was 1158 francs 40 centimes), underlining the originality and complexity. The 1900 Exposition example was sold, along with three important pieces of furniture from the Stand (the Grand bureau and associated armchair, and the Bahut Louis XV Mars et Vénus), to the South African banker and diamond merchant Solomon Joel. A further six encriers were produced up until 1925. Object Literature: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Époque of French Furniture, p. 90, pl. 97; p. 149, pl. 157; p. 150; pp. 182-183, pls 197 & 198 as exhibited at the Liege exhibition in 1905 & p. 480 for the original notes in Linke's Blue daybook of the late 1890s. François Linke (1855 - 1946) was the most important Parisian cabinet maker of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and possibly the most sought after cabinet maker of his period. He was born in 1855 in the small village of Pankraz, in what is now the Czech Republic. Records show that Linke served an apprenticeship with the master cabinetmaker Neumann, then in 1875 at the age of 20 he arrived in Paris where he lived until he died in 1946. It is known that the fledgling Linke workshops were active in Paris in the Faubourg St. Antoine as early as 1881, and during this time he supplied furniture for other more established makers such as Jansen and Krieger. The quality of Linke's craftsmanship was unsurpassed by any of his contemporaries and reached its peak with his spectacular Stand at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, where his Grand Bureau took the Gold Medal. He gambled his fortune and reputation on this Stand, exhibiting several breathtaking items of furniture with sculptural mounts of the most exceptional quality and proportion. His gamble worked and his reputation was established to such an extent that Linke continued to be the pre-eminent furniture house in Paris until the Second World War. As the Art Journal reported in 1900 on Linke's Stand: 'The work of M. Linke ... was an example of what can be done by seeking inspiration amongst the Classic examples of Louis XV and XVI without in any great sense copying these great works. M. Linke's work was original in the true sense of the word, and as such commended itself to the intelligent seeker after the really artistic things of the Exhibition. Wonderful talent was employed in producing the magnificent pieces of furniture displayed....' The formation of Linke's distinctive style was made possible by his collaboration with the sculptor Léon Messagé. Together Linke and Messagé designed furniture for Linke's 1900 exhibition Stand, with exuberant allegorical figures cast in high relief, that exemplified Linke's ability to seamlessly merge the different mediums of wood carving, bronze and marquetry into a dynamic unified whole. Today Linke is best known for the exceptionally high quality of his work, as well as his individualism and inventiveness. All of his work has the finest, most lavish mounts, very often applied to comparatively simple carcasses. The technical brilliance of his work and the artistic change that it represented were never to be repeated. Bibliography: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, (1855 - 1946), The Belle Époque of French Furniture, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2003. Meyer, Jonathan. Great Exhibitions - London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, 1851-1900, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2006; pp. 298 - 300. LeDoux - Lebard, Denise. Les Ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Les Editions de l'Amateur, (Paris), 1984; pp. 439-43. Revue Artistique & Industrielle, (Paris), July-August 1900. Coral Thomsen, D. (ed), The Paris Exhibition 1900, The Art Journal, 1901; p.341. Léon Messagé (1842-1901) had a brilliant, but short lived career. He is best known for his incredible sculptural collaboration with François Linke for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A gifted sculptor, Messagé was also responsible for much of the design and creative work for Roux et Brunet and Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. Messagé enjoyed great success as a designer/sculptor before his collaboration with Linke. Indeed he was mentioned as a Gold Medal winner at the 1889 International Exhibition and was especially praised for his work on a cabinet by Zwiener. He came into contact with Linke in 1885 and it appears from then on Linke employed him on a regular basis. Messagé was primarily influenced by Rococo ornament but he strove to re-interpret it. He did not produce slavish copies, and his original approach can be appreciated in Linke's celebrated Grande Bibliothèque and Grand Bureau exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A number of drawings by Messagé are recorded and after his success at the exhibition of 1889 he was encouraged to publish his designs. 'Cahier...

Paperweight in transparent molded glass with green patina created in 1931. Goldfinch model. 3 micro ships at the base. Signed R. Lalique. Weight : 229 gr René Lalique Born in A...

Inkwell FRENCH MANUFACTURING OF THE EARLY 1900s Empire style inkwell in yellow Siena marble with gilded bronze inkwells and sphinx. 48 x 23 cm Height 20.

We would like to present you with this magnificent 19th-century Empire-style inkwell from the Napoleon III era adorned with a raised imperial eagle motif positioned between the two i...

An object of art now, captures the period.

Desk Accessories Letter Holder Swans Silver plated metal and Color. France 20th Century

19th Century Set of Brass Scale Weights, France A charming late 19th Century set of weights in brass, housed in their wooden stand. Weights such as these were used with different sc...

Apache indian Chief Head Car Mascot - Hood Ornament / Paperweight. Designed by H. Briand publisher, Paris. Silvered bronze. Mounted over a black marble base. It has a hole at the ba...

This exquisite cast bronze sprung hinged letter/document clip from France circa 1880 is a stunning example of functional artistry. Crafted in the form of a crane's head, it embodies ...

A highly collectable letter opener or paper knife made by silver plated bronze and dating to c.1960. The handle is in the form of a horse head, beautifully executed. The underside...

A highly collectable letter opener or paper knife made in gilded bronze and dating to c.1960; a scarce-find in the gold colour. The handle is in the form of a horse head, beautifu...

Mughal ladies Tom Pouce lighter designed by Cartier. Fabulous and extremely rare ladies cylindrical gasoline lighter. Created in Paris during the art deco period by the house of Cartier, back in the middle of the 1920's. This miniature Tom Pouce lighter, takes its name from the classic short fairy tales by the Grimm's brothers, Tom Thumb (Tom Pouce being the French translation). It was crafted with Champlevé colored enamels over rustic bronze and accented with details in yellow gold of 18 karats. Embellished with natural lapis lazuli and an emerald. The main outside body is decorated with organics elements and figures of red and blue birds. Gorgeous look and surely a great conversation piece which is accompanied by the round Cartier red box. Champlevé, in the decorative arts, is an enameling technique or an object made by the champlevé process, which consists of cutting away troughs or cells in a metal plate and filling the depressions with pulverized vitreous enamel. The raised metal lines between the cutout areas form the design outline. Emerald: Accented on top in a bezel setting, with 1 square faceted cut of a natural green emerald of about 0.15 carats. Lapis: Mount with 1 flat round cabochon cut, carved from lapis lazuli of about 1.25 carats. Birthstone: Emerald for the month of May. Weight: 21.95 Grams, (14.07 Dwt). Measurements: Have a diameter of 16 mm and a height of 33 mm (0.63 x 1.30 Inches). Hallmarks Stamped with the maker's mark, the serial numbers, the French taxation mark for luxury items BL inside a rectangular cartouche and signed, "CARTIER 5554", stamped with matching cases numbers, 13 & 13. Ministere Des Finances Lighter Tax 1911-1945 Note: On 10th December 1910 the French state adopted a new tax regulations on all devices indented to produce spark or fire by friction, or by any other means, and of the combustion of a flammable substance. Since 1st January 1911 every lighter in France that was intended for sale in the French market had to be taxed and adequately marked. To confirm that the excise duty was paid to the Ministry of Finance a special duty metal plate (stamp) was attached (usually welded) to the lighter by the lighter manufacturers. The fees charged by the French state were high but the tax rates levied by the state were varying depending on the type and finish of the lighter. Following tax rates were used: 2 French francs for common pocket lighters, 5 Fr for pocket lighters made of silver, 20 Fr for luxury pocket lighters (e.g. made of gold), 5 Fr for common table/desk lighters (over 10 cm), 10 Fr for table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of silver, 50 Fr for luxury table/desk lighters (over 10 cm) made of gold or platinum. Between 1911 and 1916 a simple copper plate was used which had the date 1911 engraved. Later, between 1916 and 1945 a new plate (undated) was introduced with the letters "C" and "I" (stands for indirect taxes) and a profile of Mercury (patron god of financial gain, commerce and messengers) with an inscription "Ministère Des Finances" (eng. Ministry of Finance). Two shapes were used for the plate – oval for table lighters, the other one for pocket lighters. Additional to the two duty plates a marking "BL" (Briquet de Luxe, eng. luxury lighter) was introduced in 1926. It was a small hallmark which was considered as more discreet and applied only on luxury lighters like Quercia or Lancel. It is worth to mention that France was not the sole country where lighters were taxed and marked with special plates...

A Napoleon III bronze inkwell Encrier. Three winged cupids holding up a bowl with masked faces with an eagle standing atop. Dimensions: H 16cm W 11cm D 8cm Origin: French Date: ...

Art deco paperweight circa 1930. Kingfisher in silvered bronze on a black marble base veined with white. Signature on the base P. Sega for Pierre Sega. In perfect condition. Height:...

Heading : An Antique Baccarat Millefiori Gridel Chruch Paperweight 1848 Date : 1848 Origin : France Features : Three gridel canes, goat, horse and cockerel within a close pack of com...

Art Deco Desk Set is a captivating blend of timeless elegance and functional design. The centerpiece of this ensemble is the charming Penguin Statue, reminiscent of the iconic design...

Napoleon III inkwell gilt bronz and champleve enamel Origin France perfect condition circa 1860. The Napoleon III style had its heyday during the 1850s and 1880s. Emperor Napoleon wa...

Small inkwell crafted in porcelain, the paunch and lid decorated with a frieze of polychromatic floral motives highlighted with gold. The lid topped by a pine cone finial features a ...

This beautiful cameo glass inkwell displays the brilliance of the renowned Daum Nancy, a firm long celebrated for their masterful ability to recreate the beauty of nature in glass. A...

Vintage brass apple sculpture paperweight in very good condition with a light patina all around. Polished brass apple with 3 leaves with fine detai...

Louis Vuitton Monogram Pilot Briefcase Serviette

A rare antique French glass paperweight containing a close pack mushroom design by renowned glass makers Baccarat and dating from around 1850. The large and heavily made paperweight ...

Solid Brass Three Wise Monkeys Paper Weight , France 1970s

Vintage Hermes Leather and Bronze Desk Magnifying Glass Elegant gilt bronze magnifying glass with black leather handle stamped Hermes Paris from th...

Vintage Jacques Adnet style Art Deco black leather saddle stitching with metal brass desk set. A modernist desk accessories set designed by ILG, Belgium, in the 1950s. Art Deco styl...

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, ...

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...