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Modern Desk Accessories

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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
Geometric Sculpture in Polished Pearl Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Geometric sculpture made in polished resin in variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. This sculpture is very versatile and fun! You can cr...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Leather Tray, Medium B Rectangular Tray - Handmade - Color: Zinc
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 Accessories

Materials

Leather

Cuyo Large Alpaca Silver & Blue Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library. Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

Leather Tray, Large B Retangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Savannah
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 Accessories

Materials

Leather

Strawberry Pink Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This Geometric sculpture is handmade in polished resin in a variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. Our Semi Sphere is a very cool and f...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Geometric Sculpture in Polished Strawberry Pink Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Geometric sculpture made in polished resin in variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. This sculpture is very versatile and fun! You can cr...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Smoke Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This Geometric sculpture is handmade in polished resin in a variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. Our Se...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Louis Lejeune Norwich Terrier Hood Ornament
Located in Huntington, NY
Louis Lejeune Norwich Terrier Hood Ornament Louis Lejeune Mascots adorn the finest European & American Cars. The British Royal Family have, for many years, displayed mascots on ...
Category

Late 20th Century English Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel

Yellow Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This Geometric sculpture is handmade in polished resin in a variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. Our Se...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Geometric Sculpture in Polished Resin Color Grape by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Geometric sculpture made in polished resin in variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. This sculpture is ve...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Tiffany & Co. Crystal Glass Apple Paperweight
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous crystal glass apple form paper weight By Tiffany and Co. USA, Late 20th Century Measures: 3.25"W x 3.25"D x 3"H Very good original vintage condition.
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Italian 1970s Metal Parrot Head Scotch Tape Dispenser
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1970s Parrot Head Scotch Tape Dispenser
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Salta Large Square Black Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

Ettore Sottsass, Shiva Flower Vase, Pink, Glazed Ceramic, Spanish, XXth
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 Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Blitz Marble Bookends Merlot & Viola 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 Accessories

Materials

Marble

Contemporary 'Dumbbell' Aquamarine Crystal Handmade in Italy by Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2021 Collection of decorative objects by Ghiro Studio (Milan, Italy). Each ‘Dumbbell’ sculpture is a unique piece. It is handmade with the utmost care and attention to detail. It...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

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 Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Caithness Glass Ascension Paperweight by Alastair Macintosh Scotland, Ca 1980
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a beautiful Caithness glass paperweight named "Ascension", designed by Alastair Macintosh and dating to the last quarter of the 20th century. The paperweight has a cone, egg shaped form, having colours including blue swirl with orange net to the centre and medium bubble and smaller controlled bubbles, making a very distinctive design. The Caithness Glass Company began making paperweights circa 1962 Paul Ysart,Colin Terriss,Alistair Macintosh,Margot Thomson Inns Burn where some of Caithness makers designers of Caithness glass paperweights. The makers mark is etched to the base with CAITHNESS ASCENSION SCOTLAND and a scratched edition number alongside as per the images. This paperweight weighs about 500 gram. Caithness glass The company was founded in 1961 by Robin Sinclair and initially only made bowls, vases and drinking glasses. After Paul Ysart joined the company a year later, that paved the weigh for Paperweight production, with regular factory production starting in the late 1960s. In 1974 the first millefiori and lampwork paperweights...
Category

20th Century Scottish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Blown Glass

Clear Coaster Set, Contemporary Coaster Set with Brass Inlay
Located in NEW YORK, NY
The clear coaster collection celebrates transparency through the use of modern techniques and materials such as resin, while inlaying it with brass elements through the ancient techn...
Category

2010s Lebanese Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Contemporary Set of Two Handmade Transparent Crystal Photo Frames by GhiróStudio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
Set of two photo frames, one horizontal and one vertical, of excellent workmanship and artistic quality. The rounded edges give harmony and elegance. The high transparency crystal ha...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Contemporary 'Sail' Handmade Aquamarine Crystal Big Sculpture by Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2023 Collection of decorative objects signed by Ghirò Studio (Milan). The natural crystal has high transparencies with aquamarine reflections, it has been curved and handmade to repr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Cartier Must II ballpoint pen silver plated and palladium 1980s
Located in Paris, IDF
This Cartier Must II ballpoint pen from the 1980s is a rare piece made of silver plating and palladium, adorned with a distinctive engraved motif featuring Cartier's iconic "C". It b...
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Clear Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This Geometric sculpture is handmade in polished resin in a variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. Our Semi...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Leather Tray, Medium B Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Clay
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 Accessories

Materials

Leather

Albert Paley 1994 "Medallion" Paperweight in Blackened Steel with Bronzed Patina
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Albert Paley large handcrafted steel medallion paperweight. Small edition for Arts Patrons. Formed and fabricated blackened steel with chemical patina...
Category

1990s American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Tronador Square Cream Onyx Stone Box
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx

Small Modern Spinning Sculpture in Turquoise Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This modern geometric sculptures will add a touch of color to any space, you can place them on top of books on your coffee table or even as a centerpiece. The possibilities are endle...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

1990s Alfredo Barbini Modern Black Murano Glass Paperweight depicting an Hand
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This paperweight reflects the elegance and modern artistry of 1990s Murano glass while also carrying the signature style of one of the most renowned Venetian glassmakers of the 20th ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Gucci Leather Desk Notepad with Equestrian Motif, circa 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
Boost your workspace with this rare Gucci-designed modernist desktop accessory, a stunning blend of luxury and craftsmanship. Created in Italy circa 1970, this exquisite piece exempl...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Gervasoni Wind Table Fan in Handwoven Dark Pulut by Jasper Startup
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Family of floor or table fans that combine aesthetics and functionality, features that make them a genuine piece of furniture in their own right. Available in two sizes, S or L, they...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Knotted Double Leather Tray Set Home Accessories By André Fu Living
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 Accessories

Materials

Leather, Wood

Golf Inspired Chess Set in White Bird's-Eye Maple
Located in New York, NY
  White bird’s-eye maple and green marble chess set. Hand painted Golf chessmen.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Birdseye Maple

Seguso Italian Murano Art Glass Vase
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and colorful Italian Seguso Viro Murano art glass vase, Italy, circa 1990s, late-20th century. Maker's mark on bottom/underside as shown...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass

Vintage Montblanc Meisterstuck Classique Fountain Pen with Papers & Boxes
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This fountain pen was made by the well known Montblanc factory of Germany in approximately 1990 in their classic modern style. This fountain pen is their 'Meisterstuck' model and has...
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold, Stainless Steel

Geometric Sculpture in Polished Emerald Green Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Geometric sculpture made in polished resin in variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space. This sculpture is very versatile and fun! You can ...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

"Simone" Leather Desk Blotter Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Simone" is a leather desk blotter, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Co...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Large Modern Spinning Sculpture in Turquoise Resin by Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This modern geometric sculptures will add a touch of color to any space, you can place them on top of books on your coffee table or even as a centerpiece. The possibilities are endle...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Bronze Female Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, small, substantial bronze female head bust sculpture on cylindrical wood pedestal base, circa early-20th century or earlier. Artist is un...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Lalique Frosted Glass Tang Horse Figurine or Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine french glass figurine or paperweight. By Lalique. Designed by Marie-Claude Lalique in the 1980s. In the form of a Tang Dynasty horse with cropped tail and mane. The horse in frosted glass and the rectangular base and negative space (between legs) in clear glass. With an original Lalique Paris sticker and etched "Lalique Ⓡ France" signature. Simply a wonderful Lalique horse...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Crystal Pink Ashtray for Val Saint Lambert, Paper Weight Signed
By Guido Bon, Val Saint Lambert
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Free-blown pink and clear crystal ashtray by Val Saint Lambert. Could be used as a vide poche or decorative desk accessories. Hand blown beautif...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Hermes Paris 1960 Vintage Modernist Desk Box Round Covered Dish In silver
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 Accessories

Materials

Silver

Il Bauletto Jewelry Box in Briar and Mahogany
Located in New York, NY
Jewelry box in briar and mahogany, matte finish, ultra suede lining. 24-karat gold plated brass accessories. With removable tray and necklace bar.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Suede, Mahogany

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 Accessories

Materials

Metal

Tiffany Box and Bow Crystal Paperweight by Tiffany & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous iconic Tiffany box with bow crystal paperweight by Tiffany & Co. circa 1990's. The box is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 3"W x 3"D x 2....
Category

Late 20th Century German Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Snow Globe Black White Chanel Number 5
Located in Munich, DE
Rare limited edition of a Chanel Snow Ball with white bags on a white base, which are only for VIP Customers in excellent condition and with the original bo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic, Acrylic

Vintage Red Swivel Desk Storage Organizer by Rino Pirovano for Art 900
Located in East Quogue, NY
This vintage red swivel desk organizer, designed by Rino Pirovano for Rexite in the mid-1970s, is a celebrated example of Italian design. Made of ABS plastic, it features four rotati...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Christian Dior Home Desk Waste Basket in Metal, Lucite and Rattan, circa 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
This stunning wastebasket was designed for the Christian Dior Interior Collection. The rare piece was crafted in France circa 1970. The geometric shape boasts a gilded brass gallery ...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

In Stock in Los Angeles, Purple Kong Mini Portable Charger
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Kong mini power bank battery charger In stock in Los Angeles Easily transportable, Kong mini becomes a stand hugging the mobile phone and an external battery for fast charging mo...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Leather Tray, Medium Square Tray, Handmade - Color: Savannah
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 Accessories

Materials

Leather

Unique Patek Philippe 3844 with Amazing Worldmap Dial / 4. of july !
Located in Munich, DE
A wonderful dress watch by Patek Philippe. Equipped with the geneve seal awarded hand wind caliber no.215. The dial changed to a unique look you will never find again. Really amazing...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold

Furniture Handle Hammered Brass Bronze Cabinet Hardware Drawer Pulls
Located in Warsaw, PL
Handcrafted hardware by RUDA Studio is aimed to embody a touch of natural phenomena. The hammered brass handle reminds of honeycombs or drops of water frozen in the metal. This aesth...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Ukrainian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Set of 3 Murano Ducks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 3 vintage hand blown Murano glass ducks infused with gold flecks, with Swarovski crystal eyes / Made in Italy, circa 1980s "Murano Glass" etc...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Set of 3 Murano Ducks
Set of 3 Murano Ducks
$750 Sale Price / set
50% Off
In Stock in Los Angeles, Green Killer Shark Mini Portable Charger
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Killer shark mini power bank battery charger In stock in Los Angeles "Mr Holder was a shark who loved swimming but could not do it. He was mocked by all the other sharks who call...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

21st Century Peso Concrete Book and Door Holder 2kg Light Grey Color Cement
Located in Rome, Lazio
Colored book and door holders made in concrete. A touch of color for your bookcase 100% made in Italy. 2kg: measures: L 9, P 9, H 18 cm.
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Concrete

Vintage Red Swivel Desk Storage Organizer by Rino Pirovano for Art 900
Located in East Quogue, NY
This vintage red swivel desk organizer, designed by Rino Pirovano for Rexite in the mid-1970s, is a celebrated example of Italian design. Made of ABS plastic, it features four rotati...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Robert Held Sculptural Art Glass Paperweight, Canada, 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Robert Held Sculptural Art Glass Paperweight, Canada, 20th Century. Signed to the bottom.
Category

20th Century Canadian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Hermes Desktop Magnifier Paperweight in Silver, 1960s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Hermes Paris magnifying glass desk accessory with domed lens ensconced in a silver frame with a belt design. We've left the oxidation and patina untouched and simply added a ...
Category

1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Weltron Model 2001 Space Ball, AM/FM Radio 8 Track Stereo
By Weltron
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Step into the retro-futuristic charm of the Weltron Model 2001 8-track stereo AM-FM radio, a timeless piece that seamlessly blends nostalgia with space-age ae...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

Montblanc Fountain Pen Star Walker Soulmakers for 100 years Special Edition
Located in Plainview, NY
The Montblanc StarWalker "Soulmakers for 100 Years" Special Edition Fountain Pen is an exquisite symbol of craftsmanship and heritage. Encased in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Gold Plate, Platinum

Vintage Villeroy & Boch Clear Glass Panda Bear Paperweight
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This vintage Villeroy & Boch paperweight features a delightful sitting panda bear design. The clear glass material is cut-to-clear and gives the paperweight a charming cuddly appearance. This modern original is a perfect addition to any collection of decorative pottery and glassware, and would make a lovely gift for anyone who loves bears...
Category

1980s German Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Modern desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern desk accessories 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 accessories created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern desk accessories made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desk accessories, popular names associated with this style include Ghidini 1961, Danese Milano, Enzo Mari, and AIREDELSUR. 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 accessories differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $15 and tops out at $57,800 while the average work can sell for $499.

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