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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 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.
Style: Modern
Color: Gray
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
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 Accessories
Materials
Concrete
Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car
By Xavier Froissart, Daum
Located in New York, NY
Daum French Crystal Riviera Coupe Car. Highly detailed large glass depiction of a classic car with frosted tires and engine. Designed by Xavier F...
Category
20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
In Stock in Los Angeles, Grey 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 a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Menhir White Marble Carved Bookend
By Casa Mineral
Located in Mexico City, MX
Bookend in carved Veneciano white marble. Handmade in Mexico. The delivery time is 6 to 8 weeks for items without marble and 13 to 14 weeks for marble pieces. For shipping outside M...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Postmodern Glass Cube Paperweight, 1980's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Postmodern Glass Cube Paperweight, 1980's
Category
20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Tronador Square Blue Onyx Stone Box
By AIREDELSUR
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
Lucite Dice Decorative Objects, Pair/Set
Located in New York, NY
A pair/set of Lucite dice decorative objects, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. A great set for a desk, bookshelf, coffee/cocktail table, etc.
Dimensions:
2.44" Square
...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Brass silver-plated chiseled Pencil Holder, Hommage Collection, Weaving Pattern
By Carole Serny
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This Pencil Holder is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics highlig...
Category
2010s French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Silver-plated rectangular Pencil Box, Hommage Collection
By Carole Serny
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This rectangular pencil box is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetic...
Category
2010s French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Silver-plated chiseled Rectangular Case, Hommage Collection, Braiding Pattern
By Carole Serny
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This rectangular case is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics high...
Category
2010s French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Brass silver-plated chiseled Round Box, Hommage Collection, Canning Pattern
By Carole Serny
Located in VIC-LA-GARDIOLE, FR
This round box is part of the "Hommage" (tribute) collection, a line of stationery and office accessories designed and hand-manufactured by Carole Serny, whose aesthetics highlights ...
Category
2010s French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
In Stock in Los Angeles, Pink 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
1994 Bertil Vallien Kosta Boda Atelier "Cat Viewpoints" Glass Sculpture Sweden
Located in Atlanta, GA
A vintage 1994 glass sculpture by Bertil Vallien for Kosta Boda Atelier. From the Kosta Boda website, “'Glass offers opportunities like no other material. It has everything. For me, ...
Category
Late 20th Century Swedish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Italian Modern Alabaster Marble Sphere or Paperweight in Green and Black
Located in New York, NY
A small green, black and white alabaster marble decorative object sphere or paperweight, '70 Modern, circa 1970s, Italy. A great decorative object or paperweight for an office, desk,...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Alabaster, Marble
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 Accessories
Materials
Concrete
“Revolve” No.S3 'made to order' - Contemporary Handmade Stucco Sculpture
Located in Holte, DK
“Revolve” – No. S3
This is made in a limited edition of only 5 pieces + 1 AP
The five sculptures are made in five different colors, making them all tru...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Cast Stone
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 Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic
Danese Milano Formosa French Letters for Perpetual Wall Calendar by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Danese Milano Formosa letters in French for Perpetual wall calendar by Enzo Mari
Enzo Mari is one of the masters of Italian Design. He was b...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Danese Milano Ameland Letter Opener in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ameland is a double-edged paper knife in satin finish stainless steel and is the result of an astute simplification of the manufacturing process. The piece is made unique by its dins...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
21st Century Minimalist Paperweight in Portuguese Green Marble "Verde Viana"
By Techxture
Located in Nelas, PT
S.Voxel - 21st century modern Portuguese "Verde Viana" marble paperweight
S.voxelexplores the importance of object scaling and user experience. Voxels coffee tables and side table...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Set of 12 Italian Crystal Cups 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
12 Italian cups serving
of the 20th century in cut crystal, with base and base in silver metal, relieved decoration alluding to the God Bacchus.
Brand na...
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Caithness Glass Ascension Paperweight by Alastair Macintosh Scotland, Circa 1980s
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
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 Accessories
Materials
Concrete
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 Accessories
Materials
Concrete
Rock Crystal Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful, polished rock crystal Obelisk sculpture, in the Modern style, circa 20th century. Piece is hand-carved and polished smooth from one piece...
Category
20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Rock Crystal
Art Glass Jellyfish Sculpture Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial transparent/clear and shades of blue art glass jellyfish sculpture decorative object, circa late-20th century to early ...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Modern Black Silver Gold or Copper Metal Rabbit Accent Chair
Located in Origgio (VA), IT
"Mr Holder was a shark who loved swimming but could not do it. He was mocked by all the other sharks who called him a 'boring little girl'. Poor thing! Then two famous designers with...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
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
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 Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Victor Vasarely Vintage Op Art Acrylic Cube Graphic Sculpture Desk Accessory
Located in North Miami, FL
This four sided every changing graphic optical Op Art lucite vintage cube sculpture by Victor Vasarely is vintage from the 1970s. They were produced in ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Acrylic, Paint
Danese Milano Small Citera Box in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Citera is a small box made using a combination of contrasting materials, polished stainless steel and rosewood. The lid can either be opened on hinges or simply placed on top and the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Emilio Pucci & Hans Theo Baumann Porcelain Cig Vessel for Rosenthal Studio-Line
Located in New York, NY
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...
Category
Late 20th Century German Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Shell Sculpture Paperweight by Mikasa
By Mikasa
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Intricate hand blown glass shell sculpture with silver specks / Made in Japan by Kurata for retailer Mikasa, circa 1980s
Original sticker on the base
...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass
Clear Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin by Paola Valle
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
Brass and Leather Card Holder
Located in Paonia, CO
The (wh)ORE HAüS STUDIOS small goods collection was made for those that wanted to experience the (wh)ORE HAüS brand without committing to our larger pieces. Our brass and leather card holder...
Category
2010s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Danese Milano Timor Perpetual English Calendar in White by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Timor is a perpetual calendar. The PVC cards that represent the days of the week, months of the year and dates are fixed to a central pivot and can be fanned out for the user to choo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
PVC
Danese Milano Timor Perpetual French Calendar in White by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Timor is a perpetual calendar. The PVC cards that represent the days of the week, months of the year and dates are fixed to a central pivot and can be fanned out for the user to choo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
PVC
Aqua and Clear Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin by Paola Valle
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 fun...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Purple Charoite Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful, substantial and rare natural purple charoite jewelry box, circa late-20th century. Charoite is rare mineral aka 'lilac stone'. A beautif...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Chrome
Constellation Marble Bowl, Small Low in Nero Marquina Marble, in Stock
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
The hexagonal bowls are designed so that they can be laid together forming a honeycomb formation, either in same color or in different color combinations.
Please note that no two...
Category
2010s British Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
French Porcelain Espresso Coffee or Tea Demitasse Cup Saucer w/Abstract Design
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful French porcelain espresso coffee or tea demitasse cup and saucer with colorful abstract design, circa late-20th century, France. Marked on bottom as shown.
French bla...
Category
Late 20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Hermès Porcelain "Passifolia" Small Salad Bowl, France, 2021
By Hermès
Located in Cagliari, IT
Beautiful small salad bowl made with the "Passifolia" pattern.
"The rain drums on the convex palm leaves. The wind hums over the fringe of petals. These sounds sharpen the chlorophy...
Category
2010s French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
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 Accessories
Materials
Concrete
Karl Springer Rare Adjustable Magnifying Lens in Polished Chrome 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Rare adjustable magnifying lens with beautifully crafted mount in polished chrome by Karl Springer, American 1980's.
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Murano Penguin Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage hand blown Murano glass penguin sculpture in clear, black, and white colors / Made in Italy, circa 1970s
Measures: height 5 inches, width 3...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
White Turtle Carry XS Jewelry Tree, Designed by Marcantonio
By MARCANTONIO
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
After the success of Turtle Carry, Marcantonio presents the iconic turtles in a small version.
The turtle carapace supports a jewelry tree.
Produce...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Zhuang Desk, Working Pad in Saddle Leather Tortora Colour
Located in New York, NY
The working pad, part of the collection The Objects - Zhuang Desk designed by Neri & Hu for Poltrona Frau is made from a double layer of Tortora-coloured saddle-leather. When open it can be used to work on with a laptop, also extending far enough to be used as a mouse pad...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Danese Milano Formosa English Letters for Perpetual Wall Calendar by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Danese Milano Formosa letters in English for Perpetual wall calendar by Enzo Mari
Enzo Mari is one of the masters of Italian Design. He was ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Danese Milano Flores Opaline Box in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Opaline Flores is a rounded, plastic pencil case. It is made up of two parts in polystyrene. The hinges are the distinctive invention of the designer and with their interlocking mech...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Polystyrene
Infinity Bullecante Glass Bubble Balls or Bookends Pair of Labeled
Located in North Miami, FL
This pair of mesmerizing glass bubble/ bullecante balls have an infinity design. They have a label on the bottom that says Tani Sun Designer with SPIIS 5976. They can be glass sculpt...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Murano "Cenedese" Glass Aquarium, Italy, 1950's
Located in Kastrup, DK
Italian Midcentury Murano glass fish aquarium.
Featuring multicolored inclusions with five fish and sea grass.
Italy, Venice 1950-1959.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Italian Obelisks Pyramids Decorative Objects, Set
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful set of two (2) pyramid Obelisks, in the Modern style, circa mid-20th century, Italy. Pyramids are wood, wrapped in hand designed Italian paper; One is a combination of wh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plaster, Paper, Wood
Contemporary 'Sail' Handmade Aquamarine Crystal Sculpture by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2021 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
Danese Milano Sicilia Wastepaper Basket in Stainless Steel by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Sicilia is a cylinder with hexagonal base and function as a wastepaper basket. The structure is made of polished stainless steel.
Bruno Munari was one of the most important Italia...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Danese Milano Ventotene Papertray & Pencil Stainless Steel Holder by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ventotene is a lettertray and pencil holder rolled into one. It combines both design and functionalism in one useful and attractive everyday object made of polished stainless steel.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Danese Milano Bincan Trash Wastepaper Basket in White by Naoto Fukasawa
Located in Hicksville, NY
Bincan cestino is part of the Bincan collection which was designed for the work place and can be adapted to any environment whether internal or external, public or private. This piec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
White Marble Elipse Plates Set
By Casa Mineral
Located in Mexico City, MX
Plates in Veneciano white marble. Handmade in México by local craftsmen. Dimensions: Small: 22 D x 16 W x 2 H cm Large: 26 D x 20 W x 2 H cm. Production time: 6-8 weeks for item...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
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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