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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Danese Milano Formosa Perpetual Wall French Calendar in Natural by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Formosa is a wall calendar with an aluminium back plate that supports the removable sheets of pvc that make up the date. The font used in the black and red version is Helvetica and t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Crystal Clear Votive Candle Holder by Villeroy and Boch Made in Germany
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Villeroy and Boch Made in Germany Crystal Votive candle holders.
A very beautiful contemporary clear crystal votive candle holders by Vi...
Category
20th Century German Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
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
Danese Milano Ellice Bookmark in Stainless Steel by Marco Ferreri
Located in Hicksville, NY
Ellice is a bookmark that helps any reader find their page immediately. It is a steel blade with a tiny brass ball inserted into a slit at one end and its magnetic case make it a truly precious little object for any who use it. This bookmark is the expression of fast and precise action.
Marco Ferreri is an architect who is capable of applying the culture of design to an array of different fields from product design to graphics, from architecture to installation. Born in Imperia in 1958, he lives and works in Milan. He studied with Bruno Munari and is considered a link between the great masters of Italian design and the new generations. He has given lectures and courses at some of the most important schools and universities both in Italy and abroad. At the beginning of his career Marco Ferreri was able to produced a smal but significant object with Danese Milano...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
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
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
Danese Milano In Attesa Wastepaper Basket in White by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
In attesa is a wastepaper basket. It is an injection moulded polypropylene cylinder but the base is not perpendicular to the sides instead it is at a diagona...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
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 Flores White Box in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
White 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 mechan...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Polystyrene
Danese Milano Canarie White Desk Set in Aluminum by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
White Canarie is a desk set made up of a pencil holder, a paperclip holder and two ashtrays. It was designed to help keep a desk or work surface in order with everything you might ne...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Danese Milano Maiorca White Pencil & Paperclip Aluminum Holder by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
White Maiorca is a pencil and paperclip holder with fire resistant melamine shell and anodized aluminium interior fumé.
Bruno Munari was one of the most important Italian architec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
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
Danese Milano Large Citera Box in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Citera is a large 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
Danese Milano Koro Wastepaper Basket in White by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Koro is a waste paper basket intended for the workplace and in public spaces. The cylindrical form is made of injection-moulded polypropylene.
Enzo Mari is one of the masters of I...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Danese Milano In Attesa Wastepaper Basket in Opaline by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
In attesa is a wastepaper basket. It is an injection moulded polypropylene cylinder but the base is not perpendicular to the sides instead it is at a diagona...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
21st Century by Arch. Aldo Rossi "Sannazzaro" Marble Paperweight
By Aldo Rossi
Located in massa, IT
Marble Paperweight designed by Aldo Rossi.
Size: cm 20 x 4 x H4
Materials: Bianco Carrara - Red Travertine - National Travertine - White Lasa
Designed by: Aldo Rossi.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Danese Milano Bincan Fermasacchetto Bag Clip in White by Naoto Fukasawa
Located in Hicksville, NY
Danese Milano Bincan Fermasacchetto bag clip in white for Bincan wastepaper basket by Naoto Fukasawa
Naoto Fukasawa is a Japanese designer. He was born in 1956 in Yamanashi and ha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Contemporary Handcrafted Geometric Bookend "Tropi 1" in Solid Marble by Anaktae
By ANAKTAE
Located in Athens, GR
Contemporary handcrafted geometric bookend "Tropi 1" in solid marble.
Each bookend is composed of two geometric pieces of solid marble fused togeth...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Daniel Salazar Lundberg Studios Cherry Blossom Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Lundberg Studios paperweight by Daniel Salazar.
With a lampwork cherry blossom and 3 small cherry flower buds on a branch.
Bearing a Lundbe...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Cuyo Large Alpaca Silver & Black Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beatiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, moustly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One ...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Danese Milano Formosa Perpetual Wall English Calendar in Natural by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Formosa is a wall calendar with an aluminium back plate that supports the removable sheets of pvc that make up the date. The font used in the black and red version is Helvetica and t...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Enzo Mari, Rare Resin Cube, Sculpture, Paperweight, with Polyhedral Inside
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very rare Mari resin cube from the 1950s, it measures in cm 7 x 7 x 7, has a couple of flee bites in 2 corners. Similar sample with black inside in Progressione di sculptur...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
"Love me Now" Marble Heart Gift by On Entropy in White Marble
By on entropy
Located in Athens, GR
"Love me Now" is a marble item designed to evoke the senses. It is shaped as an off-centered heart with a longer tail. Its finish and tactile surface make it a hearty volume, which i...
Category
2010s Greek Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Pair of Lucite Bookends
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Pair of vintage Lucite bookends made with recycle acrylic bank window protection.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic, Lucite
21st Century Minimalist Paperweight in Portuguese White Marble "Pele de Tigre"
By Techxture
Located in Nelas, PT
S.Voxel - 21st century modern Portuguese "Pele de Tigre" marble paperweight
S.voxelexplores the importance of object scaling and user experience. Voxels coffee tables and side tab...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Contemporary Handcrafted Geometric Bookend "Tropi 2" in Solid Marble by Anaktae
By ANAKTAE
Located in Athens, GR
Contemporary handcrafted geometric bookend "Tropi 2" in solid marble.
Each bookend is composed of two geometric pieces of solid marble fused togeth...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Greek Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Galucharme Desk Accessories Set #3 by Nino Basso
Located in Milan, IT
There are a lot of tales about Shageen. Supposedly, it was prized since the time of the pharaohs, and during the Chinese Han Dynasty (202 BC - AD 220). It was also used in the constr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
21st Century Concrete Cement Tray Centrepiece Handmade in Italy Blue 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
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 Accessories
Materials
Concrete
Modern Lucite and Steel Desk Organizer
Located in San Diego, CA
Very functional modern Lucite and steel desk organizer, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 8.75" W x 10.75" D x 3.25" H. #1452.
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Lucite Obelisk Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A modern style Lucite obelisk decorative object, circa late-20th century. A great decorative object for a deck, office, library, shelf, cocktail table, etc. Obelisk measures: 8" Height.
Other items shown in images also available, search 1stDibs ref. #s:
Black and White marble pyramid, ref. #: LU1314223512602
Lucite & 1970s Pennies Paperweight...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Crystal Geometric Paperweight or Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful crystal geometric paperweight or decorative object, circa late-20th century. A great decorative object (as shown) and a great piece for a desk, office, library, etc. Very...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Danese Milano Sumatra White Paper Tray in Technopolymer by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
White Sumatra is a stackable letter tray made of technopolymer with rubber feet. When two or more of the trays are stacked all of the space above and below each piece can be maximize...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Rubber
Trash Can, Czechoslovakia, circa 1980
Located in Praha, CZ
Original never used condition with original box.
Category
1980s Czech Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Galucharme Table Watch by Nino Basso
Located in Milan, IT
Design Center 1991 is high quality brand, focused in luxury Italian Design home and office accessories. Unique pieces and small series are conceived as self-contained units that comm...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Murano Sommerso Glass Horse Head Bust Signed Italian
Located in North Miami, FL
This Italian Murano Sommerso glass horse head is signed Bortaro. It is lovely and in then colors of black, gray and clear. The mane of hair in hand b...
Category
1980s Unknown Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass
Galucharme Desk Accessories Set #4 by Nino Basso
Located in Milan, IT
In Japan, shagreen was documented and preserved since started appearing on sword hilts and armor of Samurai during the Middle Ages, in part because its text...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
“Revolve” No.S6 Blue Contemporary Handmade Scagliola Stucco Sculpture 'no.01/05'
Located in Holte, DK
“Revolve” – No. S6 in Blue (no. 01/05)
This is made in a limited edition of only 5 pieces + 1 AP
The five sculptures are made in five different col...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Cast Stone
21st Century by Sergio Asti "Pressacarte" Desk Marble Complement (set of 4 pcs)
By Sergio Asti
Located in massa, IT
Desk Marble complement designed by Sergio Asti
Price referred to a complete set of four items:
Size Model 1: Cm H 18 x Diameter cm 6
Size Model 2: Cm H16 x Diameter cm 6
Size Model ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Modern Studio Art Glass Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
Modern studio art glass paperweight in clear glass with cased white glass and controlled bubbles forming a medusa shaped element within the piec...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Signed Feliciano Bejar Green Cut Glass Sculpture, circa 1990
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Cut glass and brushed aluminum table sculpture by Feliciano Béjar (1920-2007), Mexico, 1990's.
His art sculptures dating from the 1960's through 1990's uses glass ground with either...
Category
Late 20th Century Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Crystal Geometric Honeycomb Paperweight or Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful crystal geometric honeycomb style paperweight or decorative object, circa late-20th century. A great decorative object (as shown) and a great piece for a desk, office, li...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Galucharme Desk Accessories Set #2 by Nino Basso
Located in Milan, IT
Elegant and masculine are the hallmarks of this Fine desk accessories set that combines contemporary design with the precious galuchat leather gri...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Danese Milano Canarie White 2 Pencil/Paperclip Aluminum Holders by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
White Canarie 2 Pencil & Paperclip Holders is a desk set made up of a pencil holder, a paperclip holder and two ashtrays. It was designed to help keep a desk or work surface in order...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
Galucharme Letter Opener and Ruler Set by Nino Basso
Located in Milan, IT
From Galucharme Collection, this is a special desk gift and lovely to look at. The decorative and fashinating leather, with a myriad of pearl-like granules, is covered in shagreen en...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Italian Photo Frame Modern Wood, Humour Pink Wood
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Humour wood is a phot frame of the Italian collection of photo frames
Laura G Art with Heart realized by Italian handcrafts in natural wood.
painted in fuchsia acrylic. It is a very funny and beautiful photo frame
for your images of life. It can be hanged at a wall as well, and you may
create a wonderful wall decorated as designed by an artist.
It is “c'est la vie Art with Heart “ , bring a piece of Italy into your home.
You may simply keep the photo frame on your table, as a
wonderful top photo frame for your photos. Humour pink wood...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Modern Desk Set of Pewter for Letters and Visit Cards by Jean Goardere
By Jean Goardere
Located in Weiningen, 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 Accessories
Materials
Pewter
Berd Vay'e Limited Edition "Horosphere" Lucite Sculpture 'Small'
By Berd Vay'e
Located in New Orleans, LA
Berd Vay'e limited edition "Horosphere" Lucite sculpture
Aspherical globe embracing both fluidity and precision; an exacting orb which allows the eye a 360° vantage point to the tho...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
“Revolve” No.S1 Blue – Contemporary 21st-Century Stucco Sculpture 'no. 01/05'
Located in Holte, DK
“Revolve” – No. S1 in Blue (no. 01/05)
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 truly one of a kind. You can buy this unique piece or request your favorite color under customization.
The piece is made from plaster, fish glue, and pigments. It's waxed and weighs 8.5kg (19 lb).
About Revolve:
The starting point of this project is rooted in Flensted Mouritzen's interest in old stucco materials and moulding techniques. It has grown into a fascination with the two-dimensional line of the running mould technique being transformed through a specifically created turning machine...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Cast Stone
Crystal Egg Color Gray, in Glass, Italy
Located in Treviso, Treviso
The charm of the shapes is enhanced by the material with which the collection is made: glass.
Transparency, lightness and shine meet the design, transforming into sculptured object...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Stanley Szwarc Stainless Steel Rectangular Large Box Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous long and unusual rectangular box is polished satin stainless steel. The dimensions of the work on top have flower like bursts in Industrial and floral forms. It is not ...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
“Revolve” No. S7 Green, Contemporary Handmade Scagliola Sculpture 'no. 01/05'
Located in Holte, DK
“Revolve”, No. S7 in Green (no. 01/05)
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 truly one of a kind. You can buy this unique piece or request your favorite color under customization.
The piece is made from plaster, fish glue, and pigments. It's waxed and weighs 3kg (6.6 lb).
About revolve:
The starting point of this project is rooted in Flensted Mouritzen's interest in old stucco materials and moulding techniques. It has grown into a fascination with the two-dimensional line of the running mould technique being transformed through a specifically created turning machine...
Category
2010s Danish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Cast Stone
Yonel Lebovici Resort Letter Holder
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Ressort letter holder by Yonel Lebovici
Made in France, circa 1969
"Ressort" model. Produced in a limited edition of 500 by Distrimex.
An identical example is in the permanent col...
Category
20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Stainless Steel
Swedish Sommerso Black Charcoal Gray Clear Abstract Freeform Glass Paperweight
Located in North Miami, FL
This unusual freeform abstract glass sommerso paperweight changes forms, shapes and dynamics with each turn and placement. Colors of gradients of black, charcoal gray to gray are imm...
Category
1970s European Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass
New Modern Cigarettes and Cigar Ashtray in Marble, creator Michele Chiossi
Located in Milan, IT
Time and smoke pass, ashtrays remain. As everlasting as marble, as elegant as a concentric circle of smoke spreading through the air. Chiossi revisits the most Classic of living room accessories...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Mid-Century Modern Baseball Paperweight by Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
This refined Mid-Century Modern baseball paperweight- executed in translucent crystal- represents the simple elegance of Tiffany & Co. at its finest. Since its founding in 1837, Tiff...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
21st Century Concrete Cement Tray Centrepiece Handmade in Italy Perla WhiteColor
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
Shops & Boutiques, Foreword by Giorgio Armani by Grant Camden Kirkkpatric AIA
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Shops & Boutiques. Foreword by Giorgio Armani. Grant Camden Kirkkpatric AIA.
Published by NY: PBC Interational, INC., (1994).
179 pages. Hardcover.
"Never before has the relations...
Category
Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
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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