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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.
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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Modern
Montblanc Meisterstück Gold Coated Classic Ballpoint Pen
By Montblanc
Located in Savannah, GA
A fine ballpoint pen, the Meisterstück evolved into a distinctive design icon. Cap and barrel are crafted in deep black precious resin, with elegant gold-coated details, surmounted by the white Montblanc...
Category
2010s German Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Vintage Industrial Anvil, 20th Century
Located in New York City, NY
Small, playful vintage Industrial anvil.
Category
20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Metal
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
Pierre Disderot Paris 1980 Pair of Aerodynamic Desk Lamps in Nickel Chrome
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of desk lamps designed by Pierre Disderot.
Beautiful aerodynamic modern pair of desk lamps, created in Paris France by the company of Pierre Disderot, back in the 1980. These...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Nickel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Silver Magnifying Glass with a Feather Handle Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very nice silver magnifying glass with a feather handle, which could be used for opening letters as well. The magnification is good and works well. A compliment to any desk or work...
Category
20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Lucite Abstract Geometric Table Top Sculpture / Paperweight, 1980's
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
Lucite abstract Geometric table top sculpture / Paperweight, 1980's.
Category
20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Modern Lucite Desk Organizer by Guzzini
By Guzzini
Located in San Diego, CA
Very functional modern lucite desk organizer by Guzzini of Italy, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 5.75"W x 2"D x 3....
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Robert Indiana Brushed Aluminum Red Love Paperweight Sculpture Desk Accessory
Located in North Miami, FL
This very rare rendition and small edition of the vintage Robert Indiana love paperweight sculpture is rarely seen version in red brushed aluminum. This may have only been a very sma...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
"Paper Bag" by California Bronze
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Whimsical "paper bag" made from cast metal from California Bronze. Would make for a fun decorative piece in any interior. Photographed atop a Cappellini sid...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
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
Venini Two Colors Mini Hourglass/Clessidre, Unsigned
By Paolo Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a great and rare find because is one of the small hourglass ever made by Venini. Also this piece was purchased from a collection of a very important Hollywood Star estate. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Danese Milano Perpetual Wall English Calendar in Wood by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Calendario bilancia is a wall calendar that underlines the passing of time thanks to the human intervention needed to methodically change the date each and every day. It consists of ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Vintage Brass Anchor Paperweight
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautiful brass anchor paperweight
Circa 1980s
Measures: 9"W x 5.75"D x 7"H.
Very good original vintage condition.
Category
1980s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Ben Seibel for Jenfred-Ware Bookends in Brass Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great modern design in this pair of bookends by Ben Seibel.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
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
Gucci Italy Wallet and Credit Card Holder with Embossing
By Gucci
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful and new Credit Card wallet that easily can hold from4-8 cards and cash... small, compact and easy to carry. a lovely new piece.
Category
20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
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
Italian Travertine Marble Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian travertine marble Obelisk, in the Modern style, circa 1970s, Italy. A great decorative object for a shelf, credenza, office, library, cocktail table, etc. Very go...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Travertine, Marble
Crystal Ball Sphere Bud Vase Modern Minimalist
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
A substantial crystal ball sphere bud vase in the style of Baccara, in the modern or minimalist style. Beautiful as a standalone piece or for a sin...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Malachite Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful and substantial green Malachite decorative or jewelry box, circa late-20th century. This green Malachite box is hexagonal in shape with a white onyx marble star with gold gilt metal detail on top lid. Piece is hand-crafted. Box makes a great decorative or storage jewelry box to hold small items or jewelry such as necklaces (as demonstrated holding), rings, earring, cufflinks, etc., on a vanity, nightstand, dresser, desk, credenza, walk-in-closet, etc. Dimensions: 3.38" Depth x 4" Width.
Purple box shown also available, search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314228491742
Green malachite box with cameo, search ref. #: LU1314228492012
Small gold and malachite turtle...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Onyx
Clear Coaster Set, Contemporary Coaster Set with Brass Inlay
By Nada Debs
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
Bronze Fire Hydrant Wrench by Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast bronze five hole fire hydrant wrench by Jones, USA. This piece can used for its original intention or for decorative purposes. Due to its weight it would be a perfect office pap...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique American Modern Sterling Silver and Glass Inkwell on Stand
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver and glass inkwell on stand, circa 1920. Lobed melon-form glass bowl; sterling silver cover domed with overlapping ovoid ring finial. stand has well and large l...
Category
Early 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Edward Kachurik Glass Paperweight for Pa Art
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Orb shaped paperweight by glass artist Edward Kachurik in pink and blue. Signed "PA Art 1994" with a stylized "94" etched into underside.
Artist: Edward Kachurik
Year: 1994
...
Category
1990s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Brass Starfish Sculpture / Paperweight
By Art Brass Co.
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A nicely cast starfish paperweight, sculpture or hanging sculpture since it has a hook to the backside. Well made and can be used in the office or as a decorative accessory, made in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Danese Milano Timor Perpetual English Calendar in Black 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
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
Stylized Crystal Frog Sculpture / Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous stylized crystal frog sculpture / paperweight, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clari...
Category
20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
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
Editioned Italian Fornasetti Calendar Porcelain Plate, 2012
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A vintage Italian decorative porcelain plate designed and made by Fornasetti. The commemorative plate is for the year of 2012 and features an angle blowing the calendar pieces. The p...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
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
Ben Seibel for Jenfred-Ware Bookends in Copper Finish
By Ben Seibel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great modern design in this pair of bookends by the well known Modern designer Ben Seibel.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Editioned Italian Fornasetti Calendar Porcelain Plate, 2013
By Fornasetti
Located in Atlanta, GA
A vintage Italian decorative porcelain plate designed and made by Fornasetti. The commemorative plate is for the year of 2013. The plate was made in a limited edition of 92 out of 70...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
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
Haziza Jewel Toned Green, Purple, Orange, Pink, Blue Lucite Tic Tac Toe Game
Located in North Miami, FL
This fun never used happy tic tac toe set game is by the lucite artist and sculptor Schlomi Haziza. It is from the 70's and sits its original black box and plastic wrap never touched...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Modernist Wrought Iron Candle Snuffer
Located in Chicago, IL
A beautiful wrought-tin candle snuffer with a modernist vibe including two fins around a central knuckle, and ending in a ball finial.
Category
20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wrought Iron
Peachy Pink Pearlized Jewelry or Trinket Box
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful peachy pink pearlized veneered decorative, jewelry, vanity or trinket box, with a wood interior.
Dimensions: 4.13" Depth x 6.19" Width
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Laminate, Wood
Brass Gazelle Antelope Sculpture Decorative Object, Tall
Located in New York, NY
A brass animal Gazelle antelope bust sculpture decorative object with tall antlers, circa late-20th century, 1970s.
Dimensions: 21.5" Height.
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern 3 Piece Dresser Cologne Bottle Set
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous 3 piece set of dresser bottles with silver tops from Czechoslovakia c.1960. In excellent condition with minimal wear, unpolished. Sold and pri...
Category
1960s Czech Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Kartell U Shine Vase in Smoke by Eugeni Quitllet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Eugeni Quitllet designs a precious collection of decorative vases made of transparent PMMA. The line is composed of a vase and a table centre, distinctive for their elegant geometry ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Curtis Jere Enameled Butterfly, Wire and Marble Sculpture Blue, Green Vintage
By Curtis Jeré
Located in North Miami, FL
This unusual and rarely found vintage signed Curtis Jere sculpture has enameled butterflies coming from 3 wire points that sit in the original marble base. The colors of shades of se...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Enamel, Wire
Kartell U Shine Vase in Blue by Eugeni Quitllet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Eugeni Quitllet designs a precious collection of decorative vases made of transparent PMMA. The line is composed of a vase and a table centre, distinctive for their elegant geometry ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
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 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 Black 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 Flores Orange Box in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Orange 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 mecha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Polystyrene
Danese Milano Formosa Perpetual Wall French Calendar in Black 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
Italian Modern Dark Green Marble Obelisk Sculpture, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
An Italian '70s modern or Post-Modern period dark green marble obelisk sculpture, circa 1970s, Italy. Obelisk is green with white veining. Very go...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
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
Handmade Italia Lava Stone REGO Laptop Holder 2023
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lava stone Règo is a little jewel that adds a new experience when using a notebook combined with an external display, ideal for saving space and creating a clean and tidy environment...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lava
In Stock in Los Angeles, Green Mexico Skull Mini Portable Bank Charger
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Mexico skull mini power bank battery charger
In stock in Los Angeles
Job says he was inspired by a legendary figure who lived wrapped in mystery: 'the singer without a name'.
"No one had ever seen her come out of her house, where heavy velvet...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
In Stock in Los Angeles, Light Blue Mexico Skull Mini Portable Charger
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Mexico skull 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
Sculptural Desktop Pen Holder by Jiri Jelinek
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Art glass hand-carved, pen holder / paper weight featuring etched linear motif and layered red glass stripe by Jiri Jelinek.
Jiri Jelinek (b. 1967, Czechoslovakia) graduated with ...
Category
2010s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
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
Hermès Cleopatra Eye Magnifier Silver Plated Vintage Desk Accessory
By Hermès
Located in North Miami, FL
This ever so chic Hermès vintage silver plated Cleopatra eye magnifier is a great desk accessory. This is from the 1960s and was originally designed by J...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Murano Decorative Obelisk by Seguso
By Venini
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Beautiful obelisk, handmade in Italy, by Seguso, Murano. Quite tall-16". Unusual color-light purple that changes with light. Polished pointed top. Nicely cut and polished edges-see p...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Dark Green Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A substantial pair of dark green marble Obelisk sculptures in the modern style, circa late-20th century. Pair/set are dark green marble with black veining, some minor traces of white...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Paul Dupre-Lafon Hermes Paris Scissors, Paper Knife in Leather Scabbard, Signed
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A pair of scissors and letter opener in a handstitched, elephant gray leather scabbard by Paul Dupre-Lafon for Hermes, Paris. This desk set was well-used by its once owner who was ap...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
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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