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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
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 good condition and measures 4.5"W x 4.5"D x 5.25"H...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
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 Formosa Perpetual Wall English 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
Villeroy and Boch Crystal Votive Candle Holders Set of 4
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Villeroy and Boch Made in Germany New Wave Crystal Votive candle holders.
This is a gorgeous contemporary votive candle holder by Viller...
Category
20th Century German Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Kerry Glass Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Kerry glass paperweight hand blown in dark green color with small bubbles / Made in Ireland, circa 1980s
Original stickers on the glass ...
Category
Late 20th Century Irish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
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
Vintage Faceted Perthshire Spaced Millefiori Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine faceted Perthshire spaced millefiori art glass paperweight.
It has pink and light blue canes centered on a 1972 'D' date cane.
The base has a st...
Category
1970s Scottish Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Herman Miller Signed Leaf LED Desk Lamp by Yves Behar Model G6510.3Y Modern 2007
Located in Miami, FL
Modern LED Leaf Desk lamp designed by Yves Behar and made by Herman Miller.
Organic shaped steel in Dove gray with adjustable LED Arm and rotates.
Touch controls at the base turn ...
Category
Early 2000s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Steel
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
1989-90’s Clear Crystal Lexus LS 400 Car Paperweight
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a clear crystal Lexus LS 400 car paperweight. Very nicely you can see through the crystal the inside details of the car, like the seats and the b...
Category
20th Century Japanese Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Italian Onyx Marble Desk Paperweight Decorative Object, 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A chic 1970s modern Italian geometric onyx marble desk paperweight or decorative object sculpture piece, circa 1970s, Italy. Piece is multicolored in white and neutral hues. A great piece for a desk, table, credenza, etc. Dimensions: 2" x 2.13"
Pen/pencil holder in image #3, search 1stdibs ID#: LU1314218067801 (SOLD.)
Ashtray shown (SOLD.)
Picasso book...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Marble
Kosta Boda Green and Clear Art Glass Collectable Paperweight
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Sweden round green and clear glass paperweight. Vicke Lindstrand Kosta style Swedish art glass paperweight. Beautiful vintage glass art paperweight with multi sized controlled bubbles in green and clear accenting the close concentric complex. Hand blown bubble design Scandinavian Modern Art glass paperweight...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swedish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
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
Zhuang Desk, Pen Holder Case in Saddle Leather Tortora Colour
Located in New York, NY
In Chinese ‘zhuang’ means to protect something precious. The collection of Zhuang containers designed by Neri & Hu for Poltrona Frau consists of a series of containers can be used freely in the various areas of the home or office to store both valuable objects or everyday items.
All containers in the Zhuang collection are made from solid Canaletto walnut, carved from a single piece by numerically controlled machinery and finished with a Cuoio Saddle Extra leather belt. The saddle-leather is embellished with very fine stitching with slightly contrasting yarn and the branded Poltrona Frau logo.
Part of the lids of the Zhuang office pen holder...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
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
1970's Italian Malachite and Diamond Gold Ring
By Cartier
Located in North Miami, FL
1970's Italian Malachite and diamonds gold ring. 14K gold,.
Has wear by age and use.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Gold
English Burl Wood Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
A brown burl wood obelisk, circa early-20th century, England. Obelisk is hand-crafted in a rich brown burl. A beautiful decorative object for a bookshelf, office, desk, etc. Dimensio...
Category
Early 20th Century English Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Burl
Italian White Onyx Marble Round Box
Located in New York, NY
A small 1970s Italian Modern white onyx marble round box. A great piece to hold small items on a desk or vanity area for paperclips or jewelry, such as ring...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Marble
Louise Nevelson Style Dimensional Signed Wood Box Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing and intricate carved wood box sculpture that stands tabletop is signed and dated. The signature is not terribly legible but is dated 1996. It is in the style of Louise Nevelson. The box opens to geometric and raised forms that are dimensional. It bridges Folk Art, Tramp Art and modern art all in one. As you can see from the photos it folds up like a small suitcase...
Category
1990s American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
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 Lampedusa Orange Pencil Holder in Melamine by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Orange Lampedusa is a re-edition of the famous melamine desktop pencil holder that has become one of the classics of 20th Century design and can be found in numerous museum collectio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Danese Milano Sumatra Black Paper Tray in Technopolymer by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Black 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
Danese Milano Sumatra Red Paper Tray in Technopolymer by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Red 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 maximized....
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Rubber
Danese Milano In Attesa Wastepaper Basket in Graphite 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
Danese Milano Koro Wastepaper Basket in Red 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
Onyx Marble Box
Located in New York, NY
A small '70s modern hexagon shaped onyx box with lid, circa 1970s. Box is multicolored onyx, in a hexagon shape with lid and feet. A nice piece to hold small items on a desk, or smal...
Category
1970s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx
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
Italian Red Burgundy Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of red burgundy Italian modern marble Obelisks, circa 1970s, Italy. Solid red burgundy marble with grey veining. Marked on bottom, 'Made in Italy', as shown in last image. A great set for any cocktail table, mantle, bookshelf, office, library, etc. Dimensions: 8.88" Height.
For sterling silver female figurative sculpture shown, search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314230532222
French crystal box, search ref.: LU1314230536482
Pink Rhodonite box...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Danese Milano Formosa Numbers for Perpetual Wall Calendar in Black by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Danese Milano Formosa numbers for Perpetual wall calendar in black by Enzo Mari
Enzo Mari is one of the masters of Italian Design. He was bo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Aluminum
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
Danese Milano Sumatra Graphite Paper Tray in Technopolymer by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Graphite 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 maxim...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Rubber
Danese Milano Maiorca Black Pencil & Paperclip Aluminum Holder by Bruno Munari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Black 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
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
Art Glass Millefiori Collectable Paperweight
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Millefiori Italian art glass paperweight
Beautiful glass art paperweight in millefiori design in various shades of blues, red and white, accenting the close concentric complex.
Mur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Brass Face Mask Sculpture Hagenauer Style Black Stand Vintage
By Balos
Located in North Miami, FL
This arresting vintage tall polished brass face sculpture has innuendos of partial tribal design meets Hagenauer meets modern. It is from the 70's...
Category
1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Iron
Berd Vay'e Limited Edition "Time Squared" Lucite Sculpture 'Small'
By Berd Vay'e
Located in New Orleans, LA
Berd Vay'e limited edition "Time Squared" lucite sculpture
Structured integrity; the Time Squared sculpture appears to tumble through time, resting remarkably mid-air - a spectacula...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Italian Black Leather Box Desk Organizer
Located in New York, NY
An Italian black leather desk box set organizer, circa late-20th century, 1970s, Florence, Italy. This desk piece organizer is black leather, comprised of five (5) boxes with lacquered wood back, brass hinges, and a center rest area (shown with car key, and small change purse...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Curved Horn and Mirror Cube Sculptures Pair of
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely pair of curved horn and mirror base cube sculptures are from the 80's. The gradients of colors of the horn range from tan to off white to gray and slate gray and etc. The...
Category
1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn, Mirror
Jean Filhos for Christofle Silvered Bronze Erotic Letter Opener Nude, 1974 Franc
By Christofle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury silvered erotic letter opener or bookmark with nudes by the French artist Jean Filhos, (1921-2002)
This model was created as the official 1974 ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Penshell Box by Maitland Smith
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This stylish penshell storage box will make a great addition to your desk, or perhaps to be used simply as an object of beauty.
Note: Last image shows a small flea-bit on the unde...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Shell
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
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
Danese Milano Flores Black Box in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Black 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 Koro Wastepaper Basket in Silver 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
Italian Murano Vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful Italian Murano smoked grey charcoal faceted art glass vase by Alessandro Mandruzzato for Sommerso, circa mid to late-20th century, Italy. Beautiful at any angle. Dim...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass, Art Glass
Kartell I Shine 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
Burl Wood Jewelry Box with Vanity Mirror
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage oval burl wood jewelry box with hand-held vanity mirror/top, circa 20th century, Europe. A great piece for a desk, vanity, ni...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Burl
Gervasoni Wind Table Fan in Handwoven Dark Pulut by Jasper Startup
By Gervasoni
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
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
Kartell I Shine 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 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 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
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
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
Antonio Grediaga Kieff Vintage Abstract Bronze Sculpture on Black Granite Base
Located in North Miami, FL
This wonderful Antonio Gediaga Kieff abstract bronze sculpture is a limited edition. It is signed Kieff 2/6. The bronze has all been polished and sits on a black granite base all ori...
Category
1970s Canadian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Granite, Bronze
Scissor, Letter Opener, Leather Desk Set
Located in Denton, TX
Gold leaf design on bankers green leather holder with nickel plated letter opener and D shaped handle forged scissors.
Category
20th Century North American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
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
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
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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