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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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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Style: Modern
Cuyo Medium Alpaca Silver & Cream Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
"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
Kartell I Shine in Green 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
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
20th Century Enzo Mari Danese Paperweight Mod. Tokelau in Iron and Polyurethane
Located in Turin, Turin
Very modernist Paperweight designed by the great designer Enzo Mari for the manufacturer Danese Milano in 1983. The paperweight is called model "Tokelau" that is a Polynesian word me...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel, Iron
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 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
Post War Triumph Glass Box by Leo De Carlo
By Vetralia
Located in Milan, IT
This extraordinary Pop Culture design by Leo Decarlo exclusively handcrafted for Vetralia will be a sublime addition to a refined contemporary interior. An engraved crystal box with a lid, it is decorated with gold-coated brass statuettes...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
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
Vintage Leather Stitched Agenda Refillable by Tumi
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage brown soft leather agenda refillable by Tumi.
The agenda is lined in brown polished stitched leather and has convenient diagonal pockets on the ...
Category
20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Yellow Rabbit Door Stopper / Bookends, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Yellow rabbit as a door stopper / bookends.
Made in Italy:
Made in Italy furniture means design, quality, style and sophistication.
The typical elega...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
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
Pair of Bookends Balls, 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Pair of bookends balls, 20th century"
Pair of Bookends forming two marble balls on a stand, 20th Century decorative object.
Category
20th Century European Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Salta Large Square Cream Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Carl Aubock Set of Smoking Accessories
Located in Chicago, IL
Brass and Wicker Wrapped pipe stand (Or Paperweight) with two brass spoon rests.
Category
1940s Austrian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Pair of English Teign Valley Red Art Glass Sculptures Paper Weight Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful hand blown art glass sculpture from Teign Valley Glass in England. The shop has been around since the early 20th C. and is renowned for ...
Category
20th Century English 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
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
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
Contemporary 'Papillon' Artistic Crystal Bowl Aquamarine by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
Innovative design, fine craftsmanship and a strong artistic sense make this creation not only a bowl but a real artistic sculpture. The natural col...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
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
DeCastelli Riviera Pots 3 Flower 50 Planter in Stainless Steel by Aldo Cibic
By DeCastelli, Aldo Cibic
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“I’ve always been drawn to nature as it manifests its strength in unexpected contexts”. With this, Aldo Cibic built a miniature natural landscape, poetically made of structures, cont...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Cuyo Medium Alpaca Silver & Black Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beautiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, mostly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One of...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Knotted Photo Frame 5R André Fu Living Desk Office Home Accessories Modern PU
By André Fu
Located in CENTRAL, HK
Description: Photo frame in premium leather and wood 5R
Color: Grey
Size: 20.5 x 6.5 x 18.5 H cm
Material: Premium leather and wood
Collection: Knotted.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood, Faux Leather
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
Unique Patek Philippe 3844 with Amazing Worldmap Dial / 4. of july !
Located in Munich, DE
A wonderful dress watch by Patek Philippe. Equipped with the geneve seal awarded hand wind caliber no.215. The dial changed to a unique look you will never find again. Really amazing...
Category
1970s Swiss Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
Gourmet Round Wood Trivet, by Gunnar Cyren from Warm Nordic
By Gunnar Cyren
Located in Viby J, DK
Beautiful walnut and oak trivets with delicate carvings. Trivets were originally designed in the 1970s by the highly acclaimed Swedish designer, Gunnar Cyren as part of the Gourmet Wood range, and are now being manufactured again by Warm Nordic. Their harmonious design and consummate quality make these wooden trivets perfect for both everyday meals and more festive occasions. The carvings lend the trivets a touch of character and have a life of their own in the form of swaying trees, sprouting hearts and abstract animals, depending on which way you look at them. Gunnar Cyren's Trivets also look attractive on the kitchen worktop...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Agresti Black Polished Wood Chest for 55 Pens with Suede and Leather Detail
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Lockable chest in black polished wood. Holds up to 55 pens.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Suede, Wood
Knotted Double Leather Tray Set Large André Fu Living Accessories Modern New
By André Fu
Located in CENTRAL, HK
Knotted double leather serving tray set.
Hand stitched calf leather.
Also, available in a smaller size tray set of two, size 36.2 x 24.7 x 5.8 H cm.
Larger quantities available u...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Halo-Ette by Ango, Hand-Welded Brass Table Lamp
By Ango
Located in Bangkok, TH
A table light in brass finish, “Halo-ette” is crafted using the unique hand-welding technique developed by Ango.
Halo-ette table light size 6 in W x 6 in D x 7.5 in H
or 160 mm W x...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Thai Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel, Stainless Steel
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
Salta Medium Square Black Onyx Stone & Brass Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
Danese Milano Bincan Fermasacchetto Bag Clip in Black by Naoto Fukasawa
Located in Hicksville, NY
Danese Milano Bincan Fermasacchetto bag clip in black 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
Black Polished Chest for 28 Watches by Agresti
By Agresti
Located in New York, NY
Chest in black polished wood. A lockable box for 28 watches.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
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
Salta Large Square Black Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Stone, Metal
21st Century Minimalist Paperweight in Black granite "Negro Zimbabwe"
By Techxture
Located in Nelas, PT
S.Voxel - 21st century modern Portuguese "Negro Zimbabwe" marble paperweight
S.voxelexplores the importance of object scaling and user experience. Voxels coffee tables and side ta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese 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
21st Century by Giuliano Bettinzolli "Poggia Libro" Desk Marble Complement
By Giuliano Bettinzolli
Located in massa, IT
Desk Marble complement designed by Giuliano Bettinzolli - Set of 2
Price referred to the pair
Size: 2x Cm 16 x 16 x Diameter cm 10
Materials: White Carrara - Black Portoro - Nationa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Stunning Solid Silver Swan Letter Opener by Sarah Jones
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful top quality letter opener by the well renowned modern silversmith, Sarah Jones.
This beautiful example has a handle created from an elegant Swan's head with it's long ...
Category
1980s British Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Vintage Onyx Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian spherical onyx desk paperweight, in natural neutral hues / Made in Italy circa 1970s
Measures: diameter 4 inches
1 in stock in Palm Springs ON 50% OFF SALE for $199 !...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx
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
Contemporary Picture Frame Handmade Blue Crystal, Brass and Gold by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
Crystal photo frame of excellent craftsmanship and artistic quality.
The crystal has been hand sculpted and has an intense and brilliant blue fi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold, Brass
New Modern Trivet in Black Marquinia Marble, creator Ivan Colominas
Located in Milan, IT
Trivet in Nero Marquinia marble, designed by Ivan Colominas.
Size: 26 x 2 cm, smooth finishing.
Commercial name: Myron, Materia e Tavola collection by the Spanish Designer Ivan Colominas.
Available also in White Michelangelo marble. Made in Italy, hand finished.
Sculptural, bright white, well-defined and multi-fold. Colominas has created a table service inspired by Angelo Mangiarotti’s soft lines, exalting the shape and structure of objects that characterise the exploration of one of the greatest pleasures afforded us, food.
Mmairo loves wining and dining, good food and entertaining...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Ruelland Ceramic Pebble, circa 1960, France
Located in Paris, FR
Small ceramic pebble by Jacques (1926-2088) and Dani Ruelland (1933-2010).
Signed Ruelland under the base.
Circa 1960, France.
Category
20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
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
New Modern Marble Vase, creator Matteo Cibic, Stock
By Matteo Cibic
Located in Milan, IT
Vase in black Marquinia, Red Levanto and white Michelangelo marble,
Size: 38.2 x 23.4 x 7.3 cm, smooth finishing. Commercial name: Tacca, Homage Collection by the Italian designer M...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Agate Onyx Paperweight
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand polished agate onyx stone paperweight in black, brown, and red intricate layered patterns
Measures: diameter 4 inches, height 2 inches
1 in stock in Palm Springs ON 50% OFF SALE...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone
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
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
Yellow Porcelain Coffee or Tea Cup Saucer Set with Tulip Flowers
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful hand-painted porcelain tulip flower coffee or tea cup and saucer set, circa early 20th century, Japan. Japan is known for its fine porcelain. Better than any paper cup...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Italian Brown and Blue Alabaster Marble Jewelry or Desk Box
Located in New York, NY
An Italian dark brown alabaster marble jewelry box with a blue matte metal hinge. Box can hold jewelry or other small items. Marked made in Italy on bottom as shown in image #15 and ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Alabaster, Marble, Metal
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
Pietrina Checcacci Cast Bronze Thumbs Letter Holder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast bronze thumbs letter holder by Italian-Brazilian artist Pietrina Checcacci. The small weighted object features a patinated bronze pair of opposing thumbs that are separated to s...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Small Egg Color Brown, 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
Crystal Egg Color White, 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
Danese Milano Flores Graphite Box in Stainless Steel by Enzo Mari
Located in Hicksville, NY
Graphite 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 mec...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Polystyrene
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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