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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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 chaircrafted 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
Elegant Blue Shagreen Leather Magnifying Glass - GALUCHARME Collection
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Discover the timeless elegance of this refined magnifying glass with a handle made of genuine blue shagreen leather, a fine material also known as galuchat. Characterized by a unique...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Art Glass Heart Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial art glass heart paperweight or decorative object by artist Robet Held, circa late-20th century. Heart is a light to medium green art glass with touches of...
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Ginori Luke Edward Hall's "Il Viaggio Di Nettuno" Squared Pink Plate, 2025
Located in Cagliari, IT
The "Il Viaggi di Nettuno" pattern is inspired by Luke Edward Hall’s love of Greco-Roman mythology, and particularly Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, and his wife Salacia, the coll...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Eight French Decorative Glass Desk Paperweights
Located in London, GB
These beautiful paperweights were created in France in the 20th century. Glass paperweights began to be widely collected in the mid-19th century, after they were showcased at the Int...
Category

20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

"SEKITEI" Coffee Table by Yulia Pyanzina (Marble, Italy)
Located in Pastrengo, IT
The SEKITEI coffee table which makes part of the ORIGAMI Collection is a fruit of collaboration between MARMI REGINA, company that creates prestigious works in marble and natural sto...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Vintage Sterling Silver Letter Opener Torchon, Italy, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Vanilla
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Vintage Signed Silver-Plate Desk Set Of Hinged Box, Bowl And LIghter Set /3
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage 3 piece Italian desk set of a silver plate rectangular lidded box , bowl and lighter has a textural embossed square design pattern very much on the style of Christian Di...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Large Vintage Langham Glass England Controlled Bubbles Paperweight
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Striking vintage paperweight features abstract grouping of large controlled bubbles in clear and colored cobalt blue and grass green glass. The central design is encased in clear gl...
Category

20th Century English Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso

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

Brass Arc Pen Tray by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Arc Pen Tray by Stem Design Dimensions: D 6 x W 18 x H 2.5 cm. Materials: Brass. Finish: Tumbled and burnished. Weight: 0,7 kg. Finished and assembled by hand in India. Also available in aluminum. Please contact us. Arc pen tray is designed as a pedestal for a pen that you hold close. The linear piece with an elevated concave surface graciously exhibits any writing instrument and demonstrates a sculptural quality through its simplified form. The objects layers on as a metaphor and showcases the beauty of being who you are. It strips off all the layers of ornamentation and artificial finishes to build an immediate and intuitive connection with the product that lasts a lifetime. Stem is a contemporary Indian product...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Unique Zé Veado by André Teoman Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Zé Veado by André Teoman Studio Limited Edition Dimensions: W 27 x D 27 x H 57 cm Materials: Marble, Brass André Teoman born in Viana do Castelo...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Brass

Leather Tray, Small Square Tray, Handmade - Color: Vanilla
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Salta Large Square Bordeaux Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
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 that led us to design our largest collection. It has pure and contemporary lines, a classic vision but with modern design. The chosen materials are alpaca and onyx...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx, Metal

Glass Eye Studio Controlled Bubbles Paperweight, Seattle Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage sculptural paperweight features swirling structure of controlled bubbles, encased inside a clear glass layer in sommerso technique. The piece has elongated egg shape with soft, rounded edges, that directs the eye towards the central design element. Colorful fused glass in pastel blue, pink, and off-white colors forms abstract patterns, raising from the base of the paperweight and encompassing its curves, accentuate the shape of the piece, and slightly iridescent finish on the surface add color and visual interest to the piece. The piece is signed and dated in etching (GES 92) on the side near the base. Founded in 1978 in Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market, but moved to the historic Ballard neighborhood later on, Glass Eye Studio...
Category

1990s American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso

Sage Size 9 Log Bowl by Loyal Loot Made to Order Hand Made from Reclaimed Wood
Located in calgary, CA
Perfect as a feature objet d'art on your table or shelves, a catch-all for jewellery and special items, or displayed as a group for a striking centrepiece. Each Log Bowl is unique and makes the perfect one of a kind gift. Log Bowls...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Willow

Pair of Tiffany "Box and Bow" Porcelain & Crystal Trinket Boxes by Tiffany & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous pair of iconic Tiffany "box with bow" crystal and porcelain trinket boxes by Tiffany & Co. circa 1990's. The pair are in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks...
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

White Marble Elipse Plates Set
Located in Mexico City, MX
Plates in Veneciano white marble. Handmade in México by local craftsmen. Dimensions: Small: 22 D x 16 W x 2 H cm Large: 26 D x 20 W x 2 H cm. Production time: 6-8 weeks for item...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Contemporary Golden Brass Tape Dispenser by Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Tape Dispenser by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 14 x D 5 x H 7 cm Materials: Brass The brass tape dispenser is a hefty piece of stationery. I...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Table Tray Set - Set of 5 decorative trays in different colors - Handmade
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Table Tray Set - Set of 5 decorative trays in different colors Include: - 2 (two) Leather Tray, Small Square Tray Color: Vanilla Dimensions: Height: 1.78 in (4,5 cm) Width: 7.09 ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

SHAGREEN PEN HOLDER sage green striped metal details exclusive design
Located in Spilimbergo, IT
Pen holder with design essential and contemporary coated with the very special shagreen leather in the seductive sage color. Handcrafted with skilled craftsmanship, the pen h...
Category

Early 2000s Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Olivetti Divisumma 28 Mario Bellini Design Years '70
Located in Biella, IT
Olivetti divisumma 28 Mario Bellini design years '70, perfect working and very good condition.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic, Acrylic

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

Peach Bookend Mould Project by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Located in Geneve, CH
Peach bookend mould project by Theodora Alfredsdottir. Unique Materials: Jesmonite Dimensions: 110 x 80 x 180mm. Theodora Alfredsdottir is a product design studio based in Lond...
Category

2010s English Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Cement

Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal & Silverplate Mellon Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Cartier 'Must de Cartier' Crystal and Silverplate Melon Inkwell France, Circa 1989 Dimensions: 3.25" diameter x 2.75" high A refined and elegantly crafted melon-form inkwell from th...
Category

Late 20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate

Vintage German Made Globe, Globe Terrestre Wooden Base
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Nice vintage globe, issued in the 1960s by Professor Doctor Arthur Krause. The globe has a wooden base, oak. The sphere itself is made of cardboard cover...
Category

1960s German Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

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

Wooden Christmas Tree FIR – Cedar with Brass Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The solid cedar minimalist Christmas decoration tree is designed to add an elegant touch to your holiday setup. Inspired by the aesthetic form of the f...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree JUNIPER – Cedar with Brass Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The brass-tipped decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday décor with natural cedar wood and elegant brass accents. Inspired by the form of the juniper tree, thi...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Military
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo JUNIPER – Cedar with Brass Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The gold-tipped solid cedar decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday theme with simplicity and elegance. Inspired by the natural form of the juniper tree and re...
Category

2010s Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set – Brass-Tipped Cedar, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The modern and elegant solid cedar Christmas tree set offers an aesthetic and functional choice for your holiday décor. Inspired by the natural forms of Cedar, Fir, and Juniper, this...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree CEDAR – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
Decorative, minimalist solid cedar trees bring both a natural and modern aesthetic to your holiday theme. Inspired by the graceful form of the fir tree, these Christmas décor pieces ...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree CEDAR – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
Decorative, minimalist solid cedar trees bring both a natural and modern aesthetic to your holiday theme. Inspired by the graceful form of the fir tree, these Christmas décor pieces ...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree FIR – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The luxury bronze-tipped Christmas tree features an elegant design that brings the festive spirit into your living spaces. Inspired by the iconic form of the fir tree and reinterpret...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo CEDAR – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The bronze-tipped decorative solid cedar Christmas tree is designed to blend the unique texture and form of natural cedar wood with the warmth of the holiday season. Each tree is one...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo FIR – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The bronze-tipped solid cedar Christmas tree set is inspired by the graceful form of the fir tree and specially crafted to bring the festive spirit into your living spaces. Featuring...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Zinc
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

CAITHNESS - High Seas - Blue Swirl Glass Paperweight - U.K. - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
CAITHNESS (Manufacturer) - High Seas (Collection) - H87830 (Identification Number) - Vintage art glass paperweight - striking design - si...
Category

Late 20th Century Scottish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Antique Brown Crocodile-Embossed Leather Desk Pad.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Antique brown crocodile-embossed leather desk pad. Transform your workspace with this desk pad, where elegance meets functionality. Crafted from brown leather with a striking crocod...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Wooden Christmas Tree Set JUNIPER – Cedar
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER decorative solid handmade Christmas tree set adds warmth to your holiday theme with its minimalist and natural design. Inspired by the aesthetic form of the juniper tree,...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Coral Size 8 Log Bowl by Loyal Loot Made to Order Hand Made from Reclaimed Wood
Located in calgary, CA
Log bowls combine the beauty of a tree in its natural state with a high-gloss, vibrant finish. Each bowl is handmade using locally reclaimed trees of all varieties (fallen or cut down due to infrastructure or inclement weather). The trees are hand selected, gathered, turned and finished by Loyal Loot...
Category

Early 2000s Canadian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Willow, Reclaimed Wood

Coral Size 10 Log Bowl by Loyal Loot Hand Made from Reclaimed Wood
Located in calgary, CA
Log bowls combine the beauty of a tree in its natural state with a high-gloss, vibrant finish. Each bowl is handmade using locally reclaimed trees of all var...
Category

2010s Canadian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Willow, Reclaimed Wood

Salta Round Bordeaux Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
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

Stone, Onyx, Metal

Set of 2 Aluminum Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design Dimensions: D 8 x W 10 x H 11 cm (each.) Materials: Aluminum. Finish: Tumbled and burnished Weight: 0,5 kg (each.) Finished and as...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Andy Warhol Cover Post-War & Contemporary Art Christie's New York Catalog Book
Located in New York, NY
An Andy Warhol cover Post-War and Contemporary Art Christie's New York 'Evening Sale' catalog book, 2010. A beautifully done catalog book (soft-cove...
Category

2010s American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Paper

Italian Modern Alabaster Marble Round Decorative Sphere or Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
An Italian '70s modern alabaster marble round decorative sphere or paperweight, circa 1970s, Italy. Marked "Genuine Alabaster", "Hand Carved", "Made ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Alabaster, Marble

Contemporary Hand-engraved Aquamarine Sculpture by Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
The "Cactus" Sculpture is not only an elegant and modern piece of furniture but it is also a unique and unrepeatable sculpture. This incredible object has been worked and sculpted...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Contemporary Oval Green Marble Incense Plate by Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Guatemala Incense Plate by Henry Wilson Dimensions: D 28 x H 4 cm Materials: Green Guatemala Marble The Incense plate is carved from solid Green G...
Category

2010s Australian 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

Bymyside Desk Accessories by Rectangle Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Bymyside desk accessories by Rectangle Studio Dimensions: W 25 x D 2 x H 48 cm Materials: White marble Bymyside desk is a complementary design accessory that is manually shape...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Wicker Cane Lucite Acrylic Tissue Box Dior Style
Located in New York, NY
A wicker cane and acrylic tissue holder box in the style of Christian Dior Home. This acrylic and wicker cane box holds standard size tissues. Beautiful natural wicker cane and clear...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Cane, Acrylic, Wicker

Italian Leather Desk Organizer 5 Box Storage Area
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian black leather desk organizer, circa late-20th century, 1970s, Florence, Italy. This desk piece organizer is black leather, comprised of five (5) boxes with a rich clear 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

Unique Clown Modern Gargoyle by André Teoman Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique clown modern gargoyle by André Teoman Studio Dimensions: W 14 x D 25 x H 45 cm Materials: Tiger skin marble, gold leaf André Teoman born in Viana do Castelo...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Gold Leaf

Minimal Bottle Opener Made in Brass, Stainless Steel and Raw Steel
Located in Chicago, IL
Strong in form and heavy in weight, the bottle openers are elegant in their simplicity and precision. Solid bar stock is transformed through the most minimal intervention possible, c...
Category

2010s American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel, Brass, Stainless Steel

Tronador Square Black Onyx Stone Box
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
The shape of the inactive Tronador volcano reminded us of the pyramid shaped idea of our boxes that make up this collection. With a rectangular or square base, the box is a reflectio...
Category

2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Onyx

English Burl Wood Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
One brown burl wood obelisk, in the Modern style, circa mid-20th century, England. Obelisk is hand-crafted in a rich brown burl. A beautiful decorative obje...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Burl

Italian modern light green rings for perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date 2020
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern light green rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, 2020s Set of 3 round rings for the perpetual wall calendar by Ring A Date, in light green plastic. Th...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

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

Crystal Ball Sphere Bud Vase Modern Minimalist
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

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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