Skip to main content

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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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.

59
to
11
51
8
59
59
59
179
22
6
5
3
2
1
1
1
259
566
6
45
160
1
1
5
15
31
17
Height
to
Width
to
36
15
13
11
10
38
19
14
13
12
2
2
1
1
1
Style: Modern
Period: 1970s
Fountain pen, Ballpoint pen & Tray for Desk Set enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with hand-painted fired enamel like turquoise stone, cm. 9.5 x 18. For fountain pen (4577-5210) with 18 carat gold n...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel

Fountain pen, Ballpoint pen and tray for a Desk Set green enamel Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
4640-5320 - Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels on guilloché, cm. 9 x 17.5. For fountain pen (4568-5201) with two-tone st...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold, Enamel, Sterling Silver

iconic 1. edition chopard happy diamonds for men
Located in Munich, DE
this design was the biggest success in the history of chopard. designer ronald kurowski was inspired by water droplets sparkling in the sunshine at a waterfall and decided to design ...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold

Gucci Italy Brown Leather Desk Set Pen Holder with Gold Plated Equestrian Decor
Located in Atlanta, GA
Gucci Italy designed this luxury modernist desktop accessory during the 1970s. The pen cup holder is made of cocoa brown fine calf leather and is ornated on both sides with a 24K gol...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Gold Plate

Modernist Chrome and Tortoiseshell Lucite Desk Pad, France 1970s
Located in Atlanta, GA
This beautiful French modernist desk blotter pad features streamlined high polish chromed metal framing with tortoise (tortoiseshell) Lucite insert. The inside is in yellow butter si...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Lucite Dice Decorative Objects, Pair/Set
Located in New York, NY
A pair/set of Lucite dice decorative objects, in the Modern style, circa late-20th century. A great set for a desk, bookshelf, coffee/cocktail table, etc. Dimensions: 2.44" Square ...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

Vintage Bronze Modernist Sculpture Brancusi Style on Round Brass Base
Located in North Miami, FL
Offering for you is a vintage cast bronze modernist sculpture that is Brancusi style meets Jean Arp. It is signed but not legible.This is from the 70's. It was polished to the best i...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Vintage Signed Arthur Court Bronze Dog Puppies Paperweight Desk Accessory
Located in North Miami, FL
This delightful and charming vintage signed bronze paperweight sculpture are of 6 connecting puppy dogs linked together in different positions. It is hallmarked Arthur Court Designs ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

"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

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

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

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

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

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

Curtis Jere Enameled Butterfly, Wire and Marble Sculpture Blue, Green Vintage
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

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

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

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

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

Maitland Smith Horn, Abalone and Wood Hinged Octagonal Box Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This exquisite and rare vintage Maitland Smith large hinged box box has a beautiful medallion on top of a black stone set into brass. The box is a beautiful combination of horn, abal...
Category

1970s Philippine Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

1970's Italian Malachite and Diamond Gold Ring
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

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

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

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

Jean Filhos for Christofle Silvered Bronze Erotic Letter Opener Nude, 1974 Franc
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

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

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

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

Vintage Signed Molten Bronze and Black Metal Cascading Dali, Esque Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This sensual and fabulous 2 part limited edition signed vintage sculpture is molten bronze cascading in a body form perched atop the black metal base. The bronze looks like rose gold...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Bronze

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

Vintage Multicolored Floral Medallion Glass Vase by Rick Strini
Located in Soquel, CA
Gorgeous multicolored vase with olive green and blue swirled background highlighted with four unique black medallions of rose bouquets by Rick Strini (American, 20th century). Signed...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Blown Glass

Vintage Abstract Brass and Black Granite Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This tall fabulous vintage polished brass abstract sculpture has been put on a new black granite base. It is vintage from the 70s and has 2 interconnected abstract bodies. The brass ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Granite, Brass

White Porcelain Ashtray Made in Germany
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage pure white china ashtray. With a fresh, contemporary modern look with embossed arabesques design. Hotelporzellan, Hogermann. Made in Germany, cir...
Category

1970s German Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Porcelain

Black and White Marble Pyramid Obelisk Style Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A black, charcoal and white marble pyramid 'Obelisk style', circa 1970s, 20th century. Dimensions: 2.63" square base x 7.88" height. Other items shown in images also available, search 1stDibs ref. #s: Lucite & 1970s Pennies paperweight...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Modern Desk Set of Pewter for Letters and Visit Cards by Jean Goardere
By Jean Goardere
Located in Weiningen, CH
Modern desk set of pewter for letters and visit cards by Jean Goardere Measures: 26 x 20 cm 5 cm 20 x 14 cm 3 cm 11 x 6 cm 3 cm.
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Modernist, Sterling Silver Rocker Blotter, Amethyst Crystal, Peter Casswell
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1972 by Peter Casswell, this handsome, Modernist design Sterling Silver Rocker Blotter, is plain in style, and features an u...
Category

1970s English Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Amethyst, Sterling Silver

Swedish Sommerso Black Charcoal Gray Clear Abstract Freeform Glass Paperweight
Located in North Miami, FL
This unusual freeform abstract glass sommerso paperweight changes forms, shapes and dynamics with each turn and placement. Colors of gradients of black, charcoal gray to gray are imm...
Category

1970s European Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Blown Glass

Italian Red Burgundy Suede and Snakeskin Picture Frame, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A '70s Modern Italian red burgundy suede and snakeskin picture frame, circa 1970s, Italy. Frame can sit in two positions; vertical (as shown) or horizontal. Picture/image area: 4.5" ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Animal Skin, Suede

Toni Zuccheri Murano Glass Paper Holder for VeArt, Italy, 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Toni Zuccheri paper holder for VeArt, Italy, 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Murano Glass

Bruno Munari Silver-Plate Sculptural Vase with Glass Insert Italian Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This undulating sculptural vintage silver-plate vase signed B.Munari on the bottom 1973 is both sculptural and utilitarian. It is Italian by Bruno Munari made for Danese and a lovely vase and or desk accessory and will have so many other applications. it can also be used as a candle holder without the glass insert. The small glass vessel is short and will hold a few roses, a few orchids or a few gardenias or your favorite flower. It is 4" height x 2" diameter. Please note this is not the re-issue and is totally vintage...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Rene Dumas Lucite Sculptural Chess Players French Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
The designer of these amazing vintage French lucite modernist chess players from the 1970s are by Renee Dumas who is related to the Hermes family. They a...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

Brass Signed Woman Seated Vintage Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely brass vintage limited edition brass abstract sculpture of a seated woman is signed but not legible and it is numbered 21 /100. It is great from all angles and makes a great desk or cocktail table accessory...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Aurelio Teno Signed Silvered Bronze, Enamel, Quartz and Marble Sculpture Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This Brutalist inspired signed Aurelio Teno sensational Spanish sculpture is a combination of silvered bronze, quartz, amethyst and painted enamel over the bronze. It sits on a marbl...
Category

1970s Spanish Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Quartz, Marble, Silver, Bronze, Enamel

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

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Agate Onyx and Brass Desk Pen Holder, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A '70s modern brass and onyx/agate desk pen holder. Onyx/agate is a red burgundy hue. Pen is in fine working order. Picture frame and brass tape dispenser...
Category

1970s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Agate, Onyx, Brass

Catherine Noll Arched Silver Plate and Gradient Color Lucite Sculpture Vintage
By Catherine Noll
Located in North Miami, FL
This special tall lucite and silver plate elegant and organic arched sculpture was designed by Catherine Noll whose famous grandfather was Alexandre Noll. He was a well know sculptor who made fabulous sculptures out of carving simple wood. This sculpture which resembles a form of a horn was done in 1970. The arched form is lucite and the square base is silver plate. The lucite has gradients of gray tones as light hits it. It is organic modern with elegant lines. Catherine Noll was mainly a Parisian jewelry designer who started her illustrious design career back then. The materials she worked with in jewelry consisted of wood, ivory, Perspex and crystal. Catherine was in art school at the famous Beaux Arts when her noted and famous sculptor grandfather; Alexander Noll...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Vintage Romeo Paris Copper and Gold Leaf Embedded Lucite Column Lamp, French
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing and stunning thick walled French vintage lucite column lamp is attributed to the work of Romeo Paris. It has inclusions of floating copper and gold leaf elements in fractal form. It is tall, heavy and has separate lucite columns inside. This is a piece de resistance...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Leaf, Copper

Acrylic Lucite Magazine Holder Stand, 1976
Located in New York, NY
A chic '70s Modern acrylic magazine holder rack stand, marked '1976' on side as shown in last image. Piece has three storage compartment areas ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite

Hermès Vintage Silver Plate Equestrian Paper Holder or Desk Accessory
Located in North Miami, FL
This wonderful vintage Hermès paper holder or letter clip is on the rare side. It is signed Hermès Paris and is polished silver plate. It was desig...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Lucite Two Compartment Magazine Holder
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage two compartment lovely lucite magazine holder is in very great condition. It is non obtrusive and can be placed anywhere. It is fro...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

Vintage Brass Pyramid Triangle Tall Modernist Sculpture
Located in North Miami, FL
This truly arresting vintage modernist brass pyramid sculpture has been professionally polished. It is in a combination of a tall pyramid and triangle form and has 7 random purposeful holes in the front of different sizes. It was so well made at the time. This is a most unusual sculpture...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Romeo Rega Signed Brass and Chrome-Plated Checkers Game, Italian Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This ultra chic and modern signed Italian Romeo Rega vintage checkers game has sculptural components. It is great just even as a decorative object or ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel, Chrome

Vintage Bronze Architectural Sculptural Objects Desk Accessories Set of 3
Located in North Miami, FL
This set of 3 heavy bronze vintage architectural and sculptural desk elements and or objects are amazing. They are signed but not legible and are from the 1970s. They are a sophistic...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Signed Chrome, Brass, Black Resin Hinged Monumental Sculptural Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning and sculptural monumental beautifully made Italian hinged heavy box is signed and stamped Linea Ble Roma. It is from the 20th century and is comprised of chrome, brass ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Chrome

Victor Zaikine Vintage Bronze Senusal Sculpture Titled Lovers Embrace
Located in North Miami, FL
This amazing vintage sensual bronze vintage sculpture by Victor Zaikine is wonderful from every angle. The lovers embrace surrounding the bowl of life. ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze, Other

Rene Dumas Vintage Lucite Aubergine and Clear Sculptural Chess Players French
Located in North Miami, FL
The designer of these amazing vintage French Lucite modernist chess players from the 1970s are by Renee Dumas who is related to the Hermes family. They a...
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

Molini Clear and Black Lucite Column Table or Desk Lamp Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This handsome and modern square lucite lamp is clear in the center banded by a black lucite base and top. It has a polished steel column in the center that looks like it is floating. It is in excellent condition and makes for a sensational desk or table lamp. This vintage lamp was never ever used. It has the two socket pull chains and is completely rewired. It also has the graduating stem pole to make a little higher. All is original inclusive of the finial. It is 7" H from the top to the bottom of the light bulb socket. It was made by the NY showroom Molini Southard from the time period. It is from the 1980s. New, never used. This great lucite square column lamp...
Category

1970s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Rare Silver Letter Opener Italian Army, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare Italian silver letter opener with the medallion with the eagle emblem of the Italian army and the engraved signature of Capo di Stato Maggiore. Made in Italy. A unique additio...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

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.

Recently Viewed

View All