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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Period: Mid-20th Century
Koa Wood Letter Openers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Nice sculptural forms with a beautiful patina.
Both are engraved "Kamaka Hawaii".
The tips have some chips.
Presents well.
Great for collections and decor...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Portapenna attribuita a Fontana Arte Pietro Chiesa Gio Ponti
Located in Lugo, IT
Portapenna in cristallo attribuito a una produzione di Fontana Arte su disegno di Pietro Chiesa o Gio Ponti.
Piccolo segno interno, in foto e in video si vede ma non rotture e segni ...
Category
1930s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Hermes Paris 1960 Vintage Modernist Desk Box Round Covered Dish In silver
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Round covered dish designed by Hermes.
This is a very beautiful and highly decorative piece, created in Paris France by the luxury house of Hermes, back in the 1960. This useful des...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Weltron Model 2001 Space Ball, AM/FM Radio 8 Track Stereo
By Weltron
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Step into the retro-futuristic charm of the Weltron Model 2001 8-track stereo AM-FM radio, a timeless piece that seamlessly blends nostalgia with space-age aesthetics. Encased in a p...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Inkwell attributed to Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
Located in Lugo, IT
Glass inkwell attributed to a design by Max Ingrand for Fontana Arte
Thank you
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Cartier sterling silver letter opener
By Cartier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Cartier sterling silver letter opener , Marked 75 , 6 inches.
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Ben Seibel for Jenfred-Ware Bookends in Brass Finish
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great modern design in this pair of bookends by Ben Seibel.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Venini Two Colors Mini Hourglass/Clessidre, Unsigned
By Paolo Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a great and rare find because is one of the small hourglass ever made by Venini. Also this piece was purchased from a collection of a very important Hollywood Star estate. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Ben Seibel for Jenfred-Ware Bookends in Copper Finish
By Ben Seibel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great modern design in this pair of bookends by the well known Modern designer Ben Seibel.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Bronze Fire Hydrant Wrench by Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast bronze five hole fire hydrant wrench by Jones, USA. This piece can used for its original intention or for decorative purposes. Due to its weight it would be a perfect office pap...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Enzo Mari, Rare Cube Resin with Black Ball Sphere, Sculpture/Paperweight
By Enzo Mari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice modern resin cube by the very well known designer Enzo Mari, Measures in cm 7 x 7 x 7.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Brass Starfish Sculpture / Paperweight
By Art Brass Co.
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A nicely cast starfish paperweight, sculpture or hanging sculpture since it has a hook to the backside. Well made and can be used in the office or as a decorative accessory, made in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern 3 Piece Dresser Cologne Bottle Set
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous 3 piece set of dresser bottles with silver tops from Czechoslovakia c.1960. In excellent condition with minimal wear, unpolished. Sold and pri...
Category
1960s Czech Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Murano Decorative Obelisk by Seguso
By Venini
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Beautiful obelisk, handmade in Italy, by Seguso, Murano. Quite tall-16". Unusual color-light purple that changes with light. Polished pointed top. Nicely cut and polished edges-see p...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Paul Dupre-Lafon Hermes Paris Scissors, Paper Knife in Leather Scabbard, Signed
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A pair of scissors and letter opener in a handstitched, elephant gray leather scabbard by Paul Dupre-Lafon for Hermes, Paris. This desk set was well-used by its once owner who was ap...
Category
1950s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Murano Penguin Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage hand blown Murano glass penguin sculpture in clear, black, and white colors / Made in Italy, circa 1970s
Measures: height 5 inches, width 3...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
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
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
Murano "Cenedese" Glass Aquarium, Italy, 1950's
Located in Kastrup, DK
Italian Midcentury Murano glass fish aquarium.
Featuring multicolored inclusions with five fish and sea grass.
Italy, Venice 1950-1959.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
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
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
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
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
Hermes Desktop Magnifier Paperweight in Silver, 1960s
By Hermès
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage Hermes Paris magnifying glass desk accessory with domed lens ensconced in a silver frame with a belt design. We've left the oxidation and patina untouched and simply added a ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Enzo Mari, Rare Resin Cube, Sculpture, Paperweight, with Polyhedral Inside
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very rare Mari resin cube from the 1950s, it measures in cm 7 x 7 x 7, has a couple of flee bites in 2 corners. Similar sample with black inside in Progressione di sculptur...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Curtis Jere Honeybird Sculpture on Faux Bois Stone Quartz Base
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Honeybird sculpture by Curtis Jere Faux Bois on stone quartz base.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
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
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
Vintage Hermes Desk Blotter
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stitched maroon leather with gilt bronze posts, circa 1960s. Gold foil stamp on verso.
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Set of Bruno Munari for Danese Rosewood Rubber Mail Stamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of five rosewood and rubber mail stamps by Bruno Munari for Danese, Italy, c.1960s. Bruno Munari was an Italian graphic artist and industrial designer ...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Rubber, Rosewood
Pietrina Checcacci Cast Bronze Finger Sculpture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast bronze finger by Italian-Brazilian artist Pietrina Checcacci. The small weighted object features a bronze finger in a curved position with the tip f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Pietrina Checcacci Cast Bronze Fingers Letter Holder with Granite Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast bronze legs letter holder by Italian-Brazilian artist Pietrina Checcacci. The small weighted object features a patinated bronze set of fingers that are separated to store envelo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Granite, Bronze
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
Crystal Pink Ashtray for Val Saint Lambert, Paper Weight Signed
By Guido Bon, Val Saint Lambert
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Free-blown pink and clear crystal ashtray by Val Saint Lambert.
Could be used as a vide poche or decorative desk accessories.
Hand blown beautif...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Vintage Scale Model of The 1928 Mercedes Benz SS in German Silver, Circa 1950
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A rare scale model of the classic 1928 Mercedes Benz SS (Super Sport) which was the fastest car of its time. Made entirely of solid silver, the chassis shows a vented & belted hood, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Italian Silver Plate and Burgundy Crocodile Buckle Hinged Box Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning and gorgeous Italian vintage hinged silver plate buckle box has a burgundy crocodile leather buckle part. It was professionally polished and the bottom of the box had t...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Walter Bosse, Austrian Artist and Designer for Herta Baller, Ship
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Walter Bosse, Austrian artist and designer (b. 1904, 1974) for Herta Baller. Ship in bronze. 1950s.
Walter Bosse was affiliated with Wiener Werkstätt...
Category
1950s Austrian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Modern Marble Female Torso Figurative Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A substantial modern female figurative marble torso sculpture piece by artist/sculptor Helga Brinitzer, circa 20th century, New York. Piece is solid marble, made from one piece, and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Modern Acrylic Bookends, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A pair of clear acrylic bookends with Modern edge and jewel-like design, circa mid-20th century, 1960s. Each measure: 6" Height.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Acrylic, Lucite
Male and Female Sculpture on Black Marble Base, circa 1960s
Located in New York, NY
A vintage midcentury 1960s reproduction of a figurative male and female 'embracing' sculpture piece on black marble base, circa 1963, New York, New York. Sculpture has maker's mark o...
Category
1960s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Composition, Marble
Clear Modern Sculptural Glass Object Sculpture or Paperweight Table Decor
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Modern sculptural glass object. Very heavy. The base is a rounded hexagon shape and very solid. Solid short blunt glass rods protrude from the base. A beautiful sculptural piece to a...
Category
1950s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Blown Glass
Bronze Boucher Signed Vintage Architectural Sculpture Carrara Marble Base French
By Boucheron
Located in North Miami, FL
The intersecting sculptural lines of this French signed vintage bronze sculpture by Boucher is polished and has a rose gold color of the bronze. It sits on a white and gray veined Carrara marble block base that is attached. The measurements for the sculpture alone are as follows: 9" H x 5" D x 4.5" W. It is from the 1960s. The intersecting lines of this sculpture give it parallel forms. It is a dynamic sculpture...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Clear Cut Crystal Desk or Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
An elegant European clear cut crystal desk or table lamp, circa 20th century. A beautiful lamp with modern cuts up and down entire lamp. Lamp is made from one piece of crystal. Lamp ...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Bronze Jean Arp Style Abstract Cast Sculpture Vintage
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulous vintage French bronze vintage sculpture that looks like rose gold has a very Jean Arp style. It is cast bronze and was once professionally polished but now has a slight...
Category
1960s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Arnaldo Pomodoro Unsigned Rare Letter Tray "Il Sestante"bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a rare bronze made for the very well known artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. This is one of the pieces of the desk set, entitled , " Il Sestante" Normally you can see the boxes in a...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
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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