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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 The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics.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
Recognized Seller Listings
Ghidini 1961 Omini Tape Mate in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Scotch holder in brass. Ideal for keeping adhesive tape close at hand.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

"Italo" Leather In and Out Tray Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Italo" is a leather out tray and paper holder, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Colors combination to be cho...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

"Antonio" Leather Pencil Holder Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Antonio" is a leather pencil holder, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera, and is part of Foglia Couture collection. G...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

"Astuccio" Leather Case Designed by Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Astuccio" is a leather case, designed and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Colors combination to be chosen from the available range: tan, si...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

"Simone" Leather Desk Blotter Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Simone" is a leather desk blotter, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Co...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

"Lorenzo" Riveted Leather Pencil Holder by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Lorenzo" is a riveted leather pencil holder, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable t...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

"Carlo" Riveted Leather Wastepaper Bin by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Carlo" is a riveted leather wastepaper bin, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Colors combination to be chosen from the available range: tan, sienna, orange, red, red-purple, dark brown, khaki, blue, black. DIMENSIONS: D. 10.2", W. 10.2", H. 13.3" The leather is doubled to obtain greater thickness and a color contrast between inner and outer surfaces; it's then folded and held together by metal rivets: the object has taken shape. Leather, robust and soft, which maturates over time like wood, wine, brandy and cheese, is a material suitable for a living relationship with people and things it has to do with: it absorbs their scent and gives its own. It protects, gathers and changes shape, as it retains something of the life it once had. Past experiences in working with leather, with objects of common use transformed into their own form by the material of which they were made (baskets, boxes, trays, writing-desk items, small pieces of furniture, in addition to bags and cases, of course) have led Oscar Maschera to today’s production which has exceeded even the limits of explicit reality to get the pure form of the objects, reaching beyond the risky limit of mere functionality. CLAUDE BOUCHARD, interior architect and designer by training, is well known for his pieces of design in ceramics, porcelain, glass, metal and wood for firms such as Hermès...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

"Proust" Leather Mouse Pad Designed by Claude Bouchard for Oscar Maschera
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Proust" is a leather mouse pad, designed by Claude Bouchard and manufactured by Oscar Maschera. Genuine Italian leather vegetable tanned. Colors combinatio...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Tiffany Modern Sterling Silver Portable Postage Scale in Original Box
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver portable postage scale, ca 1930. Retailed by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Cylindrical with loose-mounted clip; top ring loose-mounted to pullout counterweight st...
Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique American Modern Sterling Silver and Glass Inkwell on Stand
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver and glass inkwell on stand, circa 1920. Lobed melon-form glass bowl; sterling silver cover domed with overlapping ovoid ring finial. stand has well and large l...
Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

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

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

Gervasoni Wind Table Fan in Handwoven Dark Pulut by Jasper Startup
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Family of floor or table fans that combine aesthetics and functionality, features that make them a genuine piece of furniture in their own right. Available in two sizes, S or L, they...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Karl Springer Rare Adjustable Magnifying Lens in Polished Chrome 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Rare adjustable magnifying lens with beautifully crafted mount in polished chrome by Karl Springer, American 1980's.
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

Karl Springer Rare Mounted Magnifying Lens, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Rare adjustable magnifying lens with beautifully crafted mount in polished chrome and brass by Karl Springer, American 1980's. The mixed metal gives it a truly bespoke look.
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome, Brass

Collection of Six Glass Multicolored Paperweights
Located in London, GB
These glass paperweights are wonderful decorative pieces which will make perfect desk accessories or collectables. The paperweights are all slightly different in their shape and ...
Category

20th Century French Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass

Karl Springer Waste Basket in Tessellated Travertine, 1980s
Located in New York, NY
Meticulously crafted waste basket in tessellated travertine with gilded accents and solid brass feet by Maitland Smith for Karl Springer, American 1980's (bottom lined in fabric). Ta...
Category

1980s American Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Travertine, Brass

DeCastelli Riviera Pots 1 Flower 60 Planter in Stainless Steel by 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

DeCastelli Riviera Pots 1 Flower 90 Planter in Stainless Steel by 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

DeCastelli Riviera Pots 3 Flower 50 Planter in Stainless Steel by 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

Ghidini 1961 Omini Cards Holder in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Business cards holder in brass, ideal for holding cards.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

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

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Squared Small Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tray in brass. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store papers in the office or necess...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

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

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Desk Trays Set in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. Dimensions for trays: 35.4 x 23 x 2H cm; 23.5 x 7.5 x 2H cm; 12.5 x 7.5 x 2 H cm.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 2 Large Cube Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Pencil Holder in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pencil holder in stainless steel. When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Rectangular Small Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store papers in the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Omini Pen and Cards Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Made from brass the pen and card tray is suitable for storing pens, pencils and cards and adds a touch of whimsy to your home office.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Omini the Climber Clips Holder in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This unconventional paperclip holder is made of brass. This versatile piece features a small, stylized man climbing up a ladder that contains magnets, ensuring that all unruly paperc...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Limousine Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This exquisite tray is part of the Tip Top collection and was entirely made in stainless steel that was then given a copper finish and its pink-like glow. This worm hue adds a gentle...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Pencil Holder in Polished Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pencil holder in stainless steel. When you look at the top view of the Tip-Top series, all the triangles have the same size. In 3D these triangles have been stretched, which creates ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry A4 Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 1 Small Cube Tray in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Pen and Cards Desk Trays Set in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Squared Small Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tray in copper with a rose gold finish. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store paper...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Tip Top Limousine Tray in Polished Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This exquisite tray is part of the Tip Top collection and was entirely made in stainless steel that was then given a brass finish to obtain its distinctive golden glow. This worm hue...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Rectangular Small Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Tray in copper with a rose gold finish. Tray in brass. Elegant in living and dining spaces alike, this tray can be used to display objects in the living room and bedroom, store paper...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set of Three Small Parallelepiped Tray Set
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in polished brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optic...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Box Decorative Brass Swedish, 20th Century, Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Box decorative brass Swedish, 20th century, Sweden. A box made in Sweden during the 20th century. Interior with wood. No key.
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 4 Large Parallelepiped Tray Set in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 1 Small Cube Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 2 Large Cube Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry A4 Tray in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 4 Large Parallelepiped Tray Set in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Pen and Cards Desk Trays Set in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays Set in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Desk Trays Set in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with rose gold finish. Dimensions for trays: 35.4 x 23 x 2H cm; 23.5 x 7.5 x 2 H cm; 12.5 x 7.5 x 2 H cm.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Trays Set in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Set 3 Small Parallelepiped Tray Set in Rose Gold Finish
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in copper with a rose gold finish. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-d...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Copper

Calf Skin and Wormy Butternut Trash Bin, ERIK GUSTAFSON
Located in New York, NY
Made from calf skin and wormy butternut wood, this is a unique edition from Erik Gustafson. Customizable with worminess variable from piece to piece. Gus...
Category

2010s American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Animal Skin, Wood

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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