Neoclassical Desk Accessories
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE
Neoclassical design emerged in Europe in the 1750s, as the Age of Enlightenment reached full flower. Neoclassical furniture took its cues from the styles of ancient Rome and Athens: symmetrical, ordered, dignified forms with such details as tapered and fluted chair and table legs, backrest finials and scrolled arms.
Over a period of some 20 years, first in France and later in Britain, neoclassical design — also known as Louis XVI, or Louis Seize — would supersede the lithe and curvaceous Rococo or Louis XV style.
The first half of the 18th century had seen a rebirth of interest in classical antiquity. The "Grand Tour" of Europe, codified as a part of the proper education of a patrician gentleman, included an extended visit to Rome. Some ventured further, to sketch the ruins of ancient Greece. These drawings and others — particularly those derived from the surprising and rich archaeological discoveries in the 1730s and ’40s at the sites of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum — caused great excitement among intellectuals and aesthetes alike.
Neoclassical furniture is meant to reflect both grace and power. The overall appearance of neoclassical chairs, tables and cabinetry is strong and rectilinear. These pieces are, in effect, classical architecture in miniature: chair and table legs are shaped like columns; cabinets are constructed with elements that mirror friezes and pediments.
Yet neoclassicism is enlivened by gilt and silver leaf, marquetry, and carved and applied ornamental motifs based on Greek and Roman sculpture: acanthus leaves, garlands, laurel wreaths, sheaves of arrow, medallions and chair splats are carved in the shapes of lyres and urns. Ormolu — or elaborate bronze gilding — was essential to French design in the 18th and 19th centuries as a cornerstone of the neoclassical and Empire styles.
As you can see from the furniture on these pages, there is a bit of whimsy in such stately pieces — a touch of lightness that will always keep neoclassicism fresh.
Find antique neoclassical furniture today on 1stDibs.
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Style: Neoclassical
Silver Zodiac Armillary Sundial
Located in Elkhart, IN
A stunning vintage silver metal armillary sundial featuring Roman numerals and the zodiac signs.
USA, Late 20th century.
Measures: 8.5"W x 5"D x 10"H
Excellent vintage condition.
Category
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
English Wedgwood Jasperware Jewelry Dish with Neoclassical Design
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...
Category
20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Stoneware
Wedgwood Jasperware Black Basalt & White Jewelry Dish Neoclassical, 1960s
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
An English Wedgwood Jasperware black basalt and white stoneware rectangular jewelry dish with Neoclassical design, 1963, England. Piece is a matte bla...
Category
20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Pottery, Stoneware
English Wedgwood Jasperware Jewelry Dish Neoclassical Design
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...
Category
20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
English Wedgwood Jasperware Jewelry Dish with Neoclassical Design
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful English Wedgwood Jasperware sage green and white round jewelry dish with neoclassical design, circa 20th century, 1979, England...
Category
20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Stoneware
Venus de Milo White Granite Marble Female Figurative Statue Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful white granite marble reproduction of Greek goddess 'Venus de Milo' female figure statue sculpture in the Neoclassical style, circa early 20th century, Italy. A great deco...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Granite, Marble
Kodak No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie Model B 120 Roll Film Camera USA 1909
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Kodak No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie Model B 120 Roll Film Camera USA 1909
The No 2 Folding Pocket Brownie is a folding camera made by Kodak in Rochester, NY, USA, from c. 1909. It has...
Category
Early 20th Century American Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Glass
LEONID KOCHERGIN 1900 Russian Empire Enameled Letter Opener In 14Kt Gold Silver
Located in Miami, FL
Russian letter opener designed by Leonid Kochergin.
This is a very handsome luxurious desk letter-opener, created during the imperial Russian period in the city Saint Petersburg, be...
Category
Early 1900s Russian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Jade, Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Bronze inkwell George Josef Burgstaller (German/Austrian)
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bronze inkwell Georg Josef BURGSTALLER
(German/Austrian)
Neo classical woman signed Burgstaller
ruge marble.
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Pocket Watch, Jaqs Blanc, Gold, Enamel, Etc. Possibly ca Late 18th C
Located in Madrid, ES
Pocket watch, Jaqs Blanc. gold, enamel, etc. Possibly towards the end of the 18th century.
Pocket watch with a white dial and Arabic numerals for the hours and lines and Arabic num...
Category
Late 18th Century Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Gold, Enamel, Other
American Brass Miniature Carriage Clock with Beveled Glass, New York. C. 1850
By James Mix
Located in Charleston, SC
American brass miniature carriage clock with beveled glass, carrying handle , and signed enamel over copper face with dial. Clock consists of time, strike,...
Category
1850s American Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Copper, Enamel
Gilt-Bronze, Onyx and Enamel Cloisonné Centerpiece, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt-bronze, onyx and enamel cloisonné centerpiece. France, Late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Enamel, Bronze
Douglas Kirkland's Light Years Three Decades Photographing Among the Stars
Located in North Hollywood, CA
For thirty years Douglas Kirkland's camera has negotiated our relationship with the stars. Light Years is his photographic autobiography --a brilliant cons...
Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Horse Sterling Silver Plate Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
A substantial sterling silver plate letter opener with horse head handle, circa mid-20th century, USA. A great desk, office, library, etc., accessory. With maker's mark on underside ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate, Metal
Handsome vintage cast-iron hunting dog bookends
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a pair of handsome cast-iron hunting dog bookends. These heavy molded cast-iron bookends have a black finish to the surface. Each book and measures 5” x 4” inches deep by 7 i...
Category
1970s American Vintage Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Iron
Italian Grand Tour Marble Model of a Roman Labrum or Bath, circa 1810
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Rare early 19th century Italian Grand Tour model of an ancient Roman labrum (bath) or sarcophagus in exquisitely carved rosso antico marble having double ring handles and central lio...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Tiffany & Co. Porcelain Lidded Box Designed for Tauck World France
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Tiffany & Co. porcelain round trinket box.
Tiffany & Co. porcelain round map box designed for Tauck World, Made In France.
The porcelain lid cover is decor...
Category
Late 20th Century French Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Pair Wedgwood Blue and White Jasperware Desk Accessories
By Wedgwood
Located in New York, NY
Pair Wedgwood blue and white Jasperware desk accessories. Beautiful blue grey bisque beaker/bud-vase with cream-ivory neoclassical bas relief, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Stoneware
Pocket Watch, Deroches Brothers, Gilded Metal, Enamels, Etc. P Late 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Pocket watch, Deroches Brothers. Gilded metal, enamels, etc. Possibly towards the end of the 18th century.
Pocket watch with a case with a transparent glass part and a composition ...
Category
Late 18th Century European Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Enamel, Other
Cristal Saint Louis Ivoire de Balmain Collectible Perfume Decanter/Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Cristal Saint Louis cut crystal decanter of Ivoire de Balmain perfume. The bottle is urn shaped and it is a faceted clear crystal. There is...
Category
20th Century French Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
19th Century Polychrome Sculpture of a Roman Woman
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Italian original painted plaster sculpture of a young Roman woman in nice gilt dress and flower wreath. This well sculptured smiling lady cou...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Plaster
Historical American Civil War Era Wire Frame Magnifying Eye Glass Spectacles
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A delicate pair of handmade magnifying wire rim eye glasses from the American Civil War era, circa 1860.
A great looking historical conversation p...
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
19th Century Gilt Bronze Eagle Fragment on White Marble Stand, Italy
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Italian gilt bronze sculpture of an eagle on a rectangular white Carrera piece of marble. The high quality of the gilt work and the early age makes the eagl...
Category
1810s Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Charles & Richard Comyns 1920 London Neo Classic Carriage Table Clock in Sterlin
Located in Miami, FL
Travel carriage clock designed by Charles & Richard Comyns.
Beautiful small travel-desk clock, created by the top notch and prestigious silversmith company of Charles & Richard Co...
Category
1920s English Vintage Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Sterling Silver
Russian 1915 Moscow Nephrite Jade Desk Picture Frame Mounted in Gilded Silver
Located in Miami, FL
Nephrite jade and gilded silver desk frame.
Beautiful neo classic desk picture frame, created in Moscow Russia, back in the 1915. Carefully crafted in the Russian imperial and Louis XVI style, with solid gilded silver, translucent nephrite green jade...
Category
1910s Russian Vintage Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Jade, Silver
Large Silvered Lion Sculpture, France, Early 20th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
An early 20th century Silverplated Lion. This particular example very well modelled. Mounted over a Portoro Italian marble base. Perfect size to...
Category
Early 20th Century French Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Metal
The New Clay Techniques and Approaches to Jewelry Making, book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The New Clay: Techniques and Approaches to Jewelry Making.
A wonderful book, with over 100 color photos, on making intricate beads and jewelry using modeling clays such as "Fimo" and "Sculpey."
Everything you need to know to work with the new polymer clays is covered clearly in this book. Excellent working diagrams show how easy it is to make the most complex looking designs.
One of the first books...
Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Grand Tour Of Italy Souvenir, Carrara Marble Cameo Paperweight c19th Century
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Intriguing 19th century Grand Tour carved Carrara marble cameo depicting a strong male profile, possibly the Italian poet Dante Alighieri
Antique Italian...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Carrara Marble
Neoclassical Antique Sterling Silver Ink Stand, London 1798 Henry Greenway
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1798 by Henry Greenway, this handsome, George III, antique, sterling silver ink stand, is plain in style, and feature...
Category
1790s English Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Twelve 19th Century Painted and Gilt Metal Desk Accessories
Located in London, GB
In a time of computers and technology, this antique desk set harks back to a more romantic period when people read letters at their desks by candlelig...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Antique English Blue John or Derbyshire Spar Egg Shaped Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique paperweight.
Comprised of Blue John (also known as Derbyshire Spar), a rare form of fluorite from England with distinct purple & yell...
Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Precious Stone
19th Century French Neo-Classical Style Gilt Bronze Desk Inkwell
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 19th century French gilt bronze inkwell. Perfect coffee table art or desk statement piece. It is in very good condition and unmarked.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
English Bronze 'His Royal Highness Prince Albert' Commemorative Desk Clip
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Bronze 'His Royal Highness Prince Albert' Commemorative Desk Clip
England, early 20th century
A distinguished English bronze 'His Royal Highness Prince Albert' Commemorative...
Category
Early 20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
19th-C. French Neo-Classical Style Gilt Bronze Ram Form Inkwell
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-19th century French gilt bronze neo-classical style ram form inkwell. It has dual rams to possibly hold the writing instrument.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Neoclassical Style Metal Tissue Box Cover
Located in Sheffield, MA
Add style and the finishing touch to your countertop or nightstand with this antiqued gold toned top and grey ribbed metal body tissue box cover to pr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Neoclassical-Style Continental Silver '.800' Footed Double Inkstand by Dragstead
By A. Dragsted
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical - style, Continental Silver (.800), footed, double inkstand, Denmark, year-hallmarked for 1901, A. N. Dragsted - maker. Each of the wells is decorated with bows and garl...
Category
Early 1900s Danish Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
French 1798 Neo Classic Stamp Seal In 18Kt Gilded Silver Carved Bust Of Flora
Located in Miami, FL
French neo classic desk seal.
Wonderful desk seal, created in France during the late 18th century, back in the 1798-1808. This magnificent piece of a...
Category
1790s French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold, Silver
A Norwegian Porphyry Sphere
Located in Spencertown, NY
The purple/white stone in the shape of a sphere
Category
Mid-19th Century Norwegian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Porphyry
Italian Renaissance Display Plate with Classical Figures
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Renassance style display plate with a painting in the center with two adults holding each other one in a reddish tassel and the other in a blueish tassel. There are two young...
Category
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Paint
Italian Empire Silver Inkstand
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire Silver Inkstand. Roman sterling silver inkstand of sober neoclassical form comprising double pots for sander and inkwell with acorn fini...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Silver Inkstand, with Hallmarks, Madrid, Spain, 1779
Located in Madrid, ES
With hallmarks and property marks (AL).
A tray of curved profiles is supported on four legs in the shape of plant elements. Fixed to it are four elements. These, and the bell, prese...
Category
1770s Spanish Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Neoclassical Style Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Neoclassical Style Glass Inkwell. It depicts a heavy octagonal shaped glass inkwell bottle. The round hinged bronze lid is adorned at the top with a Roman soldier profile. ...
Category
20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
French 1890 Etui Sealing Wax Case with Guilloche Blue Enamel in Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
French etui sealing wax case.
Exquisite objet d'art, created in Paris France in the late 19th century, circa 1890. This is a etui sealing wax case, mast...
Category
1890s French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early Panorama Children’s Book Hiawatha Illustrated by Willy Pogany London 1914
By Willy Pogany
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Antique panorama children’s book illustrated by Willy Pogany and retold by Edith L Elias. A total of 14 panels, one side with illustrations, and the other with text.
Published by George G. Harrap & Company.
This book is part of a children’s series by Willy Pogány of folding panoramas illustrations and text, inspired by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1855 epic, The Song of Hiawatha. Lines from Longfellow run underneath Pogány’s illustrations, which follow the Ojibwe child Hiawatha from his early kinship with the wild animals, through his struggles with Nahma, King of Fishes, and his own estranged father, Mudjekeewis, up to his courtship of Laughing Water (Minnehaha). The prose text by Edith Elias, printed on the verso of the panorama, carries Hiawatha’s story farther, through the death of Minnehaha and the coming of “the Pale-Face Chief.” Pogány’s dynamic frames, with their striking use of negative space, show the influence not only of Golden Age illustrators like Walter Crane, but also the new generation of cartoonists like Winsor McCay...
Category
1910s English Vintage Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze-Mounted Escritoire Desk
Located in Brea, CA
This Louis XV style vanity gilt bronze-mounted desk has one wide drawer in front and there are 6 drawers on two lines for even more storage. Fine writing desk with curved sides and g...
Category
20th Century American Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Hardwood
Inkwell-Pairpoint Glass and Sterling with Controlled Bubble Pattern
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pairpoint Glass Company ball shaped inkwell with the controlled bubble pattern that became synonymous with the company. The glass was blown around a molded form to create a receptacl...
Category
19th Century American Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
Pair of Neoclassical Rock Crystal Spheres on Bronze Bases
Located in Cypress, CA
Impressive pair of hand-carved and hand polished rock crystal spheres on bronze dolphin bases, second half of 20th century.
The diameter of the rock crystal sphere is 7.5 inches.
...
Category
Late 20th Century European Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Rock Crystal, Bronze
Bronze Sculpture with Marble Base, Signed Comolera, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Bronze sculpture with marble base. Signed Comolera. France, late 19th century.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
belgian paper cutter
Located in Brussels, BE
belgian paper cutter
Category
Early 1900s Belgian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
English Silver Inkwell, Stamped Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company
Located in Spencertown, NY
The rectangular inkwell with flat hinged lid, opening to reveal ceramic well and cut-glass liner beneath. Hallmarks on inside cover, rear and underside.
Category
20th Century English Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Italian Gray Marble Inkwell, 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
A gray marble circular inkwell with marble stopper.
Category
20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Silver Scribe or Desk Writing Set, Platerías Martínez, Madrid, Spain, 1819
Located in Madrid, ES
Scribe with four inkwells and bell. Silver. Madrid, Silversmiths Martínez, 1819.
With contrast marks.
Notary of silver in its color composed of a rectangular tray (raised on four...
Category
1810s Spanish Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Bronze Writing Set, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
On a tray of curved profiles decorated with moldings and scallops on its edges are the four containers that make up the desk. The sandbox or salvador, the duster and the inkwell pres...
Category
19th Century European Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Bronze of a Woman
Located in New York, NY
This Empire ormolu head of a woman was made as a furniture mount in France around 1810, and probably adorned a bed. In any case, closer to our own time, it was deemed worthy of mount...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Handsome 19th Century Bronze and Marble Neoclassical Bust, Great Color & Patina.
Located in Buchanan, MI
Handsome 19th Century Bronze and Marble Neoclassical Bust, Great Color & Patina. Pristine Condition.
Category
19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Collection of Table Ornaments 19th and 20th Century, Cut Crystal, Gilt Bronze
Located in Buchanan, MI
A collection of table ornaments, cut crystal gilt bronze
19th and 20th century, priced per item.
Height of tallest 20 1/4 inches.
Category
19th Century English Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Bronze
Neoclassical desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Neoclassical 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 Neoclassical desk accessories made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desk accessories, popular names associated with this style include Wedgwood, Henrik Wigström, Georg Jensen, and Platerías Martínez. 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 $49 and tops out at $16,875 while the average work can sell for $1,450.