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
Period: 18th Century and Earlier
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
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
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
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
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
18th Century French Neoclassical Manner Bronze Inkwell
Located in Nashville, TN
Bronze inkwell, circa 1790. Rectangular form with gilt bronze footed base with patinated dark bronze handles and mounts. Item has singular pot in the center of the tray. The floral d...
Category
1760s French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
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19th Century Giltwood Watch Holder
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Located in Doylestown, PA
A charming French gilt bronze inkwell in the form of a dog house with the roof on a hinge to store the ink bottle.
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19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell
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Crafted of brilliant doré bronze and fine brocatelle marble, this wonderful Napoleon III-period inkwell is as functional as it is beautiful. In a style reminiscent of Louis XV Rococo...
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Tiffany & Co. 1920 Art Deco 8 Days Desk Clock Sterling Silver & Enamel with Box
By Tiffany & Co., Concord
Located in Miami, FL
A desk clock designed by Tiffany & Co.
A beautiful and elegant easel back desk clock, created in New York city by the Tiffany & Co. studios, during the art deco period back in the early 1920. This rare piece has been designed in a squared curvilinear shape and carefully crafted up in solid sterling silver .935/.999 . The watch is gilded and is fully embellished with applications of purple-violet and white enamels over a geometric guilloche patterns. It is fitted at the reverse, with an easel back retractable hinged stand.
Movement: Is Swiss mechanical wingding, 8 days. The dial is creme-white with arabic golden numerals and with black hands and inscribed, Tiffany & Co. Swiss.
Weight: 180.95 Grams, (1115.99 Dwt).
Measurements: 80 mm by 80 mm by 16.5 mm (3.15 x 3.15 x 0.65 Inches).
Clocks Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark and signed, "TIFFANY & CO. 8 DAYS SWISS".
Case Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark monogram, the Swiss mark of the standing Bear for the silver assay, and signed, "CONCORD WATCH CO. STERLING SILVER ARGENT 0.935 CONCORD W. CO SWISS 1608".
Concord Watch Co, was founded in Biel, Switzerland in 1908. From the start, the company had its sights set on the American market. Concord produced luxury watches for several jewelry companies, including Tiffany & Co. and Cartier. During peace talks in the Second World War, President Harry Truman gave Concord watches as a gifts to Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. The North American Watch Company...
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Sterling Silver, Enamel
H 3.15 in W 3.15 in D 0.65 in
19th Century French Crystal and Bronze Inkwell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century French Crystal and Bronze Mounumental Inkwell. Signed. Escalier de Cristal Paris.
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19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Crystal, Bronze
Omega, a Wood and Enamel Art Deco Eight Day Desk Clock
By Omega
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Omega. A wood and enamel Art Deco eight day desk clock
Singed Omega.
Polished wooden case, two polychrome enamel panels with floral and geometric motif, gilt case back, dial signed.
Very good conditions.
Working conditions. It just been cleaned.
Rare example of these Art Deco Enamel Clocks.
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French Empire Napoleon III Bizantine Bronze Ormolu Inkwell or Inkstand
Located in Miami, FL
Exquisite Bizantine French 19th century Empire Napoleon III gilded bronze inkwell.
This handcrafted antique desk accessory bears the makers mar...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Bronze
Sterling Silver Letter Organizer
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This sterling silver letter holder may have been used as a toast rack in its former life but we thought this time around we would use it ...
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Art Deco French Enameled Silver Desk Clock
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This enameled silver desk clock is unsigned, so a specific maker cannot be identified, but the case was made in France, and the movement in Switzerland in the period and style of Art Deco. The silver content of the case has not been tested, but is believed to be Continental or .800 or just under .925 sterling, The front of the clock is ornately enameled with raised bright red flowers on each corner with contrasting black and red geometric panels with green accents, which are duplicated on the sides. The hinged back opens to gain access to the winding mechanism and the high grade Swiss movement has been professionally serviced and works well. Although barely visible, the clock is stamped on the bottom with a French...
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Bronze Inkwell, Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Bronze inkwell is an original decorative object realized in the mid-20th century.
A very elegant bronze inkwell decorated with a rampant horse. Includes a couple of ink inkwell.
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Mid-20th Century Italian Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Sterling Silver Bookmark
By Lunt Silver
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver bookmark by Lunt Silversmith from the 1960s. It has a raindrop shape, rounded on one end and pointed on the...
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Sterling Silver Repousse Bookmark
By Kirk & Son
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver bookmark by S. Kirk and Sons of Baltimore, Maryland. Inspired by their iconic Repousse pattern, it has clu...
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1930s American Vintage Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Previously Available Items
French 1798-1809 Neoclassical Louis XVI Round Snuff Box in Labrated 18kt Yellow
Located in Miami, FL
French snuff round box in gold.
Beautiful round snuff box, crafted in Paris France during the transition of the first Republic and the first empire periods, between the 1798 and 1...
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1790s French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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H 0.53 in W 1.57 in D 1.57 in
Bronze Brazier Shovel, 18th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Brazier bag. Bronze. Century XVIII.
Badila for brazier made in bronze and decorated with a series of discs or bands on the tubular handle and a scallop-shaped blade. ·
Size: 12 x...
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18th Century Spanish Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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18th-19th Century Neoclassical Italian Marble Claw
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful marble fragment, Italy, circa 1780-1850. Great to use as a paper weight. Weathered.
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Marble
18th Century French Neoclassical Manner Bronze Inkwell
Located in Nashville, TN
Bronze inkwell, circa 1790. Rectangular form with gilt bronze footed base with patinated dark bronze handles and mounts. Item has singular pot in the center of the tray. The floral d...
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1760s French Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Bronze
18th-19th Century Neoclassical Italian Marble Claw
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful marble fragment, Italy, circa 1780-1850. Great to use as a paper weight. Weathered.
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Marble
Antique George III Neoclassical Sterling Silver Snuffer Tray 1786 Henry Chawner
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1786 by Henry Chawner, this very handsome, George III, antique sterling silver snuffer tray, is in the neoclassical style, featuring a bead border, bright cut...
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1780s English Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Sterling Silver
H 3.94 in W 10.63 in D 3.94 in
18th-19th Century Neoclassical Italian Marble Claw
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful marble fragment, Italy, circa 1780-1850. Great to use as a paper weight. Weathered.
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18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Marble
Italian Neoclassical Monumental Tooled Leather Desk Blotter
Located in Nashville, TN
A late 18th century desk oversized blotter in red leather with gold tooling. 29.5" w x 21" h The outer tooled leather facade with wear (typical of two centuries ) .color is closer to burgundy .
The interior and back relined and restored. Of large size. Note the Hotel Danieli...
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Late 18th Century Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Leather
Pair Neoclassical Grand Tours of Gilt Bronze Helmets Now Mounted as Garnitures
Located in Nashville, TN
On later ( mid-century )faux porphyry bases( with corner nicks ). Probably a fragment from a Grand Tour souvenir . Well cast and crisply chased detail. The laurel crowned frontal hoo...
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1780s Italian Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Bronze
Pair of English Neoclassical George III Brass Candlesticks, 18th Century
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of George III neoclassical brass candlesticks.
With gadrooned and stepped bases and columnar shafts supporting urn form candle cups.
With shafts peened through the ...
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Late 18th Century English Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
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Brass
H 10.25 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
18th century Porphyry & Ormolu Paperweight
Located in London, by appointment only
A magnificent desk top ornament of rectangular form the solid porphyry base with two pin cushions with green silk velvet covers within ormolu fielded mounts, a central gilt metal handle with carved foliage.
Porphyry has always been highly prized throughout the world. It was first mined and quarried from the only known source, Mount Porphyrites in Egypt, in the 4th-5th centuries BC. The extreme density of the stone allows for a perfectly smooth surface when polished and the actual carving requires a great degree of skill and dexterity. The term ‘Porphyry’ is Greek in origin and means ‘purple.’ As purple was the colour of royalty, it was a prized material for use in monuments and architectural elements in Imperial Rome. In around 30BC, the Romans conquered Egypt and took over the quarries. Due to the colour of the stone and similarity to the Murex dye, it was adopted as the Imperial stone and used throughout the Roman world on Imperial property and tombs. The renaissance saw the revival of the stone, particularly in Venice, where Porphyry columns were cut into discs and used to decorate walls and floors, set within mosaics. In around 1555, the Florentine Francesco Tadda revived the technique of carving and polishing the stone into accomplished forms, such as the fountain basin for the courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchia. With such a wealth of historic and prestigious symbolism, the French Kings were keen to decorate their palaces with the stone. Thus, it was again revived and carved in French designs. In 1731, porphyritic rock was unearthed in Ãlvdalen, Sweden.
The valley of Ãlvdalen and its bordering parishes appear to be the only serious European mining source for Porphyry during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. A Porphyry seam was discovered there in 1731; in 1785 Councillor Nils Adam Bielke showed samples of the stone to Gustaf III...
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Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Neoclassical Desk Accessories
Materials
Porphyry, 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.
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