Antique Desk Sets
1890s British Late Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Antique Desk Sets
Metal, Silver
Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Desk Sets
Enamel
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Silver
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Sets
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets
Copper
Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Antique Desk Sets
Silver Plate
19th Century English George III Antique Desk Sets
Sheffield Plate
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Marble, Chrome
1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
1920s Swedish Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Carrara Marble, Silver
Early 20th Century French Antique Desk Sets
Leather
Late 19th Century Louis XV Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Zebra Wood
1910s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
1910s American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
19th Century British Antique Desk Sets
Brass
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Desk Sets
Marble, Bronze
Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Desk Sets
Crystal, Silver Plate
19th Century English Gothic Antique Desk Sets
Brass
19th Century Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Crystal, Bronze, Other
Early 1900s French Antique Desk Sets
Ormolu
1910s English Antique Desk Sets
Crocodile, Alligator
1920s Austrian Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Brass
Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Onyx, Brass
Early 1900s Other Antique Desk Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century French Antique Desk Sets
Crystal, Bronze
Early 19th Century English Belle Époque Antique Desk Sets
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
1920s American Antique Desk Sets
Brass
19th Century English Regency Antique Desk Sets
Rosewood
Early 19th Century Early Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Brass
1860s English Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Ormolu
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Crystal
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Desk Sets
Marble, Bronze
1920s German Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Serpentine
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Desk Sets
Brass
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Desk Sets
Siena Marble, Brass, Bronze
Early 1900s Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets
Early 20th Century English Jacobean Antique Desk Sets
Brass
19th Century Chinese Regency Antique Desk Sets
Ormolu, Bronze
Early 20th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Chrome, Brass
19th Century Chinese Regency Antique Desk Sets
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Desk Sets
Brass, Bronze
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Desk Sets
Siena Marble, Brass, Bronze
19th Century English Grand Tour Antique Desk Sets
Brass
1870s French Victorian Antique Desk Sets
Brass
Early 20th Century Canadian Arts and Crafts Antique Desk Sets
Early 20th Century Austrian Native American Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
1810s English Regency Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
1920s Spanish Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Alabaster
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Antique Desk Sets
Antler
1910s American Art Deco Antique Desk Sets
Bronze
19th Century French Empire Antique Desk Sets
Marble
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Antique Desk Sets
Wood
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Revival Antique Desk Sets
Siena Marble, Bronze
19th Century Rococo Antique Desk Sets
Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu
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Antique Desk Sets For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Antique Desk Sets?
Finding the Right Desk-accessories for You
Whether you’ve carved out a space for a nifty home office or you prefer the morning commute, why not dress up your desk with antique and vintage desk accessories? To best tiptoe the line between desk efficiency and desk enjoyment, we suggest adding a touch of the past to your modern-day space.
Desks are a funny thing. Their basic premise has remained the same for quite literally centuries: a flat surface, oftentimes a drawer, and potentially a shelf or two. However, the contents that lay upon the desk? Well, the evolution has been drastic to say the least.
Thank the Victorians for the initial popularity of the paperweight. The Industrial Revolution offered the novel concept of leisure-time to Europeans, giving them more time to take part in the then crucial activity of letter writing. Decorative glass paperweight designs were all the rage, and during the mid-19th-century some of the most popular makers included the French companies of Baccarat, St. Louis and Clichy.
As paper was exceedingly expensive in the early to mid-19th-century, every effort was made to utilize a full sheet of it. Paper knives, which gave way to the modern letter opener, were helpful for cutting paper down to an appropriate size.
Books — those bound volumes of paper, you may recall — used to be common occurrences on desks of yore and where there were books there needed to be bookends. As a luxury item, bookend designs have run the gamut from incorporating ultra-luxurious materials (think marble and Murano glass) to being whimsical desk accompaniments (animal figurines were highly popular choices).
Though the inkwell’s extinction was ushered in by the advent of the ballpoint pen (itself quasi-obsolete at this point), there is still significant charm to be had from placing one of these bauble-like objets in a central spot on one’s desk. You may be surprised to discover the mood-boosting powers an antique — and purposefully empty — inkwell can provide.
The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass-production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier.
Find antique and vintage desk accessories today on 1stDibs.
- What is an antique Davenport desk?2 Answers1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022An antique Davenport desk is a small writing desk, usually with four drawers on one side. The desk would have elaborately decorated supports and a recessed space for adequate legroom. Shop a collection of Davenport desks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A Davenport desk is a type of small desk with a distinct inclined desktop. The desktop covers a large storage compartment meant for keeping paper and other writing materials. Popular in the 19th century, Davenport desks are still sought after today. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of antique Davenport desks from some of the world’s top sellers.
- What are antique desks called?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023What antique desks are called depends on their design. A desk with chair cutouts on both sides is a partner desk, while one with a pull-down writing surface is a secretary. On a Davenport desk, the desktop lifts to reveal a storage area. Find a variety of antique, vintage and contemporary desks on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 5, 2024To identify an antique tea set, look closely to determine who the manufacturer is. Locate the hallmark on the bottom of a saucer, teapot or cup. A maker’s mark on one of these items is the best indicator of the set’s origin. If you snap a photo with your smartphone or tablet, you can conduct a reverse image search to jump-start your research. Professionals recommend consulting auction catalogs, books and trusted online resources such as museum exhibition materials. With some research, you may be able to match the marking to the manufacturer's name and, from there, identify the pattern and age.
In 17th-century England, Chinese tea began to arrive at ports in London. Mass production of porcelain tea sets took place in the 18th century, and during the early 1800s, tea became widely affordable, and the concept of teatime took shape all over England.
Reputable soft-paste porcelain makers include Sèvres, Capodimonte and Chelsea, while Meissen was the first European maker of hard-paste porcelain. Bone china manufactories of note include Spode, Minton and Derby, which was later called the Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company.
Generally, a tea set is considered vintage if it’s at least 20 years old, while antiques are at least 100 years old. Although a maker’s mark is generally a helpful indicator of a given manufacturer, forgeries have occurred over the years. Look for other signifiers of a material, time period or style if you are uncertain of your piece’s origin. For help with identification, seek out a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer.
Find antique tea sets on 1stDibs. - 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To tell if a roll-top desk is an antique, look closely at the materials. Real antiques feature hardwoods like cherry, mahogany and black walnut. If you detect the use of engineered woods, the desk is a reproduction. Also, early pieces show off irregular dovetail joints. Joints that appear perfectly uniform indicate that a roll-top desk is a more recent mass-produced piece. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of expertly vetted antique roll-top desks.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A variety of factors can determine the exact age of an antique roll top desk. Some things to look for is the type of wood and craftsmanship used to create the desk. Typically, older desks will be made from heavier wood. You can also check for a maker’s marks to determine the age. When in doubt, work with a certified appraiser to determine the authenticity of your roll top desk. You’ll find a variety of expertly vetted roll top desks on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021An antique secretary desk will range in value depending on its authenticity and condition. The price can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. On 1stDibs find the antique secretary desk you’re looking for today.
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