Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
Vintage Silver Plate Engraved and Monogrammed Notepad Holder - England
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A petite silver plate monogrammed desk pad and pen holder. This piece features a flip-up top portion that reveals an area for holding a small notepad with faux leather padding. The t...
Category
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
$75 Sale Price
25% Off
Gilt Bronze, Pearl and Enamel Singing Bird Box by Bontems, circa 1890
By Bontems
Located in London, GB
A stunning gilt bronze and seed pearl singing bird box by Bontems of Paris - CIRCA 1890.
The bird rises from beneath the enamal oval lid and is sure to delight!
Category
Late 19th Century French Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Ettore Sottsass for Olivetti Valentine Typewriter, Italy 1960s
Located in Naples, IT
Famous and Iconic Portable Typewriter Mod. Valentine designed by Ettore Sottsass and Peter King, for the company Olivetti in 1960, the typewriter is in very good condition with case ...
Category
1960s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Vintage Rolex Dealer
s Quote Pad, Swiss, Leather Bound, Notebook Slip, Late 20th
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage Rolex dealer's quote pad. A Swiss, leather bound notebook slip, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1980.
Wonderfully tact...
Category
Late 20th Century Swiss Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Elegant Victorian Flame Mahogany Writing Slope
Stationary Leather Interior
Located in Reading, Berkshire
An Elegant 19th Century Antique Victorian Flame Mahogany Decorative Inlaid Writing Slope With Black Ebonised Accents & Fitted Stationary Compartments With A Tooled Leather Interior
Supplied with two glass inkwells
A new notepad
A vintage ink pen...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Blotter Ends Early 20th Century
Located in Fulton, CA
A pair of bronze Tiffany Studios "Zodiac" desk pad blotters. Very nice original condition and patina. Signed "Tiffany Studios" Numbered "988".
Eac...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Lunt Silversmith Letter Opener Sterling 925 Desk Set
By Lunt Silver
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a letter opener by Lunt Silversmith, 925 stamped.
Dimensions: 8 Long x .63 W x .38 Thick
Please visit take a look at our listings, we have an amazing curated...
Category
1960s American Neoclassical Revival Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver, Stainless Steel
Antique Hand Forged Organic Design Arts
Crafts Multi Purpose Box, circa 1920
By Hugo Berger
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and all handcrafted, wrought iron box attr. to Hugo Berger Goberg.
It is always refreshing to find an antique object probably by a famous maker, that you have never seen befo...
Category
Early 20th Century German Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Wrought Iron
1938 Art Deco Streamline Ace Fastener Corp Pilot Stapler # 402
Located in Red Lion, PA
1938 Art Deco Streamline Industrial Stapler – Ace Fastener Corp. Pilot Model No. 402
A true icon of streamline industrial design, this 1938 Ace Fastener Corp. Pilot Stapler No. 402 ...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Ico Parisi Square White Ashtray, Chrome
Melamine by Lamperti, Italy, 1970s
By Ico Parisi, Lamperti
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful and large, square modernist ashtray from the 1970s. Designed by Ico Parisi for Lamperti Italy. Made of melamine plastic with a chromed metal top. In very good condition with a few little spots and marginal fine and slight scratches in the chrome plating, but really nothing major. Fully marked on its underneath. Lamperti Robbiate...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Mid-Century Typewriter Olympia-Plana, Germany, 1940
Located in Praha, CZ
Typewriter by Olympia-Plana, manufactured in the 1940's, in Germany
Made of metal and plastic.
Repolished, cleaned, in original condition.
Fully functional, package contains a suitcase.
Category
1940s German Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
1970
s Sergio Todeschini Bobo Telephone for Telcer, Italy
Located in Praha, CZ
Unique model of dial plastic phone by Sergio Todeschini, made in Italy in the 1970's.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Late 19th Century French Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate
Located in Greven, DE
Inkwell with Enamel Decoration and Onyx Plate
Origin: Probably France
Material: Gilded metal, champlevé enamel, onyx
Date: Circa 1870–1890
Dimensions:
H × W × D: 9 × 12 ×13 cm
Des...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Brass, Enamel
Mid-Century Italian Leather Gold Leaf Embossed Desk Blotter
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Florentine Leather Desk Accessory, Italy 1960´s.
Certainly a luxurious addition to any executive or home office desk. Designed for ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Antique Victorian Thomas Hudson Barometric Ink Well Stand Pen Quill Holder 6"
By Thomas Hudson
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century library writing barometric / barometer pen holder and ink stand, Circa 1860s-1880s. Made of brass featuring pewter inkwell with glass dome reservoir and slots f...
Category
19th Century Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Pewter
$164 Sale Price
30% Off
Carl Auböck #7211 Letter Opener "Turned", Austria 2022
Located in Berlin, DE
Carl Auböck #7211 letter opener "Turned", Austria 2022.
Category
2010s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Antique Inkwell From France, Brass With Glass, 1880s
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique inkwell, made from glass with brass.
France, circa 1880.
Category
Late 19th Century French Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$555 Sale Price
20% Off
Fontana Arte Empty Pocket Glass, 1955, Italy
By Fontana Arte
Located in Milano, IT
Fontana arte empty pocket.
Category
1950s Italian Other Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Ocean Liner Ship Souvenir Metal Money Box Piggy Bank, Vintage 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous vintage metal money bank. A beautiful decorative item in metal with a missing lock. Made in Europe, circa 1910s or older. Nice addition to any collection, desktop, living ro...
Category
1910s German Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Art Nouveau Sterling Vanity Brushes, Set of 6
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of 6 Art Nouveau Sterling silver vanity brushes. American circa 1900.
All stamped Sterling. Original horsehair bristles.
Each brush features a sli...
Category
Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
$1,200 / set
Vintage Curved Horn and Mirror Cube Sculptures Pair of
Located in North Miami, FL
This lovely pair of curved horn and mirror base cube sculptures are from the 80's. The gradients of colors of the horn range from tan to off white to gray and slate gray and etc. The...
Category
1980s American Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Horn, Mirror
Austrian Art Deco Silver Plate
Cut Glass Casket or Table Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Austrian casket or table box.
With a silver plate mount, a beveled glass insert top, and with a mold blown and cut body with a facete...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Glass Paperweight by Goran Warff for Kosta Boda, Rare Find
Located in Bochum, NRW
Beautiful and heavy paperweight designed by Goran Warff and made by KostaBoda in the 1960s.
Hand made of glass, this paperweight is sophisticate, featuring green and blue waves of gl...
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Adam Jablonski Sommerso Sculpture or Paperweight, Polish Art Glass
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Colorful abstract art glass sculpture or paperweight features flattened teardrop shape with central core of cranberry red glass with controlled bubbles, enclosed in a layer of clear...
Category
Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass, Sommerso, Glass
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
Stoneware
$192 Sale Price
30% Off
Erotic / Nude Women Bronze Sculpture Table Bell Push, Austria, 1900´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Erotic / nude women bronze sculpture table bell push - Austria 1900´s
Talk about hard to find items! This impossible to believe bell push is the only erotic bell push we have ever se...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
1990s Alfredo Barbini Modern Black Murano Glass Paperweight depicting an Hand
Located in Aci Castello, IT
This paperweight reflects the elegance and modern artistry of 1990s Murano glass while also carrying the signature style of one of the most renowned Venetian glassmakers of the 20th ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Christofle , silver plate paperweight " Lucky Dice ".cube .
By Christofle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great paperweight design in this Christofle ornament .
Category
Late 20th Century French Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Murano Barbini Signed Iridescent Shrimp Italian Art Glass Aquarium Paperweight
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and rare, vintage Murano hand blown, iridescent shrimp aquarium paperweight sculpture. Documented to designer Alfredo Barbini, and it is signed "A. Barbini" underneath. Th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Sommerso, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass, Glass
Modernist Solid Oak Pencil / Pen Holder, USA, 1970
s
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Modernist Solid Oak Pencil / Pen Holder, USA, 1970's.
Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Oak
$200 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Grand Tour Pietra Dura Specimen Top Paperweight, 19th C
Located in London, GB
This is a superb decorative antique Italian Grand Tour marble Pietra Dura mounted desk paperweight, circa 1880 in date.
This splendid rectangular paperweight is exquisitely inlaid with a sumptuous arrangement of semi-precious stones including malachite, agate, onyx and amethyst.
It is beautifully inlaid on a slate base.
Not only is this desk paperweight very functional, but it is also an exquisite mineralogical wonder that can be admired by all discerning collectors.
Condition:
In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation,
Dimensions in cm:
Height 2 x Width 17 x Depth 10
Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 inch x width 7 inches x depth 4 inches.
Pietra dura is a term for the inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images. It is considered a decorative art.
Pietre dure is an Italian plural meaning "hard rocks" or hardstones; the singular pietra dura is also encountered in Italian. In Italian, but not in English, the term embraces all gem engraving and hardstone carving, which is the artistic carving of three-dimensional objects in semi-precious stone, normally from a single piece, for example in Chinese jade.
The traditional convention in English has been to use the singular pietra dura just to denote multi-colored inlay work. However, in recent years there has been a trend to use pietre dure as a term for the same thing, but not for all of the techniques it covers, in Italian.
But the title of a 2008 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Art of the Royal Court: Treasures in Pietre Dure from the Palaces of Europe used the full Italian sense of the term, probably because they thought that it had greater brand recognition. The material on the website speaks of objects such as a vase in lapis lazuli as being examples of "hardstone carving (pietre dure)"
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London uses both versions on its website, but uses pietra dura. "A method of inlaying coloured marbles or semi-precious stones into a stone base, often in geometric or flower patterns...."
Giovanni Montelatici...
Category
1880s Italian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Agate, Amethyst, Malachite, Onyx, Marble
Vintage Wooden Chopping Boards - Small Size - Good Quantity Available
Located in Hook, Hampshire
Vintage Wooden Chopping Boards - Small Size - Good Quantity Available.
Sourced from Hungarian and Romanian street markets, crudely made and well used small chopping boards made mai...
Category
1950s Hungarian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Beech
Murano Red White Spot Italian Art Glass Mushroom Toadstool Paperweight Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and very unusual, vintage Murano hand blown deep red-orange and white spots Italian art glass mushroom / toadstool sculptural paperweight. The mushroom has an original impo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
$600 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian Murano Art Glass Sphere Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful vintage Italian Murano hand blown art glass paperweight, Midcentury Modern period, circa mid-20th century, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass, Murano Glass
One Mid-Century Modern Faceted Glass Diamond Shaped Figurine Paperweight Desk
Located in Miami, FL
One Mid-Century Modern faceted glass diamond shaped magnifying paperweight, Figurine, Sculpture or Desk accessory. In good condition no chips, light scratches to the faceted glass.
...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Empire Gilt Bronze Sphinx Paperweight on Marble Base, France, Early 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Empire Gilt Bronze Sphinx Paperweight on Marble Base, France, Early 19th Century
A charming Empire-period paperweight featuring a finely cast gilt bronze sphinx resting on a rectan...
Category
Early 19th Century French Empire Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Inkwell
Located in Greven, DE
French Inkwell with Sheaf of Grain Decoration, signed "Frecourt"
France, circa 1900
Gilded metal, glass
Dimensions: H × W × D: 5 × 12 × 11 cm
Description:
A compact French inkwell ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Vintage Postmodern Chrome Table Lighter Kogen Japan, 1970s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Postmodern chrome table lighter Kogen Japan Piezo, 1970s
Postmodern vintage chrome table lighter.
Removable lighter portion is marked Piezo on top and Kogen on bottom
Vintage mid century modern 70s table lighter.
Does not work.
Great decorative collectible rare vintage table lighter...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Mid-20th Pair of Brass Herons Sculpture in a Pedestal
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-20th pair of brass Herons sculpture
You can turn the herons as you want.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Bronze Sculpture Mastiff by Charles Valton Dog Bronze Statue Animalier Antiques
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Bronze Sculpture Mastiff by Charles Valton Dog Bronze Statue Animalier Antiques . Signed and stamped. Valton was known for his big cats but probably his mos...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Metal
$19,200 Sale Price
20% Off
20th century Vintage Marble and Brass Phone from Italy, 1960s
Located in LEGNY, FR
20th century marble phone made in Italy in the 60s.
Green marble and brass. Still working. Very good state. Retro style.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Brass
$507 Sale Price
34% Off
Pair of Iridescent Art Glass Paperweights by Stuart Abelman
Located in San Diego, CA
Spectacular pair of iridescent art glass paperweights by Stuart Abelman, circa 1995. The pieces are in very good vintage condition w...
Category
Late 20th Century American Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
$380 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Montblanc Rare Sealed Charles Dickens Set of 3 Limited Edition Pens
By Montblanc
Located in New York, NY
Extremely rare Montblanc sealed set of 3 Charles Dickens pens, consisting of a fountain pen (with a 18k gold nib), a ballpoint pen, and a mechanical pen, the green resin barrel decor...
Category
20th Century German Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
Marble Desk Pen Holder Organizer
Located in New York, NY
A substantial marble desk pen/pencil/marker holder organizer, in the modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century. Organizer can hold small pieces of paper, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Antique Brass Letter Opener with Celtic Cifer - Symbolism
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unusual paper knife in solid brass. Its top depicts a Celtic cifer with symbolism of both love and power. It was made in Europe during the 19th century. It has indistinguishable mark...
Category
19th Century European Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Partner
s Inkwell With Desk Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze partner's inkwell with desk tray featuring the iconic Zodiac pattern
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
Ne...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Champlevé Enamel Inkwell on Tray, Napoleon III, 19th Century, France, Gift Idea
Located in Lisbon, PT
A 19th century French inkwell in Champlevé enamel and bronze, mounted on an integrated tray with pen holders, in the Napoleon III style.
This elegant desk accessory showcases the cr...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
$1,473 Sale Price
20% Off
Massive Art Nouveau Bronze Poseidon Inkwell, by Hans Müller
By Hans Muller
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Massive Art Nouveau Bronze Poseidon Inkwell, by Hans Müller
Austrian, circa 1900.
Behold the Art Nouveau Bronze Poseidon Inkwell, a masterpiece attributed to the skilled hands of Ha...
Category
Late 19th Century Belle Époque Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
$3,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Italian Lucite Pen Pencil Desk Holder By Designer Rede Guzzini
By Rede Guzzini
Located in New York, NY
An Italian Lucite pen, pencil, marker and small paper desk organizer/holder, Postmodern period or Modern style, by designer Rede Guzzini, circa 1980s, Italy. A great desk accessory a...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
Large Egg Shaped Paperweight by Liskeard Glass, England c 1970
Located in Glasgow, GB
Large art-glass paperweight, crafted in the 1970s by the renowned English glassmakers Liskeard Glass, showcases the exquisite 'bullicante' technique through its display of internal b...
Category
1970s British Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
$130 Sale Price
52% Off
Wicker Cane Lucite Acrylic Tissue Box Dior Style
Located in New York, NY
A wicker cane and acrylic tissue holder box in the style of Christian Dior Home. This acrylic and wicker cane box holds standard size tissues. Beautiful natural wicker cane and clear...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Cane, Acrylic, Wicker
Vintage Swedish Bakelite Table Phone
Located in Vienna, AT
Bakelite table phone by LM Eriksson from the early 1960s.
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi
Sieger Design
Located in Hamburg, DE
Small Postmodern Piggy Penny Bank by Ambrogio Pozzi & Sieger Design for Ritzenhoff, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1990 to 1999 This piece has an attribution mark.
Additional inf...
Category
20th Century Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Danish Crown Letter Opener in Sterling Silver, 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A stylish paper knife with elongated sterling silver handle set with the Danish Royal Crown hence its name Danish Crown or Dansk Krone in Danish. Fully Hall-marked.
Measurements: ...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver, Steel
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Brass Counter Hook by Henry Wilson
Dimensions: W 6 x D 4 x H 5 cm
Materials: Brass
Designed for hanging bags and coats under bar counters.
Each ...
Category
2010s Australian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$215 / item
Vintage Black Bakelite Rotary Wall Cradle Telephone
Dictograph 1940s
Located in London, GB
This is a rare vintage GPO desktop or wall cradle fire emergency telephone 164 in black Perspex Bakelite together with a Dictograph system sub station, serial number 21858 circa 194...
Category
1940s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Other
Snow Globe Black White Chanel Number 5
By Chanel
Located in Munich, DE
Rare limited edition of a Chanel Snow Ball with white bags on a white base, which are only for VIP Customers in excellent condition and with the original bo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic, Acrylic
Grey Agate Onyx Decorative Object or Display Piece
Located in New York, NY
A substantial polished natural agate/geode/onyx decorative object in shades of grey and white. Piece can be used as a decorative piece for a shelf, table, desk, etc., or as a display...
Category
20th Century Unknown Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Onyx, Quartz, Agate
$380 Sale Price
41% Off
Hand Painted Middle Eastern Moorish Style Photo Album, 19th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Qajar style Moorish picture photo album, with hand painted miniatures on the cover.
This fine Middle Eastern Moorish style scrapbook is hand painted with 22-k...
Category
Late 19th Century Moorish Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Tiffany Studios New York Venetian Bronze Double Inkwell
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique bronze double inkwell box in the Venetian design
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 2...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique, New and Vintage Desk Accessories
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.