Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
Decorative French Vintage Ceramic Thermometer and Casing by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in London, GB
Decorative, French vintage ceramic thermometer and casing by Mithé Espect (circa 1960s). A delightful piece with stylised bird and flower blossoms....
Category
1960s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
$1,801 Sale Price
20% Off
Knud Kyhn Royal Copenhagen, Designed 1920
s Sung Glaze Stoneware Mammoth #20207
By Knud Kyhn
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Knud Kyhn designed this sung glazed stoneware Mammoth in the 1920's for Royal Copenhagen, Denmark.
This item was purchased 45 years ago at Georg Jensen in New York and is in 'as new...
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Desk Accessories
Materials
Stoneware
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Six-Piece Desk Set, Circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding Art & Crafts or Art Deco period "Zodiac" patinated bronze desk set. The six-piece set includes: picture frame, stamp box, inkwell, pen tray, match stand, and set of fo...
Category
1910s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
English Sterling Silver Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Fountain Pen
By Haviland
Co.
Located in Reading, Berkshire
English Sterling Silver Haviland-Nye Hallmarked Fountain Pen With A Schmidt Medium Nib, With A Black Tooled Leather Box. Designed 2002 London Specifically for H.R.H Queen Elizabeth ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver
$1,023 Sale Price / set
40% Off
Bronze Chinese Dragon Boat Inkwell 19th Century
Located in Rochester, NY
Chinese dragon boat double inkwell. Original glass inserts. Circa 1870's bronze.
The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that occurs on the fifth day of the fift...
Category
19th Century European Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Desk Set, Italy, 1980s
Located in Palermo, IT
Desk set in walnut, silver and crystal, Italy, 1980s
Gifted to my grandfather and never used. Small signs of the time. Today unobtainable and of great value set.
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal, Silver
$776 / set
Handsome Collection of 16 19th Century English Walking Sticks, Some with Daggers
Located in Buchanan, MI
Handsome collection of 16 19th century English walking sticks, some with daggers. Priced Per walking stick.
Category
19th Century English George III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Rare Asprey
Co. London Oak
Tooled Green Leather Pop-Up Writing Desk 1920s
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Rare Luxurious, Asprey & Co. London (Royal Warrant) Oak & Tooled Racing Green Leather Pop-Up Writing Table Made in England in the 1920s.
Item is sold complete with a Burgundy tooled red leather desk set also from Aspreys. It's a very attractive item befit with an aluminium desk calendar, letter opener and two vertical pen rests.
The rectangular and hinged two panel top encloses a green leather writing surface which reveals itself when opened from the top, item is raised on square tapering legs.
Desk comes with two original large glass inkwells...
Category
1920s English Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Mahogany, Leather, Oak
Art Deco Modern Marble Vases, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful rich pair of Art Deco Modern marble stone vases, circa mid-20th century. Marble is predominantly a dark espresso brown with red brick, light brown and green hues, polishe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Marble
$1,650 / set
Adnet Mid-Century Curved Leather Italian Picture Frame, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous photo frame fully made in a fantastic curved leather. This unique and charming object was hand-made in Italy during the 1970s clearly in the style of Jacques Adnet design.
...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Glass
Fornasetti paper weight 1962 Zodiac calendar
Located in London, GB
Rare Fornasetti porcelain paperweight with Zodiac calendar c1962
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Antique English Victorian Bramah Leather Fold-out Stationary Writing Desk
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful
Luxurious Handcrafted Victorian Bramah Fold-out Travelling Writing Companion With Fitted Leather Interior, Ceramic Blotting Tablets.
Complete with Beautifully Desi...
Category
19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$4,865 Sale Price
34% Off
19th Century French Brass Antique Engraved and Signed Inkwell Louis XV Style
Located in Sofia, BG
19th Century small French antique engraved brass Inkwell in Louis XV style signed in the bottom in very good authentic condition.
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Wrought Iron Paperweight
Located in NANTES, FR
Paperweight, decorative wrought iron office object circa 1925.
Executed in Lyon by Henri Fournier establishment "le fer forgé".
Stamped "le fer forgé".
This is probably a unique pie...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wrought Iron
Female Face Bust Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A striking vintage black ceramic pottery female face bust sculpture, circa 20th century. A great piece for a column pedestal as shown, shelf, mantle, cocktai...
Category
Mid-20th Century Egyptian Revival Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic, Pottery
Reed
Barton Equestrian Page Magnifier, 1940s USA
By Reed
Barton
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great Reed & Barton page magnifier with a detailed horse head handle in solid silver plated metal. Reed & Barton 275 stamped on the base of the han...
Category
1940s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Silver Plate
Tiffany Studios Bronze Desk Lamp on Circular Fluted Base, New York. Circa 1920
Located in Charleston, SC
Tiffany Studios bronze desk lamp with original iridescent shade, scrolled bulbous harp, and resting on circular fluted base with the original five bal...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Wire
Huge Pair of Vintage Polished Brass Duck Bookends by Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Houston, TX
Large pair of Hollywood Regency polished brass bookends by Sarreid Ltd. This handsome pair of brass bookends is the largest size we have seen. Dimensions: 10" H, 7.25" D and 5.5" W. They are in great condition and date to the 1960s. This pair of Sarried brass...
Category
1960s Spanish Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Cartier Luxury Red Chinese Dragons Design Card and Envelope Desk Stationery
By Cartier
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Cartier Card and Envelope Set with the Iconic Red Chinese Dragons Jewelry Design.
Authentic Luxury Cartier Stationery Card Letter and Envelope R...
Category
20th Century French Chinoiserie Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Mid-Century Murano Glass Table Lamp with White Marble Base, Italy, 1970s
Located in Lisse, NL
A striking Murano glass table lamp from the 1970s, handcrafted in Italy. This sculptural piece features a hand-blown glass globe with a captivating clear and frosted gradient finish,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Chrome
Early Hiroshi Yamano Art Glass Sculpture or Paperweight, 1988
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Early Art Glass sculpture by Hiroshi Yamano features a grouping of raising controlled air bubbles in the center of a clear glass disc object. The bubbles are partially enveloped by pale green, pink, and blue colored glass layers that are flowing around and through the central structure. The underside is polished flat, adding clarity to the sculpture and emphasizing the use of negative space in the composition.
The sculpture is signed and dated by the artist in etching on the underside; it can be used as a paperweight, if desired. It is contemporary to Yamano's famous "From East to West" series, that he started in the late 1980s, while he was a graduate student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The sculpture was created in 1988; it is evocative of flowing water and underwater views. While we don't think that the sculpture is a part of the series, it is an important early work and a reflection on his studies.
Hiroshi Yamano (b. 1956) is recognized as one of Japan's foremost and innovative glass artists. He attended the California College of Arts and Crafts, the Tokyo Art Institute, and Penland School of Crafts (where he served as an assistant), before receiving his Masters in Fine Arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY, in 1989. Yamano began working with glass after seeing an exhibition of Scandinavian glass in Kyoto. At California College of Arts and Crafts he studied under Marvin Lipofsky, learning the creative aspects of glass. In 1986 he worked as an instructor at Leon Applebaum...
Category
1980s American Organic Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
Tiffany Studios New York Chinese Pattern Large Bronze Inkwell, Circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Arts & Crafts period "Chinese" pattern gilt bronze inkwell
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 6.25"W x 6.25"D x 4....
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Malachite Pen Holder, Green Color, France, 1960
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
French pen holder, in Malachite. It has been done in France circa 1960.
Green color, can hold two Pen.
Category
1960s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Brass
$429 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique French Bronze
Polished Marble Egyptian Revival Pocket Watch Stand
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique pocket watch stand is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from France and date to approximately 1920 and done in the period Egypt...
Category
Early 20th Century French Egyptian Revival Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Decor Tray Set - Set of 4 decorative trays in different colors - Handmade
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Decor Tray Set - Set of 4 trays in different colors
Include:
- 1 (one) Leather Tray, Small Square Tray - Color: Vanilla
Dimensions: Height: 1.78 in (4,5...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Just Andersen, Denmark Bronze Patina Disko Metal Viking Ship Salt #1109
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Just Andersen Danish bronze patina Disko metal Viking ship salt cellar.
circa 1920s
Stamped and numbered 1109 on base
Height 2.25 inch, Width 4.25 inch, Depth 1.75 inch
In good ...
Category
1920s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Gio Ponti Ceramic pen tray Bijenkorf Italy 1969
By Gio Ponti
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This rare and decorative pen tray, designed by Gio Ponti for Ceramiche Joo in Milano in 1956, is a remarkable piece of design history with a unique connection to one of Ponti’s archi...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Complete Collection Gilt Leather Bound Book Set
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Gilt leather bound sturdy / library room complete collection set. The set include twenty 28 volumes. Funk & Wagnalls, New Encyclopedia. Each book is in gr...
Category
Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Paper
$2,745 / set
Contemporary
Dumbbell
Aquamarine Crystal Handmade in Italy by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2021 Collection of decorative objects by Ghiro Studio (Milan, Italy).
Each ‘Dumbbell’ sculpture is a unique piece. It is handmade with the utmost care and attention to detail.
It...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
1980 Lucite Copper Penny Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
An '80s modern or Postmodern period Lucite and copper U.S. penny paperweight, 1980, USA. All pennies are of the year 1980. A great desk accessory or ...
Category
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Copper
33 Pieces Furniture Handle, circa 1960
Located in Wien, AT
Furniture handle
33 pieces
Original condition
Sold and price per piece.
Category
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$35 / item
Geometric Sculpture in Polished Emerald Green Resin by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
Geometric sculpture made in polished resin in variety of colors.
It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space.
This sculpture is very versatile and fun! You can ...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Late 19th Century Large Walnut Carved Desk Letter/Stationery Rack
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A large antique letter rack, made of carved wood. The wickerwork is also made of carved wood. With three compartments. Made in France around 1890-1...
Category
1890s French Regency Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Walnut
Fratelli Toso Murano Antique Millefiori Flowers Italian Art Glass Cabinet Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful antique Murano hand blown Millefiori Murrina flower mosaic Italian art glass decorative ornate handle cabinet vase / pitcher. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company, circa 1910-1930. The vase has an early design and unusual white backgrounds on the murrines. The vase has a scramble / all over design with a rainbow of colors in the flower designs. It has very large size murrines, with some unusual designs, including bullseye and a large rainbow...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$1,000 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century French Toleware Painted Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French hand painted toleware tray of the Napoleon the III era, circa 1850's. The hand-painted French metal tray is decorated with flowers and leaves o...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Porcelain Dog on Pillow with Tassels Decorative Object, circa Mid-20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful porcelain regal dog sitting on fancy pillow, in the Regency design style, circa mid-20th century. A great decorative object. Piece is matte unglazed porcelain ceramic of a brown and white dog, a red and gold collar, sitting on fluffy blue pillow with yellow...
Category
Mid-20th Century Regency Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Murano Blue Orange Ribbons Controlled Bubbles Italian Art Glass Egg Paperweight
By Fratelli Toso, Venini
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown blue, orange, white and bubbles Italian art glass egg shaped paperweight. Created in the manner...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
$488 Sale Price
24% Off
Seguso Murano Red Gold Flecks Purple Pulveri Italian Art Glass Fish Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown bright red, dark purple and gold flecks Italian art glass fish sculpture. The piece is documented to designer Archimede Seguso. It is created in t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Leaf
Cartier Iconic Panther Design Card and Envelope Set Luxury Desk Stationery
By Cartier
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Cartier Card and Envelope Set with the Iconic Panther Jewelry Design.
Authentic Luxury Cartier Stationery Card Letter and Envelope Black Panther, limited edition Desk Accessory.
Embo...
Category
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Cartier Paris Panther Design Card and Envelope Luxury Set Desk Stationery
By Cartier
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Cartier Paris Card and Envelope Set of 9 with the Iconic Panther Jewelry Design.
Authentic Luxury Cartier Stationery Card Letter and Envelope Black Pan...
Category
Late 20th Century French Anglo-Indian Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Just Andersen Denmark, 1930s Danish Fano Girl Bronze Bust, Carl Emil Ruge #2111
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Just Andersen of Denmark bronze bust of a Fano Danish Girl designed by Carl Emil Ruge
A lovely innocent face makes this piece absolutely charming
Superb dark...
Category
1930s Danish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An elegant Regency brass mounted Gonçalo Alves campaign writing slope, circa 1820 in date.
The beautifully polished goncalo alves case has a ...
Category
1820s Regency Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
1960
s New Old Stock Vintage Bracelet Set Of Five - Size Small
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960's New Old Stock Vintage Bracelet Set Of Five - Size Small.
We recently came across a large hoard of new old stock hardware and general merchandise items, laying untouched sinc...
Category
1960s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Mid-century Typewriter Olivetti Studio 42, 1946 Italy
By Olivetti
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Italy in the 1940's by Olivetti.
Made of plastic, chrome.
Fully functional, re-polished, in original condition with signs of wear.
Category
1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
Ceramic Box, 1960s Italy
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Glaze ceramic box made in Italy, circa 1970s. Slime green glaze along the top with an orange ring around the edge of the lid. Base is painted a matte brown. Green glaze covers the in...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
New Modern Cigarettes and Cigar Ashtray in Black Marble, creator Chiossi Stock
Located in Milan, IT
Tuscan sculptor Michele Chiossi, has found in marble a medium to describe modernity with its myths and symbols, creating the Contemporary collection. An emoji can be a tray; an emoji heart, not necessarily pierced by an arrow, can be a place of creativity in the kitchen, a chopping board or a working surface; a dash; a zigzag; granting the marble a moment of levity, becoming vertical in a vase; reflecting an ideal image of ourselves. Unique objects to be experienced as a couple, to gift to friends, jewels of our daily lives.
Time and smoke pass, ashtrays remain. As everlasting as marble, as elegant as a concentric circle of smoke spreading through the air. Chiossi revisits the most Classic of living room...
Category
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
CAITHNESS - High Seas - Blue Swirl Glass Paperweight - U.K. - Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
CAITHNESS (Manufacturer) - High Seas (Collection) - H87830 (Identification Number) - Vintage art glass paperweight - striking design - si...
Category
Late 20th Century Scottish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Ocean Green Murano Glass Angel Fish By Archimede Seguso, Italy 1970
s
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Superbly crafted hand blown angel fish by Archimede Seguso, Murano, Italy
Circa 1970's
Signed with original label on base
Height 4 inch, Width 2.25 inch, Depth 5.5inch
In very good...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Late 19th Century Victorian Silver Plated and Green Glass Inkwell
Located in Catania, Sicilia
This Late 19th Century Victorian inkwell set exemplifies intricate craftsmanship and luxurious design. It features a silver-plated tray with ornate detailing, including embossed flor...
Category
Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver Plate
Mid-Century Modern Crystal Owl Paperweight by Baccarat of France
By Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
This elegant paperweight was realized by Baccarat- one of the world's finest makers of crystal products since 1765 in France, circa 1960. Artisanally created in translucent crystal, ...
Category
1960s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
END OF THE 19th CENTURY ENGLISH TRAVELING WRITING DESK
Located in Firenze, FI
This solid mahogany travel desk is a fine piece of English manufacture from the late 19th century. Made with high quality mahogany wood, it has an elegant and refined appearance. The...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Wood
Avatar UR Abalone Green Fountain Pen
By Pineider
Located in Milan, IT
Thanks to 3D engineering and high precision manufacturing, the pen is assembled without using a single drop of glue. Transparency allows one not only to see the pen's mechanism but a...
Category
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
$285 / item
Rare Antique Mid-19th C Veuve Perrin French France Pottery Inkwell
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Rare Antique Mid-19th C Veuve Perrin French France Pottery Inkwell
Category
Mid-19th Century French Provincial Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Faience
Gabriella Crespi Wood and Brass Parrot Box, Italy 1970s
Located in Milan, IT
Exceptional Gabriella Crespi 'Parrot' box.
Wood and brass.
Signed Gabriella Crespi.
Category
1970s Italian Hollywood Regency Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$3,582 Sale Price
25% Off
Rugged Petrified Wood Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice vintage rugged petrified wood paper weight, circa old! The piece is in very good condition with wonderful brown and tan colors and measures 4.75"W x 3.75"D x 3.5"H. Cool...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Congolese Mid-Century Modern Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Petrified Wood
New Shipment of over 200 Leather Bound Books in English, Photo
s Are of Sets
Located in Buchanan, MI
New shipment of over 200 leather bound books in English, photo's are of sets. Preconditioned as we fully condition all of our books before they go out. Also have an extensive collect...
Category
19th Century American George III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Paper
Wild Coffee Tree Sculpture with Metal Base, Unique Piece, Made in Italy
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2.2)
Wild coffee tree sculpture with metal base, decorative object.
A...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
FORNASETTI Umbrella Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian metal umbrella stand, featuring a design of casa con colonne on the outer cover. The interior is green, and the top is accented with a brass rim, with original alumin...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Unique Vintage Art Glass
Located in Fairfield, CA
A beautiful vintage art glass featuring a variety of techniques and controlled bubbles to create a unique design.
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Blotter Ends With Leather Desk Blotter
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period bronze blotter ends featuring symbols of the Zodiac with a custom black leather desk blotter
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, E...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts 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.