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Desk Accessories For Sale
Vintage French Brown Leather Desk Set, Mid-20th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage French Brown Leather Desk Set Mid-20th Century
A luxurious vintage French leather desk set, crafted in the mid-20th century and designed in the spirit of Jacques Adnet inspir...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Antique Pair of American Made, Native Indian
Ambush
Bookends by N. Partridge
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare pair of original, American made, Marked, Native American / Indian bookends.
In the earliest years of the 1900s a lady artisan working out of New York created these now very r...
Category
1910s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Desk Accessory in Travertine Attributed to Fratelli Mannelli, Italy, 1970s
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing desk accessory (pen holder - letter holder) in travertine attributed to Fratelli Mannelli, made in Italy in the 1970s
Weight: 3 Kg.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Travertine, Marble
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Malachite and Ormolu Inkstand Encrier Swans
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered inkstand from the first quarter of the 19th century. Of rectangular form with an acanthus leave decorated border on round fe...
Category
Early 19th Century Russian Empire Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
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
Art Nouveau sculpture desk Inkwell Stand, Figure of the Law and Justice 1900´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
WMF, superb Art Nouveau desk inkwell. Wonderful work. Maker mark for WMF. Model 288. The Lady is the Law. Similar to the justice sculpture See Photos...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Spelter
$1,440 Sale Price
42% Off
Italian Postmodern Wall Perpetual Calendar by Della Beffa for Ring a Date, 2000s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian post modern wall perpetual green calendar by Giorgio Della Beffa for Ring A Date, 2000-2010s
Wall perpetual calendar in green plastic. The calend...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Lamartine
Alphonse de
Complete Published and Unpublished Works
By Lamartine
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Lamartine (Alphonse de). Complete published and unpublished works. Paris, at the author's, 1860-1863. 36 volumes in-8 (of 41), half green grief, spine decorated, smooth edges (contem...
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather, Paper
Sitting Kewpie or The Thinker, Silvered Bronze Car Mascot Hood Ornament, 1910´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
"Sitting Kewpie" or "The Thinker", Car Mascot Hood Ornament, 1910´s.
Made of silvered bronze, mounted over a green and white mrble base.
Can de used as a desk paperweight.
Originally appearing in the form of magazine illustrations between 1905 and 1909, Kewpie dolls...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Mid-Century Bakelitte Rottary Telephone by Tesla, 1950s
By Tesla
Located in Praha, CZ
- Mid-Century Bakelitte Rottary Telephone by Tesla, 1950s,
- made of bakelitte,
- shows signs of wear and age (scratches, etc.),
- in good original condition,
Category
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bakelite
Cuyo Large Alpaca Silver
Black Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Cuyo bookends are solid heavy beatiful pieces of geometrical onyx stone, moustly in square base and round top. Very sharm for a personal library.
Our pieces are made by hand. One ...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Honda Gold Wing Motorcycle Lighter, 1980s Japan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cool vintage table lighter in the shape of a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. Made completely of metal with a hollow body. Beautiful burnished silver color with intricate details. Cool to...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Crystal Paperweight Octagonal Glass Pillar
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Crystal Glass Modern Paperweight Octagonal Pillar
unmarked
7.75 L x 2.25 diameter
Preowned vintage unrestored condition.
One scuff -scratch present, hard to see, must be mentioned.
R...
Category
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
French Mid 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Sèvres Porcelain Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational and extremely high quality French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Sèvres porcelain inkwell. The inkwell is raised by c...
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Ormolu
Carl Auböck #4330/1 Polished Brass Hook
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck #4330/1 polished brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria.
Produc...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$233 / item
Inkwell, Glazed Ceramic, Talavera de la Reina, Spain, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Inkwell. Glazed ceramic. Talavera de la Reina, Spain, 17th century.
Inkwell or spice rack with a square shaped hole that is made of glazed ceram...
Category
17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Salta Round Cream Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
By AIREDELSUR
Located in Buenos Aires, AR
Salta province is called the beautiful, and this adjective introduces us to its profound beauty. Its fertile valleys, windy desert, colorful mountains and blue sky are the images tha...
Category
2010s Argentine Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Onyx, Metal
Detail Murano stained glass paperweight, 1950s
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Particular Murano stained glass paperweight, Made in Italy, 1950s.
Beautiful paperweight made of SUMMERED MURANO GLASS in green color. This object was handcrafted and hand-blown. It...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass, Sommerso
Antique Silver Hukin
Heath Sealing Wax Desk Set, London, 1920s, Art Deco
Located in Greven, DE
Art Deco Sealing Wax Desk Set, London, circa 1920.
Stamped at the bottom "H&H" for its firm Hukin &Heath, and a silver mark "9025".
Comprising: Seal, Match Strike & Holder, Candle Ho...
Category
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
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
Italian Photo Frame Modern Wood, Humour Pink Wood
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Humour wood is a phot frame of the Italian collection of photo frames
Laura G Art with Heart realized by Italian handcrafts in natural wood.
painted in fuchsia acrylic. It is a very funny and beautiful photo frame
for your images of life. It can be hanged at a wall as well, and you may
create a wonderful wall decorated as designed by an artist.
It is “c'est la vie Art with Heart “ , bring a piece of Italy into your home.
You may simply keep the photo frame on your table, as a
wonderful top photo frame for your photos. Humour pink wood may hold 4 photos, each one size, 3.9 x 3.1 inches (10 x 8 cm) or 2 long photos...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Aqua and Clear Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin by Paola Valle
By Paola Valle
Located in Ciudad De México, MX
This Geometric sculpture is handmade in polished resin in a variety of colors. It is a modern and colorful piece that will liven up any space.
Our Semi Sphere is a very cool and fun...
Category
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Resin
Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Bird Figurine Sculpture
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown clear, dark pink, and bubbles Italian art glass baby bird figurine. Documented to the Barovier e Toso Company. I have owned several with labels be...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Leaf
$300 Sale Price
25% Off
Antique French Porcelain Jacob Petite Desk Set Inkstand Provenance Ava Gardner
By Jacob Petit
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning French Lavish Gilt Porcelain Ink Stand of Museum Quality and generous proportions, made by renowned French porcelain maker Jacob Petit. Last quarter of the Nineteenth Centur...
Category
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
19th Century Victorian Writing Slope/ Travel Desk Box, Brass Bound, UK ca. 1815
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Impressive Victorian writing slope or travel desk - attributed to the famous company of Thompson - from the period around 1800 - 1815 in the United Kingdom. This fantastic Captain’s campaign writing slope dates back to the Napoleonic wars. Well constructed out of solid mahogany with screwed down mount re-enforcements, brass banding, and inset carrying handles at each end, this outstanding travel desk box was designed to withstand the harsh maritime life at sea. The exterior of this Victorian travel box shows an attractive mahogany grain, beautiful colour, and a lovely pleasing patina. There are a couple of old indented scars to the lid along with the usual minor surface scratching, but these imperfections confer it an absolutely unique charme. The box has a tri-fold operation, opening to reveal a secondary smaller writing surface for quick use, then opening again to reveal the main slope fitted with a green felt writing surface which is in reasonable condition and compliments the original interior. When it is completely opened you have two storage compartments underneath. The original lock works smoothly with the original key. The original interior is nicely fitted out with a dark green leather drop-down section in the lid which features four memoire pockets. This section can additionally be lowered to reveal a document wallet...
Category
Early 19th Century British Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Wood Pen Holder, Black and gold Color Japan 19th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Wood Pen Holder, Black and gold Color Japan 19th Century
Category
19th Century Japanese Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
$259 Sale Price
20% Off
Art Glass Heart Paperweight Decorative Object
By Robert Held
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial art glass heart paperweight or decorative object by artist Robet Held, circa late-20th century. Heart is a light to medium green art glass with touches of...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Mottahedeh Rockefeller Collection Porcelain Purple and White Jewelry Dish
By Mottahedeh
Located in New York, NY
A white and purple hexagon shaped porcelain vide-poche jewelry dish by Mottahedeh for 'The Nelson Rockefeller Collection', circa mid-20th century, made in Portugal. This was a special collection made by Mottahedeh after former US Vice President...
Category
Mid-20th Century Portuguese Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
French Leather Desk Set by Le Tanneur
By Le Tanneur
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic 8 piece French leather desk set by Le Tanneur. All pieces wrapped in dark green leather. Desk set includes : desk pad, paper holder, ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Chrome
$2,800 / set
Baccarat Paperweight
By Baccarat
Located in Miami, FL
A fine quality Franklin Mint paperweight by Baccarat.
This Baccarat paperweight pays hommage to Jean-Jacques Rousseau who was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His politi...
Category
20th Century French Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass
ICA Volta 125 Camera Folding Bed Camera For 9x12cm Plates With Ica Periskop
Located in Reading, Berkshire
ICA Volta 125 Camera Folding Bed Camera For 9x12cm Plates With Ica Periskop "Alpha" F11 Fixed Lens
Manufactured by Internationale Camera Actiengesellschaf...
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
French Art Deco Malachite Pen Holder
Located in Clearwater, FL
A real statement piece! An Art Deco malachite with brass three pen holder. France, circa 1930s.
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Malachite
Leather Tray, Medium Square Tray, Handmade - Color: Savannah
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays
For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Solid Red Marble Apple Paperweight with Brass Stem
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid red marble with brass accent stem apple paperweight or sculpture, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 3" x 3.5"H. #4671
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Brass
Venini Bianconi Murano Blue White Zanfirico Italian Art Glass Fazzoletto Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown dark blue, with light blue and white ribbons Italian art glass fazzoletto / handkerchief vase. The piece is documented to designer Fulvio Bianconi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Set of Moroccan Letter Openers Brass
Stone, late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Pair of two morrocan letter openers
The two pieces are made of white and yellow brass
Geometrical motifs
One of the items is adorned of red stones
Dimension dagger letter opener...
Category
Late 19th Century Moroccan Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone, Brass
$336 Sale Price
20% Off
Tiffany Studios New York
Zodiac
Bronze Doré Letter Rack
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Art Deco period gilt bronze desk letter rack featuring a Zodiac design
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, early 20th century
Measures: 9.5"W x 2.5"D x 6.25"H
Go...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Rollei 35B Miniature 35mm Film Miniature Viewfinder Camera Carl Zeiss Triotar 28
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Rollei B35 35mm Film Miniature Viewfinder Camera With A Carl Zeiss Triotar 40mm F3.5 Prime Lens
Rollei Slip Case (Silver model)
Made In Germany
The Rollei 35 is a 35mm minia...
Category
Late 20th Century Singaporean Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
$337 Sale Price / set
30% Off
Imperial Anichkov Palace Russian Bronze Garniture Desk Set. Alexei Alexandrovich
Located in Victoria, BC
An exceptional and rare three-piece Imperial Russian desk garniture, formerly housed in the Anichkov Palace, and bearing the personal cypher of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Rus...
Category
Late 19th Century Russian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Exceptional Italian Alligator Desk Set Pristine Condition
Located in Buchanan, MI
An Italian alligator desk set comprising a blotter, a letter rack, a letter tray, a desk pad, a pen stand, a desk clock with Roman numeral hours, a ...
Category
20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Art Glass Heart Paperweight Decorative Object
By Robert Held
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial art glass heart paperweight or decorative object by artist Robet Held, circa late-20th century. Heart is a light green art glass with touches of blue and ...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Walter Bosse Pencil Holder, 1950s
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse pencil holder, 1950s.
Original condition.
(Pencils not included, it is only for the photoshooting).
Category
1950s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
A French 19th-20th Century Ebonized Wood
Plated Surtout de Table Centerpiece
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th-20th century neoclassical revival style ebonized wood and figural silver plated mounted plateau Surtout de Table centerpiece...
Category
Early 1900s French Neoclassical Revival Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
$9,850 Sale Price
23% Off
Purple Amethyst Decorative Object Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful natural purple amethyst cluster decorative object, paperweight, or luxury display piece. A great piece for a bookshelf, cocktail table, on a desk as paperweight, etc. Dim...
Category
20th Century Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Amethyst, Quartz
Fine French Cartonnier, 19th Century, Attributed to Paul Sormani, circa 1865
By Paul Sormani
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fine French Cartonnier, 19th century,
attributed to Paul Sormani Paris, circa 1865, bois de Violette, satine quarter-veneer and six gilt-tooled brow...
Category
1860s Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Vitrix Hot Glass Studio Op Art Paperweight, New York Art Glass
By Thomas Kelly
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Rare Op Art paperweight was hand blown in elongated ovoid shape. The colored rounded central gather has evenly distributed swirls of blue glass with randomly added yellow pigment placed in abstract, graphic pattern, with the whole structure enclosed in clear glass in sommerso technique. Subtle reflections of the central colored core in clear glass part of the paperweight add complexity and visual interest to otherwise minimal piece.
The paperweight is signed and dated by the artist in etching on the bottom.
Thomas Kelly is an established glass artist working in Vitrix Hot Glass studio in Corning, New York. He started in the glass studios of Alex Brand and Thomas Buechner where he had the opportunity to learn from two distinctly different artists, each having their own unique talents; Kelly worked for 10 years with Thomas Buechner III at Vitrix Hot Glass Studio, developing his glass working skills and aesthetic sensitivity. At Vitrix, visiting artists such as Lino Tagliapietra and Fritz Dreisbach...
Category
Early 2000s American Organic Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass, Sommerso, Glass
Art Nouveau Repoussé Mystic Inkwell by Alfred Daguet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalwork created prior to the outbreak of World War I, note...
Category
Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Copper
Empire Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Green Glass Inkwell Bottle
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an Empire style parallelogram shaped emerald green glass heavy inkwell. It’s guilt bronze mounted with a scene of sphinxes statues, bell shaped vases, and maidens moving and ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Empire Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
$720 Sale Price
20% Off
Lladró Rhinoceros Beetle Figurine, Matte White
By Lladro
Located in New York City, NY
Rhinoceros beetle in white porcelain, from the awesome insect collection. The insects that made a successful debut decorated in intense colors are no...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Desk Accessories
Materials
Porcelain
Seguso Vetri d
Arte Murano Pulegoso Green Gold Italian Art Glass Perfume Bottle
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, vintage Murano hand blown green and gold flecks Italian art glass perfume scent bottle. Documented to the Seguso Vetri d'Arte company, circa 1930-40s. Unsure of t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold Leaf
$1,320 Sale Price
20% Off
Handmade Small Paperweight with Sphere Shape in Grey Bardiglio Marble
By Fiammetta V.
Located in Carrara, IT
Paperweight with sphere shape in grey Bardiglio marble. Measure: Diameter 8 cm
Each piece is in a way unique (since each marble block is different in veins and shades) and handcra...
Category
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
Pastoral Basque Scene Ashtray By Monique Ordoqui, For RF Ciboure, France 1970
s
By Ciboure
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Peaceful pastoral Basque scene illustrated by Monique Ordoqui for Ciboure, France
Stoneware ashtray hand decorated by the creative Basque artist
Circa 1969-1974
Signed M Ordoqui. R F Ciboure...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Werkstätte Hagenauer Sculptural Foot Bowl or Tray, Midcentury, Brass, Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming and humorous Austrian brass bowl or tray in the shape of a foot, designed and executed by Werkstatte Hagenauer Vienna in the 1950s. also...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Art Deco Édouard Marcel Sandoz Bronze Macrurus Desk Letter Opener
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Art Deco Édouard Marcel Sandoz Bronze Macrurus Desk Letter Opener.
Édouard Marcel Sandoz's Art Deco letter opener is a unique piece distinguished by its...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Italian Alpine Mountain Chamois, Ceramic Fat Lava Glazed Dish, Italy 1960
s
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Wonderfully hand painted alpine scene of a lone chamois atop a snow covered mountain
Fat lava glaze, the interior is rich forest green with white artwork
- exterior of the bowl is wh...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Portapenna attribuita a Fontana Arte Pietro Chiesa Gio Ponti
Located in Lugo, IT
Portapenna in cristallo attribuito a una produzione di Fontana Arte su disegno di Pietro Chiesa o Gio Ponti.
Piccolo segno interno, in foto e in video si vede ma non rotture e segni ...
Category
1930s Italian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Crystal
Initial Stamp, Art Deco, 1920s
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful and authentically preserved stamp for sealing wax.
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Rare Antler Desk Standish with Elaborate Carvings, Germany ca. 1840
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Antler Desk Standish with Elaborate Carvings, Germany ca. 1840
A rare antique writing desk set made of wood and original antlers decorated with fine carved hunting scenes depic...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Black Forest Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood, Antler
Antique French Rococo Style Gilt Pewter and Porcelain Inkwell Signed Chatelain
Located in Barntrup, DE
Antique French Rococo style gilt pewter and porcelain inkwell from circa 1900, marked "Chatelain".
This beautifully shaped gilt pewter inkwell is adorned with flowers in the center ...
Category
Early 1900s French Rococo Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Pewter
Pop Art "Coca Cola"/ Coke Bottle in Lucite Sculpture / Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
A really fun pop art "Coca Cola" / Coke bottle in lucite sculpture / paperweight, circa 1970s. The sculpture is in good vintage condition with minor markings and crazing due to age;...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Lucite
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.