Desk Accessories
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Desk Accessories For Sale
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Pattern Bronze Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period bronze "Zodiac" pattern pen tray
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 9.63"...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Edward VII Glass Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
Edward VII glass paperweight. "Honi soit mal quiy mal y pense" commemorative souvenir paperweight of Edward VII in his coronation robes, England, circa 1902...
Category
Early 20th Century English Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass
Indian Antique Wooden Hand Noodle Maker with Carved Ram and Vice Press
Located in Yonkers, NY
An Indian antique carved wooden hand noodle press from the 19th century, with ram motif. Created in India during the 19th century, this wooden piece was originally used to hand make noodles. Showcasing a vice press, the body is adorned with a carved ram whose head and behind expand from a central square. This container is where the dough was placed and the vice part would press it into noodles. The ram head is carved with nice motifs, particularly visible on his curling antlers. The sides are adorned with medallions adorned with rosettes on all sides. Boasting a nicely weathered appearance revealing its nice age and use, this antique Indian carved wooden...
Category
19th Century Indian Rustic Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood
Stunning Cartier Diabolo Black Resin Pen Platinum Mounts
Cabochon Finish Boxed
Located in Reading, Berkshire
An Elegant Diabolo de Cartier ballpoint pen in black composite, with steel details, blue resin cabochon.
Dimension: 136.5mm
Manufactured by Montblanc
Cartier pens are designed b...
Category
1990s French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Silver Paper Weight
Paper Cutter by Christofle
By Christofle
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Silver Paper Weight & Paper Cutter by Christofle
Category
20th Century Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
Roycroft Arts
Crafts Blotter Corners With Desk Blotter, Circa 1920s
By Roycroft
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous set of Arts & Crafts period brass finished hand hammered copper blotter corners with desk blotter
By Roycroft (signed with impressed orb and cross mark)
USA, Circa 1920s...
Category
1920s American Arts and Crafts Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Copper
Tiffany Studios New York "Zodiac" Bronze Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Art Deco period bronze pen tray featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 10.13"W x 3.13"D x 0.38"H
Good original...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Italian Industrial Design Grillo Flip Phone Marco Zanuso
By Marco Zanuso
Located in Oakland, CA
The Grillo "Cricket" phone the ringer sounds like crickets. designed by Marco Zanuso and Richard Sapper in 1965, this is a later version that can be used with touch tone architecture. This design has won numerous awards i.e. Compasso d' Oro 1967, Gold medal, Ljubljana, Bio, 1968. A fully working phone.
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
Vintage Bronze Bumble Bee Sculpture on Marble Base by Gaston Lachaise
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful Bronze bumble bee mounted on marble base by Gaston Lachaise.
Category
20th Century French Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Sam Maloof Handcrafted Studio Signed Walnut Paperweight
By Sam Maloof
Located in San Diego, CA
Sam Maloof hand signed paperweight in solid walnut. Classic Maloof joinery. Crafted in the Maloof woodshop. This was created in the 1990s or early 2000s when Maloof was alive and s...
Category
1990s American Craftsman Desk Accessories
Materials
Walnut
Richard Thuss Austrian Gilt Bronze Figure of an Oriental Woman Dancing
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Oriental Dancer, Jugenstil Vienna bronze sculpture, 1900s
Richard Thuss Austrian Gilt Bronze Figure of an Oriental Woman Dancing
Stamped under a foot VNO. Gilt has been restored. It ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Blue and White Dutch Delft Tile with Pikier, Mid 17th Century
Located in AMSTERDAM, NH
The Netherlands
Amsterdam
Circa 1625 – 1650
A blue and white Dutch tile with a decoration of a Dutch soldier from the period of the 80 Years War. This soldier could be a member of t...
Category
1620s Dutch Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Vintage Fratelli Toso Millefiori Desk Lamp, Murano, circa 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Fratelli Toso Millefiori Desk Lamp, Murano circa 1950
A rare millefiori murrine glass desk lamp manufactured by Vetreria Fratelli Toso, Murano around 1950. Made of blue glass with melted white and green glass threads and polycrome murrines. Surface with satinated finish. The lamp is an authentic example of early 20th century Murano art glass. It was part of a large Fratelli Toso glass collection with over 600 pieces - collected since the 1970s. Working condition. It features a E14 European socket.
Fratello Toso was one of the leading art glass manufacturers of Murano in the 20th century. In the early 1900's Fratelli Toso started to produce glasses in murrine technique. Murrine and Millefiori glasses remained a major product field of Fratelli Toso. In 1912 a very successful series of liberty inspired art glasses, designed by Hans Stoltenberg Lerche...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Letter Opener Sterling Silver Blue Enamel on Guillochè Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Shaped letter opener with rectangular base in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guillochè. Base cm. 7.5 x 15.5 long letter opener cm. 21. Weight ...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Islamic Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Inkwell
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period "Zodiac" pattern gilt bronze inkwell
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: 4.25"W x ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
1970
s Da Ros for Cenedese
Attr.
Clear
Green Murano Bubble Glass Paperweight
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Rare, Mid-Century Modern vintage water drop shaped paperweight with singular trapped air bubble inclusion within the green/blue/turquoise clear (slightly tinted) glass. Very unusual ...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
Fratelli Toso Murano Clear Red Italian Art Glass Puppy Dog Paperweight Figure
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Cute vintage Murano hand blown red and clear Italian art glass puppy dog sculpture / paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. It still retains its original "Murano Glass...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$338 Sale Price
24% Off
Clear Hand Blown Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand-blown, clear, oblong, art glass paperweight features a clear hand-blown center ring with several controlled bubbles atop and below with the faintest hints of orange dash around ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Tiffany Studios New York Graduate Bronze Doré Box, Circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze Graduate pattern desk box, jewelry box, or decorative box
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
TIFFANY
CO. 1905 Charles T. Cook Desk Magnifier Glass In .925 Sterling Silver
Located in Miami, FL
A desk magnifier glass designed by Tiffany & Co.
This is a desk magnifier glass created in 1905 at the Tiffany & Co. in New York City. This beautiful piece was carefully crafted during the Edwardian period in solid sterling silver .925/.999 and fitted with a round loupe glass, which is framed into the sterling. The magnifier is very useful and was made under the Tiffany's directory period of Charles T. Cook (1902-1907). As with all Tiffany pieces, the quality and design are beyond compared. Exceptional and rare example of Tiffany's finest work. This a perfect gift and display beautiful in a desk.
Country: New York City, United States.
Period: Edwardian, 1905
Designer: Period C, for 1902-1907 Charles T. Cook.
Weight: 266.5 Grams, (170.85 Dwt).
Measurements: 210 mm by 106 mm by 16 mm (8.25 x 4.16 x 0.63 inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the "C" for the period of Charles T. Cook and signed in full as follows. "TIFFANY & CO. MAKERS STERLING SILVER C.".
Tiffany Hallmarking
Tiffany silver holloware and flatware is generally marked Tiffany & Co and generally includes date letters indicating the period it was made. Flatware also usually includes a pattern number. The first date letter "M (old English) used by Tiffany’s represented Edward C. Moore, who was the head of tiffany's silver operations until 1891. after his death, the date letters were based on the initial of the current tiffany president; 1891-1902 Charles L. Tiffany (T), 1902-1907 Charles T. Cook (C), 1907-1947 John C. Moore (M), 1947-1955 Louis De Bian Moore (B), 1955-ca.1965 William T. Lusk (L).
The Tiffany dynasty
Was founded in 1837 at 259 Broadway in New York City by Charles Louis Tiffany and partner John B. Young. It began not as a jewelry & silver emporium...
Category
Early 1900s American Edwardian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Sterling Silver, Silver
$1,225 Sale Price
30% Off
French Art Nouveau Rene Lalique Grey Stained Dragonfly Knife Rest c1919
By René Lalique
Located in Worcester Park, GB
An very rare and very early signed (R Lalique France -see image 5) original grey stained Rene Lalique 'Libellule' knife rest -depicting a dragonfly in flight, dating from 1919 (See ...
Category
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Antique Double Inkstand With Glass Inserts, Gutta-Percha, France, Circa 1880
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique inkstand with two crystal inkwells.
The base and the lids are made of gutta-percha, a molded resin, France, circa 1880.
The lids fe...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Glass, Resin
$326 Sale Price
20% Off
Tiffany Studios New York Graduate Pattern Bronze Doré Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze "Graduate" pattern pen tray
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measure...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Collection Gilt Leather Bound Library Book Set / Eighteen
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Collection of gilt leather bound library book set of eighteen. Army Life In A Black Regiment By Thomas Went Wentworth Higginson "Collector's Library ...
Category
1980s Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper, Leather
Leather Waste Basket by Merit Los Angeles
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful leather waste bin in the style of Jacques Adnet produced by Merit Los Angeles. Made entirely of a thick cowhide leather in a distressed dark brown. High quality leather pat...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
$1,400 / item
Leather Bound Hinged Book for Storage and Document Storage
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The look of a leather bound book with fine gold tooling to the exterior. Originally used for Bridge scorecard and playing cards (included). The piece is a compliment to the bookshelf...
Category
20th Century Desk Accessories
Materials
Gold
Vintage Hermes Note Paper, 1980s France
By Hermès
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original and unopened Hermes note paper with gold gilded edge paper. Hermes logo on the top of the stack of sheets. Hermes logo on box. Great piece for the...
Category
1980s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Paper
Art Deco Macassar Wood and Chrome Desk Accessory Letter Holder, circa 1930
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exceptional Art Deco modernist desk accessory, meticulously crafted in France circa 1930, is a striking fusion of sophistication and utility. The stunning, bold geometric silhou...
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Carl Auböck Model #4206A Patinated Brass Bowl
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4206C patinated brass bowl.
Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl or catch-all is executed in patinated brass with a polish...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Vintage Romeo Rega Signed Brass and Chrome-Plated Checkers Game Italian Restored
By Romeo Rega
Located in North Miami, FL
This ultra chic and modern signed vintage Italian Romeo Rega vintage checkers game has sculptural components. It is great just even as a decorative ob...
Category
1970s Italian Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Stainless Steel, Chrome
Bohemian Czech Art Nouveau Art Glass Inkwell with Water Lily Overlay
By Loetz Glass
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning Bohemian Czech Art Nouveau inkwell with metal water lily overlay in the style of Loetz, circa 1900s. The green art glass well is capped with...
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Art Nouveau Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal, Brass
$425 Sale Price
34% Off
Vintage Moroccan Blue and Gold Embossed Leather Padfolio
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan Blue and Gold Embossed Leather Padfolio.
Vintage leather Moroccan portfolio.
Blue and gold vintage Moroccan leather hand tooled leath...
Category
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Islamic Desk Accessories
Materials
Leather
Vintage Brass Turtle on Faux Book Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Unique vintage brass turtle on faux book paperweight, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 5.25"W x 3.5"D x 3"H. The ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
$240 Sale Price
20% Off
Solid Green Marble Apple Paperweight with Brass Stem
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid green 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"H. #3931
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble
19th Century brass bound mahogany writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century brass bound mahogany writing slope circa 1890.
Good quality brass bound box slope made in mahogany. Inscribed brass plaque shows that this was presented to a mr james ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Campaign Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique bronze pen tray featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios (signed to one side)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures: ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Tiffany Studios New York American Indian Pattern Bronze Doré Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Art Deco or Arts & Crafts period gilt bronze pen tray in the "American Indian" pattern
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Me...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Hammered Black and Copper Colored Metal Brutalist Magazine or Record Rack
By Paul Evans
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Richly textured black and copper colored hammered metal vintage magazine rack. The pitted and rippled metal surface celebrates the process in the craft as a design element. Copper co...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Metal
Tiffany Studios New York American Indian Pattern Bronze Doré Stamp Box
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze "American Indian" pattern stamp box
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
...
Category
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
19° Century italian 800 Silver Desk Set
Located in VALENZA, IT
Italian desk set in 800/1000 silver late 1800s.
The set consists of:
Square-shaped ground crystal inkwell with hinged silver lid and 24kt gold finish inside .
Rectangular pad with silver knob...
Category
19th Century Italian Other Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
In Stock in Los Angeles, Grey Kong Mini Portable Charger
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Kong mini power bank battery charger
In stock in Los Angeles
Easily transportable, Kong MINI becomes a Stand hugging the mobile phone and a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
$23 Sale Price
64% Off
Antique Inkwell, Art Nouveau, Pen Tray, by WMF, circa 1910
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful inkwell, Art Nouveau, by WMF.
Nice authentic condition.
.
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Ericofon Midcentury Plastic Cobra Telephone, L.M Ericsson, Sweden 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- rare in red
- marked
- very good original condition
- space age style
Category
1960s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Plastic
1970
s Steel paperweight attributed to Maria Pergay
By Maria Pergay
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
1970's Steel paperweight attributed to Maria Pergay
Category
1970s French Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Stainless Steel
Wooden Christmas Tree Set CEDAR – Cedar
Located in Orlando, FL
The handcrafted solid cedar Christmas tree set is designed to complete your holiday theme with a warm and natural atmosphere. Inspired by the natural structure of cedar wood, the abs...
Category
2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Wood, Cedar
Vintage Art Deco Silver Cigarette Case by Elgin MFG. CO., 1930s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Art Deco Silver Cigarette Case by Elgin MFG. CO.
Sterling silver.
Very good condition.
Category
1930s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Silver
$518 Sale Price
20% Off
Murano Art Glass Paperweight of a Fish, Signed
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful, playful and colorful paperweight that will spark your imagination every time you put your eyes on it.
Murano art glass, signed.
A nice addition to any desktop.
Mea...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
$425 Sale Price
28% Off
Typewriter by Bar-Lock, England, 1921
Located in Praha, CZ
Oldschool typewriter made by Bar-Lock, in England, in the year 1921.
Made of bakelite, metal and chrome.
Repolished, cleaned, shows signs of use and age.
Fully functional.
Category
1920s German Industrial Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Bakelite
Signed Italian Venini Murano White Ribbon Paperweight
By Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Murano Paperweight by Venini Italy. This piece is a stunning compliment to any desk or work station. Hand Crafted with White Ribbons and of a good weight. Could actually serve as...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Murano Glass
1980s Cresta Modell 100 Telephone Designed for Vroom and Dreesmann
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Reach out and touch the 1980s with this Dutch Cresta Modell 100 Pop-Art Handtelefoon. This Dali-esque, surreal design brings new meaning to the term "handset" telefoon. A true gem fo...
Category
1980s Dutch Post-Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Materials
Wire
French Patinated Bronze Cherub Sculpture, Signed by Auguste Moreau
Located in New York, NY
A fabulous and large sized Louis XVI style patinated bronze sculpture of a cherub, signed by Auguste Moreau, titled "Amour Sifflant". This is a fabulous piece that has been crafted b...
Category
Early 1900s French Louis XVI Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Pen Tray
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Art Deco or Arts & Crafts gilt bronze pen tray featuring Zodiac designs
By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside)
New York, USA, Early 20th Century
Measures:...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze
Pair Italian Venini Murano Crystal Signed Paperweight Bookends
By Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Murano Paperweight by Venini Italy. This pieces are sold individually or as a pair and are a stunning compliment to any desk or work station. Hand Crafted with multi colored Ribbo...
Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Carl Auböck Model #4327 Polished Brass Hook
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck Model #4327 polished brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and minimalist Viennese hook is executed in polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria.
Pro...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass, Nickel
$344 / item
Late 19th Century French Treen Inkwell with Pen Holder
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th century French treen inkwell with pen holder. Elegantly decorated with subtly colored chinoiserie scenes of gardens & bamboo follies. Bra...
Category
Late 19th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Brass
French Mid Century Catch All, Blue
Black Matte Ceramic Key Holder
Located in Miami, FL
French Mid Century Catch All, Blue and Black Matte Ceramic Key Holder or Vide Poche
French mid century blue and black matte ceramic key holder/vide...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Ceramic
Art Déco French Polished Silvered Bronze Balancing Dice Paperweight by E. Brandt
By Edgar Brandt
Located in North Miami, FL
Art Déco fench polished silvered bronze balancing dice paperweight by Edgar Brandt
By: Edgar Brandt
Material: copper, bronze, silver, metal
Technique: cast, molded, silvered, polish...
Category
20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories
Materials
Bronze, Metal, Silver, Copper
Murano Fish Sculpture by Livio Seguso for Gral, Germany, ca. 1970ties
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A sculpture of a stylized fish in blue and pink glass. Hand made in the gral glass manufactory, Germany. Designed by Livio Seguso, ca. 1970. Incised signature of the artist (LS) on t...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Materials
Art Glass
Hand Carved Stone Possible malachite Paperweight office Desk Sculpture object
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Hand Carved Stone Possible malachite Paperweight office Desk Sculpture object . A nicely hand carved Hardstone paperweight sculpture frog object decorative...
Category
19th Century European Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Stone
Antique Inkwell, Gilded Bronze, Antique Desk Utensil, Pen Holder, circa 1880
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique inkwell made from gilded bronze.
circa 1880.
The plate is made of marble.
Nice bronze work with a well preserved gilding.
The original glass insert is existing....
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Desk Accessories
Materials
Marble, Gold, 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.