Skip to main content

Desk Accessories

to
921
5,502
988
128
3,835
1,210
1,091
1,068
1,040
3,043
2,917
4,487
1,213
1,143
Height
to
Width
to
6,618
6,008
6,406
Desk Accessories For Sale
An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell
Located in Queens, NY
An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell, circa 1875. A truly exceptional and jewel like quality inkwell encrier, made with the finest ormolu, mounted on bloodstone. A true collectors and one of a kind piece. Revival of the ancient régime in the late 19th century was paramount to the French furniture and bronze casting firms of the Belle Epoque. Imitation in the highest regard and replication of those tastes and styles was prevalent throughout the Paris Faubourg, where the most talented bronziers and ébénistes established their workshops. The present inkwell encrier recalls the late 18th century's obsession with hardstones - a taste expounded above all by the duc d'Aumont and, subsequently Marie-Antoinette. Such hardstone-mounted pieces, reminiscent of Renaissance schatzkammer objects, enjoyed a revived popularity at the end of the 18th century through the impetus of both the marchands-mercier and, more importantly, the hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, where the duc d'Aumont himself established a workshop in 1770 specializing in the cutting and polishing of precious hardstones. This exceptional inkwell encrier, sumptuously-mounted with finely chased gilt-bronzes, incorporates a highly-prized material such as bloodstone. Sometimes called the Sunstone, the meaning of Bloodstone comes entangled in fascinating history. The Ancient Greeks held the Bloodstone as a gem with glorious powers. They referred to it as Heliotrope, which directly translates to Sunstone. It was believed to have heavenly healing powers gifted by the gods and most certainly when it came to healing all things related to the blood. Even as we move forward into the Middle Ages, the Bloodstone takes another mystical story under its wing. It was believed to be formed from Christ's blood. It was said that during the Crucifixion, a few red spots of his blood dripped...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Pair of 1970s Iron Sun and Moon Bookends by Curtis Jere
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculptural bookends with sun and moon on opposite sides. Silvered wrought iron. Signed and dated by artist. Price is for the pair.
Category

1970s Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Black Godron Ribbed Fountain Pen With Cartier Box
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Louis Black Godron Ribbed Fountain Pen With Cartier Box, Finished With An Onyx Cabochon Manufactured by Montblanc The pen is made from a black composite Pen n...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold, Gold Plate

Petite English Electroplated Nickel on Silver Lidded Container with Flame Finial
Located in Atlanta, GA
A petite English electroplated nickel on silver lidded container from the 20th century, with flaming finial and bead-and-reel motifs. Created in England during the 20th century, this...
Category

20th Century English Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Nickel

Vintage Balenciaga Pen, 2000s
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Balenciaga Pen. Includes its original box. Excellent condition.
Category

Early 2000s Italian Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Vintage Balenciaga Pen, 2000s
Vintage Balenciaga Pen, 2000s
$76 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Rare Antique Asprey Co. London Oak Tooled Green Leather 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...
Category

1920s English Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather, Mahogany, Oak

Cartier 18ct Gold Nib Burgundy Lacquer Trinity Rollerball Writing Pen
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Elegant Cartier Burgundy Lacquer 18 Carat Gold Plate Trinity Rollerball Writing Pen With Cartier Case. Cartier pens are designed by Cartier, are manufactured by Montblan...
Category

Late 20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Plate, Enamel

Louis Lejeune Norwich Terrier Hood Ornament
Located in Huntington, NY
Louis Lejeune Norwich Terrier Hood Ornament Louis Lejeune Mascots adorn the finest European & American Cars. The British Royal Family have, for many years, displayed mascots on ...
Category

Late 20th Century English Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel

Montblanc Meisterstück Black Fountain Pen With Original Box, Inkwell Paperwork
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Montblanc Fountain Pen Set. A Montblanc Meisterstück Black Fountain Pen With Original Box Paperwork. Sold With and A Glass Black Inkwell Wit...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold

Silver fountain pen with triple gold trim and pine cone-shaped pommel
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Silver fountain pen with triple gold stripe and pine cone-shaped pommel. Metal: Silver. Origin: Portuguese. Brand: Javali II. Title: Weight: 35.76 grams. Dimensions: 19c...
Category

19th Century European Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Beautiful White Opaline Cenedese Style Glass Compote Pedestal Bowl, Italy, 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This elegant Tuscan glass pedestal bowl is a beautiful example of mid-century Italian milk opaline craftsmanship, created circa 1950 or earlier in the style of Cenedese. The bowl fea...
Category

1950s Italian Empire Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Yellow Blue Gold Fleck Italian Art Glass Love Bird Figurine
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown bright yellow and sapphire blue spots, bubbles and gold flecks Italian art glass baby bird figurine / sculpture. Documented to the Barovier e Toso...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Leaf

Set of Old Bound Books, 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of old books dating from the 19th century. From an old protestant library near Le Havre in France. These books are entitled "Histoire du protestantisme français" (History of Fren...
Category

19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather, Paper

Piscine Stoneware Vase Applied Silver, Wilhelm Kage, Argenta, Gustavsberg #1029
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Superb bijou vase by Wilhelm Kage for Gustavsberg, Sweden from the Argenta collection. Decorated with a stylised fish of applied silver on mottled green stoneware. Circa 1930's Ba...
Category

1930s Swedish Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Carl Auböck Model #4330/1 Patinated Brass Hook
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4330/1 patinated brass hook. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in patinated and polished brass by Werkstätte Carl Aubö...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Baccarat French Blue Crystal Paperweight Decorative Object
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful multifaceted French paperweight in sapphire blue and clear crystal from luxury Maison, Baccarat, circa late-20th century, France. This clear crystal and sapphire blue pap...
Category

Late 20th Century French Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3847 Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3847 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished and patinated brass. Each pi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Midcentury Brass Star Sea Star Starfish Key Ring Chain Holder
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming modernist star keyring / key holder / keychain, designed by Carl Auböck in the 1950s. Handmade of solid polished brass by Werkstätte Auböck in Austria. Fully stamped and m...
Category

20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Fratelli Toso Murano Green White Italian Art Glass Crown Paperweight
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and colorful vintage Murano hand blown green and white twisting ribbons Italian art glass paperweight. Documented to the Fratelli Toso company. This paperweights are often ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine

Top Quality Workmanship Antique Signed Alabaster Puppy Sculpture by Ernst Beck
Located in Lisse, NL
Marvelous and signed, sitting puppy dog sculpture with glass eyes. This stunning alabaster puppy sculpture is another one of our recent great finds. If you have an eye for top quali...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories

Materials

Alabaster

Smoke Semi Sphere Sculpture in Polished Resin 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 Se...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Cartier Set of 10 Panther Design Card and Envelop Luxury Season s Greetings
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Luxury Cartier set of 10 Cards and Envelopes with the Iconic Cartier Panther Jewelry Design. Large Cartier Panthere Season's Greetings, Joyeuses Fetes Stationary Cards. Authentic Lux...
Category

20th Century French Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Paper

Kodak No. 2A Folding Autographic Brownie Folding Roll Film Camera
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Kodak No. 2A Folding Autographic Brownie Folding Roll Film Camera Made In Canada Uses Type 116 Autographic Roll Film Patented 1910-1913 Frame Size: 2 1/4 × 4 1/4 inches Uses a Ko...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Collection Gilt Leather Bound Library Book Set
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Decorate your sturdy / Library room with this collection set of gilt leather bound library book set of eighteen volumes. Germany in storm and stress ...
Category

1910s Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Paper, Leather

Amalric Walter and Alfred Finot Pate De Verre Woman with Schawl Paperweight
Located in Bochum, NRW
Amalric Walter and Alfred Finot, a seated female figure with a shawl and a necklace, Nancy, c. 1910 Gorgeous pâte-de-verre figurine in shades of jade, dark green and violet-blue colo...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Brass Elephant Paperweight
Located in San Diego, CA
Brass elephant paperweight, circa 1970's. The piece is. in very good vintage condition with a nice patina and measures 1.5"W x 4"D x 3.5"H. #4065
Category

Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Letter opener in the shape of a knife with an embossed silver handle and large m
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Letter opener in the shape of a knife with an embossed silver handle and masks. Metal: Silver. Origin: European. Brand: Unknown. Weight: 39.42 grams. Dimensions: 22...
Category

20th Century Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Pierre Cardin Sterling Letter Holder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
PIerre Cardin dark blue upholstered letter holder with sterling silver / made in France Original mark on the front Length: 9 inches / Width: 4.5 inches / Height: 4 inches 1 available...
Category

Late 20th Century French Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Floating Pennies in Lucite Cube Paperweight in the Style of William Rolfe
Located in San Diego, CA
Floating pennies in lucite cube paperweight in the style of William Rolfe, circa 1980s. The pice is in very good vintage condition and measures 2.5"W...
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Lucite

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3530 Flatiron Brass and Cane Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3530 Brass and Cane 'Flatiron' Bookends Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished or patinat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Vintage Greek Lalaounis Sterling Silver Figural Scallop Sea Shell Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed Greek silver paperweight. By Lalounis. In sterling silver. In the form of a scallop or cockle sea shell. Marked to the base. Simply a wonderful Lalaounis shell...
Category

20th Century Greek Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Sterling Silver

Art Nouveau Footed Tray Made By Liberty Co., English Hammered Antique Pewter
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Art Nouveau antique pewter footed tray made by Liberty Co., Regent Street, London Historic household piece of English pewter with hand hammered stylised decoration Circa 1910 S...
Category

1910s English Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Pewter

Pair of Carl Auböck Model #3848 Brass Bookends
Located in Glendale, CA
Pair of Carl Auböck model #3848 brass bookends. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural pair of bookends are executed in polished brass. Each piece bears the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #3844 Brass Bowl
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #3844 brass bowl. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural Viennese bowl is executed in polished and darkly patinated brass. Originally conceiv...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Carl Auböck Model #4330/1 Hook in Nickel
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #4330/1 hook in nickel. Designed in the 1950s, this versatile and Minimalist Viennese hook is executed in softly brushed nickel by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Austria. ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Nickel

Montblanc Meisterstuck Le Petit Prince Aviator Ballpoint Pen Special Edition
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Special Edition Montblanc Meisterstück Le Petit Prince Aviator. The barrel and cap of the ballpoint are made of brown precious resin. The clip ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Art Deco Desk Accessories

Materials

Platinum

MCM Brass / Leather Long Shoehorn in the Style of Jacques Adnet by Arfango
Located in San Diego, CA
A very cool MCM brass and leather long shoehorn in the style of Jacques Adnet by Arfango, circa 1960s. The piece has a brass handle and Horn attached by ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Walter Bosse Sculptural Brass Hand Bowl or Ashtray, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful mid-century sculptural brass bowl designed in the shape of a hand. Originally conceived as an ashtray, this elegant brass piece is versatile to be used as a jewelry bowl,...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Marble Jewelry Box Egyptian Revival Style Blue White
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and substantial blue and white carved marble hinged decorative box/jewelry box, circa-mid-20th century or earlier. Exact origin unknown. Carved design on top depicts an ancient relief...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Egyptian Revival Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

1970s Dior Home Style Mid-Century Modern Fake Tortoise Lucite Smoking Set
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A fake tortoise lucite italian smoking set composed by an ashtray, a cigarette box and a lighter not tested. Box side dimension is 12 cm, ashtray side ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Petite Classica Crystal Inkwell
Located in Sheffield, MA
Small and elegant crystal inkwell with a brass collar with a square base and faceted lid makes a wonderful accent on your desk or table top. Ink-well, ink well, inkwell.
Category

Early 20th Century European Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Petite Classica Crystal Inkwell
Petite Classica Crystal Inkwell
$125 Sale Price
28% Off
Tiffany Studios New York Bronze Zodiac Bookends, Circa 1910
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period "Zodiac" pattern bronze bookends By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, early 20th century Each measures: ...
Category

Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories

Materials

Bronze

Dior Document or Magazine Holder in Tortoiseshell Lucite and Brass, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous Mid-Century document or magazine holder fully made in a vibrant tortoiseshell-effect Lucite with a polished solid brass frame. This stylish and truly unique piece was produ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Art Nouveau Signed WMF Pitcher Brass and Copper with Handle and Organic Details
Located in Verviers, BE
Art Nouveau Signed WMF Pitcher Brass and Copper with Handle and Organic Details Hand-hammered out of one piece of copper. Brass handle with Organic style details With original Pati...
Category

1910s German Art Nouveau Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Copper

Vintage Letter Opener
Located in Greven, DE
Vintage Letter Opener.
Category

Mid-20th Century Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique Cased Draughtsman s Set, English, Drawing Tools, WH Harling, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique cased draughtsman's set. An English, technical drawing case of silver nickel and brass tools by W.H. Harling, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. Nicely p...
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Nickel

Traveling Inkwell Milk Churn Shape
Located in Vienna, AT
This figural traveling inkwell was made during the very early 1900s. It is made to look like a milk churn. We believe it is made of nickel plated brass; some of the plating has worn ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

English Campaign Style Rosewood Brass Inlaid Lap Desk, circa 1850
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine quality brass inlaid Campaign style traveling desk with a recessed brass handle engraved with the name of its owner, Anne Orten. The piece opens to reveal a velvet lined writi...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Campaign Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Yashica-44 Twin Lens Reflex Medium Format Camera Yashikor 60mm F3.5 Prime Lens
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Yashica-44 Twin Lens Reflex Medium Format Camera With a Yashikor 60mm F3.5 Prime Fixed Lens With Original Grey Leather Case Comes additionally with the original flash and flash cas...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Mixed Exotic Shagreen Wood Contemporary Waste Basket by R&Y Augousti of Paris
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible mixed exotic contemporary waste basket by R&Y Augousti of Paris, circa 2000s. The basket is made of cream colored shagreen and hard wood and is in very good vintage condition; it measure 4.5"W x 3.5"D and 23.75"H. Signed on the underside. #2463 R&Y Augousti was founded in 1989 by husband-wife duo Ria & Yiouri Augousti. Their artistic backgrounds brought them together as innovators in their field by reviving the artisanal techniques of shagreen and other exotic materials that were predominant in the Art Deco period of the 1930s. Through their mix of vintage and contemporary design their furniture and home accessories brand were met with worldwide praise. From a debut collection for the luxurious Hotel Crillon...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Organic Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Shagreen

English Wedgwood Basalt Jasperware Scallop Seashell Box, circa 1980s
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful special edition English Wedgwood black basalt Jasperware small oval box with gold scallop seashell design, circa late-20th century, 1980s, England. Piece is matte black stoneware with gold scallop seashell design on top lid. The box was created in the mid-1980s as a special edition for members of the Wedgwood Collectors Society, marked on inside lid area in gold (as shown.) Markers mark 'Wedgwood', 'Made in England', on bottom as shown. Piece can neatly hold a cocktail ring or other small items, etc., or just be beautiful as a standalone piece decorative object. English wood box...
Category

Late 20th Century English Desk Accessories

Materials

Stoneware

Emperor Wilhelm I. Metal Catchall Shows National Monument, Antique German, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful metal tray or catchall to hold quills. Made of cast Iron, has some nice patina, but this is old-age. A beautiful piece for your desk or any room. It was made for the 100th ...
Category

1890s German Art Nouveau Antique Desk Accessories

Materials

Iron

Murano "millefiori" Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Murano Multicolor Art Glass Paperweight unmarked, maker unknown, 1970's "Millefiori is a glasswork technique which produces distinctive decorative patterns on glassware. The term m...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Set of Mid-Century Modern Guzzini Crystal Lucite Italian Vases, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful set of four crystal plexiglass flower vases. This fantastic set was designed by Guzzini in Italy during the 1970s. This set is made of four different flower vases with t...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Acrylic, Lucite, Plexiglass

Greta Garbo Fountain pen by Montblanc, Swiss ca 2005
Located in Delft, NL
Greta Garbo Fountain pen by Montblanc, Swiss ca 2005 The MONTBLANC Greta Garbo fountain pen is a women's pen. The chic profile of the pen, that slightly curves. The fountain pen wit...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swiss Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Otterburn Chess Table — Solid Hand-Patinated Brass and Walnut — Made in Britain
Located in Washington, GB
Commissioned by a special client as the perfect stage for their chess battles, this table is a showcase of NOVOCASTRIAN’s creative ability, of almost 10 years of experimentation, ref...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Limestone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Brass, Bronze, Copper, ...

Letter Rack by Jacques Adnet
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
Jacques Adnet & the Compagnie des arts Français letter rack. Chromed metal consisting of a series of vertical blades of curved section resting on rectangul...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass, Chrome

Cute Baby Shoe Silver Plated Metal Money Box Piggy Bank, Vintage, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Gorgeous vintage metal money bank. A beautiful decorative item, with nice patina. Made in Europe, circa 1960s. Nice addition to any collection, desktop, living room or children's roo...
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Carl Auböck Model #3603L Large Brass and Leather Bell
Located in Glendale, CA
Carl Auböck model #3603L large brass and leather bell. Designed in the 1950s, this incredibly refined and sculptural bell is executed in polished brass an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Austrian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

André Ricard Olympic Torch Prototype for Barcelona 1992 Games, circa 1992
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Olympic torch prototype (PT) in chromed plastic for Barcelona '92 by André Ricard. Manufactured in Spain, circa 1990. In good original condition, w...
Category

1990s Spanish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Chrome

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.

Still Thinking About These?

All Recently Viewed