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Modern Desk Accessories

MODERN STYLE

The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw sweeping social change and major scientific advances — both of which contributed to a new aesthetic: modernism. Rejecting the rigidity of Victorian artistic conventions, modernists sought a new means of expression. References to the natural world and ornate classical embellishments gave way to the sleek simplicity of the Machine Age. Architect Philip Johnson characterized the hallmarks of modernism as “machine-like simplicity, smoothness or surface [and] avoidance of ornament.”

Early practitioners of modernist design include the De Stijl (“The Style”) group, founded in the Netherlands in 1917, and the Bauhaus School, founded two years later in Germany.

Followers of both groups produced sleek, spare designs — many of which became icons of daily life in the 20th century. The modernists rejected both natural and historical references and relied primarily on industrial materials such as metal, glass, plywood, and, later, plastics. While Bauhaus principals Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe created furniture from mass-produced, chrome-plated steel, American visionaries like Charles and Ray Eames worked in materials as novel as molded plywood and fiberglass. Today, Breuer’s Wassily chair, Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona chaircrafted with his romantic partner, designer Lilly Reich — and the Eames lounge chair are emblems of progressive design and vintage originals are prized cornerstones of collections.

It’s difficult to overstate the influence that modernism continues to wield over designers and architects — and equally difficult to overstate how revolutionary it was when it first appeared a century ago. But because modernist furniture designs are so simple, they can blend in seamlessly with just about any type of décor. Don’t overlook them.

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Style: Modern
Constellation Marble Bowl, Small Low in Nero Marquina Marble, in Stock
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
The hexagonal bowls are designed so that they can be laid together forming a honeycomb formation, either in same color or in different color combinations. Please note that no two...
Category

2010s British Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

English Burl Wood Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
One brown burl wood obelisk, in the Modern style, circa mid-20th century, England. Obelisk is hand-crafted in a rich brown burl. A beautiful decorative obje...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Burl

Wooden Christmas Tree – Large, Cedar, Juniper
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER decorative solid cedar handmade Christmas trees are simple yet elegant pieces of holiday décor, inspired by the aesthetic form of the juniper tree. Crafted from the uniqu...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo FIR – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The bronze-tipped solid cedar Christmas tree set is inspired by the graceful form of the fir tree and specially crafted to bring the festive spirit into your living spaces. Featuring...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo FIR – Cedar with Brass Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The gold-tipped solid cedar decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday theme with simplicity and elegance. Inspired by the natural form of the juniper tree and re...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree JUNIPER – Cedar with Brass Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The brass-tipped decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday décor with natural cedar wood and elegant brass accents. Inspired by the form of the juniper tree, thi...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Pebble Black Marble Meditative Cushion by On.Entropy Ideal as a Desk Accessory
Located in Athens, GR
Pebble press papier, designed with softness in mind. Hand-sculpted from a single block of marble, it challenges expectations of the material, transforming what is rigid and heavy int...
Category

2010s Greek Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Wooden Christmas Tree FIR – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The luxury bronze-tipped Christmas tree features an elegant design that brings the festive spirit into your living spaces. Inspired by the iconic form of the fir tree and reinterpret...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree CEDAR – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
Decorative, minimalist solid cedar trees bring both a natural and modern aesthetic to your holiday theme. Inspired by the graceful form of the fir tree, these Christmas décor pieces ...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set JUNIPER – Cedar
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER decorative solid handmade Christmas tree set adds warmth to your holiday theme with its minimalist and natural design. Inspired by the aesthetic form of the juniper tree,...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Italian Photo Frame Silver Handmade , Harmony Turquoise
Located in Sarezzo, IT
Harmony turquoise is an Arts & Crafts square silver picture frame designed by Laura G for Art with Heart. It is a wonderful lost wax bronze silver plated model hand chiselled by mast...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver

Bill Slade Studio Glass Paperweight, Bullet Series, Signed Art Glass Object
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This striking studio glass paperweight is part of the acclaimed Bullet Series by Bill Slade. Crafted with exceptional attention to detail, the piece feature...
Category

2010s American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Wooden Christmas Tree JUNIPER – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER Wooden Christmas Tree, in its large size, is a handcrafted statement piece designed to bring natural elegance to your holiday décor. Inspired by the stylized silhouette o...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

White Turtle Carry XS Jewelry Tree, Designed by Marcantonio
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
After the success of Turtle Carry, Marcantonio presents the iconic turtles in a small version. The turtle carapace supports a jewelry tree. Produce...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Art Glass Millefiori Collectable Paperweight
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Millefiori Italian art glass paperweight Beautiful glass art paperweight in millefiori design in various shades of blues, red and white, accenting the close concentric complex. Mur...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Old Model of a Private Plane Falcon, 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Old model of a private plane falcon. Very interesting model of a private plane model falcon. Years 70. It is made entirely in massive aluminum. Totally we...
Category

20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Set of 2 Aluminum Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Taper Pen Stands by Stem Design Dimensions: D 8 x W 10 x H 11 cm (each.) Materials: Aluminum. Finish: Tumbled and burnished Weight: 0,5 kg (each.) Finished and as...
Category

2010s Indian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

Arman Violins Accumulations Paperweight for Christofle, France, 1980s
Located in Milan, IT
Arman violins accumulations metal paperweight for Christofle, France, 1983.
Category

1980s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal

Wooden Christmas Tree FIR – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The luxury bronze-tipped Christmas tree features an elegant design that brings the festive spirit into your living spaces. Inspired by the iconic form of the fir tree and reinterpret...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Mega FIR – Cedar, 62 cm
Located in Orlando, FL
The solid cedar Christmas tree is made entirely from natural cedar wood and adds an elegant touch to your holiday decor with its minimalist design. Inspired by the form of the fir tr...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Oak

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo JUNIPER – Cedar with Brass Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The gold-tipped solid cedar decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday theme with simplicity and elegance. Inspired by the natural form of the juniper tree and re...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree CEDAR – Cedar with Brass Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The natural solid cedar minimalist Christmas trees, with their large-scale design, add both elegance and a sense of nature to your holiday theme. Inspired by the form of the cedar tr...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo CEDAR – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The bronze-tipped decorative solid cedar Christmas tree is designed to blend the unique texture and form of natural cedar wood with the warmth of the holiday season. Each tree is one...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo CEDAR – Cedar with Brass Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The gold-accented natural cedar Christmas tree is a unique decorative piece inspired by the natural texture of cedar wood. Completed with brass tip details, these natural holiday tre...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo JUNIPER – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER Wooden Christmas Tree Duo Set is designed to bring a natural and refined aesthetic to your holiday decorations. Inspired by the abstract and minimalist form of juniper tr...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree CEDAR – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
Decorative, minimalist solid cedar trees bring both a natural and modern aesthetic to your holiday theme. Inspired by the graceful form of the fir tree, these Christmas décor pieces ...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree JUNIPER – Cedar with Bronze Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER Wooden Christmas Tree, in its large size, is a handcrafted statement piece designed to bring natural elegance to your holiday décor. Inspired by the stylized silhouette o...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree Set, Duo JUNIPER – Cedar with Bronze Tip
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER Wooden Christmas Tree Duo Set is designed to bring a natural and refined aesthetic to your holiday decorations. Inspired by the abstract and minimalist form of juniper tr...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Monterrey Black Marble Carved Small Bowl
Located in Mexico City, MX
Small bowl in carved Monterrey black marble. Handmade in México by local craftsmen. Production time: 6-8 weeks for items without marble / 13-14 weeks for marble pieces. Shipping +1...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Gucci Brown Leather Desk Letter Opener with Gilded Equestrian Motif, circa 1970
Located in Atlanta, GA
Bring a touch of sophistication to your private workspace with this rare Gucci-designed luxury leather desktop accessory. Crafted in Italy circa 1970, this exquisite letter opener em...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Gold Plate

Posacenere stile Jean Luce Saint Gobain Fontana Arte
Located in Lugo, IT
Posacenere nello stile di Jean Luce per Saint Gobain o produzione Fontana Arte. Buone condizioni. Grazie
Category

1970s French Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Coral Size 8 Log Bowl by Loyal Loot Made to Order Hand Made from Reclaimed Wood
Located in calgary, CA
Log bowls combine the beauty of a tree in its natural state with a high-gloss, vibrant finish. Each bowl is handmade using locally reclaimed trees of all varieties (fallen or cut down due to infrastructure or inclement weather). The trees are hand selected, gathered, turned and finished by Loyal Loot...
Category

Early 2000s Canadian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Willow, Reclaimed Wood

Ferragamo Magnifying Glass with Leather Handle, Italy, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage magnifying glass was produced in Italy during the 1970s and bears the engraved Ferragamo signature along the handle, with a Made in Italy stamp at the base. The piece feature...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Cuyo Large Alpaca Silver Cream Onyx Stone Pair of Bookends
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

Onyx Marble Decorative Object Paperweight
Located in New York, NY
A polished onyx decorative object paperweight, a tetradecagon shape, in brown and tan hues, in the Modern style, Post-Modern period, circa 1970s. A great piece for a desk, library, s...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Onyx

Signed Steuben White Swirl Bubble Glass Egg Paperweight by George Thompson
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Signed Steuben White Swirl Bubble Glass Egg Paperweight by George Thompson, USA, Circa 1970s This exquisite Steuben glass egg paperweight,...
Category

20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Montblanc fountain pen holder.
Located in Lugo, IT
Montblanc fountain pen holder. With refill. Good condition. Thank you.
Category

1960s Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Vintage Kosta Boda Art Glass Paperweight by Erik Hoglund
Located in Sacramento, CA
Vintage cobalt blue Kosta Boda art glass paperweight by Erik Hoglund, featuring a woman’s head and torso. In excellent vintage condition. Diamete...
Category

Late 20th Century Swedish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Art Glass

Jewelry Box Purple Charoite Gemstone
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful, substantial and rare natural purple charoite gemstone mineral jewelry box, circa late-20th century. Charoite is rare gemstone mineral. A beautiful organic pattern g...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stone, Chrome

Unique Zé Veado by André Teoman Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Unique Zé Veado by André Teoman Studio Limited Edition Dimensions: W 27 x D 27 x H 57 cm Materials: Marble, Brass André Teoman born in Viana do Castelo...
Category

2010s Portuguese Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble, Brass

Contemporary Three Stacked, Oblong Silver Aluminium Stack Trays by Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Aluminum Stack Trays by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 25 x D 5 x H 10 cm Materials: Aluminum The stack trays are sold in a set of three that can be used...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Aluminum

20th Century, Enzo Mari for Danese Paperweight Mod. Tokelau
Located in Turin, Turin
Very modernist Paperweight designed by the great designer Enzo Mari for the manufacturer Danese Milano in 1983. The paperweight is called model "Tokelau" that is a Polynesian word me...
Category

1980s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Stainless Steel, Iron

Vintage Signed Silver-Plate Desk Set Of Hinged Box, Bowl And LIghter Set /3
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage 3 piece Italian desk set of a silver plate rectangular lidded box , bowl and lighter has a textural embossed square design pattern very much on the style of Christian Di...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Silver Plate

Contemporary Eye Sculpture Amber D:40cm Glass, Brass and Gold by Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2023 Colletion of decorative objects by Ghirò Studio (Italy,Milan). The 'Eye' is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed to em...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal, Gold, Brass

Marble Circles by Kristina Dam Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Marble circles by Kristina Dam Studio. Materials: Black marble Dimensions: 21 x 30 x H 21cm. Two unbroken circles make this stunning changeabl...
Category

2010s Danish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Crystal Ball Sphere Bud Vase Modern Minimalist
Located in New York, NY
A substantial crystal ball sphere bud vase in the style of Baccara, in the modern or minimalist style. Beautiful as a standalone piece or for a sin...
Category

Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Crystal

Gourmet Square Wood Trivet, by Gunnar Cyren from Warm Nordic
Located in Viby J, DK
Beautiful walnut and oak trivets with delicate carvings. Trivets were originally designed in the 1970s by the highly acclaimed Swedish designer, Gunnar Cyren as part of the Gourmet Wood range, and are now being manufactured again by Warm Nordic. Their harmonious design and consummate quality make these wooden trivets perfect for both everyday meals and more festive occasions. The carvings lend the trivets a touch of character and have a life of their own in the form of swaying trees, sprouting hearts and abstract animals, depending on which way you look at them. Gunnar Cyren's Trivets also look attractive on the kitchen worktop...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Handmade Italia Lava Stone REGO Laptop Holder 2023
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lava stone Règo is a little jewel that adds a new experience when using a notebook combined with an external display, ideal for saving space and creating a clean and tidy environment...
Category

2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Lava

Modern Lucite and Steel Desk Organizer
Located in San Diego, CA
Very functional modern Lucite and steel desk organizer, circa 1980s. The piece is in very good condition and measures 8.75" W x 10.75" D x 3.25" H. #1452.
Category

Late 20th Century American Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Steel

White Bookend Mould Project by Theodora Alfredsdottir
Located in Geneve, CH
White bookend Mould project by Theodora Alfredsdottir Unique Materials: Jesmonite Dimensions: 110 x 80 x 180mm Theodora Alfredsdottir is a product...
Category

2010s English Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Cement

Clear 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 Semi...
Category

2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Resin

Leather Tray, Large A Rectangular Tray, Handmade - Color: Zinc
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

Contemporary Oval Green Marble Incense Plate by Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Green Guatemala Incense Plate by Henry Wilson Dimensions: D 28 x H 4 cm Materials: Green Guatemala Marble The Incense plate is carved from solid Green G...
Category

2010s Australian Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Italian Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of red burgundy Italian modern marble Obelisks, circa 1970s, Italy. Solid red burgundy marble with grey veining. Marked on bottom, 'Made in Italy', as shown in last ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

Shiva Flower Vase, Pink, by Ettore Sottsass, Glazed Ceramic, 20th Century
Located in Barcelona, ES
The Shiva vase is sculpture and vase. It is a symbol of Ettore Sottsass and an icon. Sottsass designed the Shiva Vase when travelling to Barcelona for love in 1973. He encountered m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Ceramic

Mettsass Table, by Ettore Sottsass, Red Glass
Located in Barcelona, ES
One of Sottsass first designs for BD, the "Mettsass" has lost none of the personality with which Sottsass designed it for BD some 40 years ago, in 1972. The structure is made of flat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Glass

Wall Street Dollar Sign and Bull Brass Desk Paperweights
Located in New York, NY
A set of Wall Street brass paperweights or decorative objects; a brass dollar sign and bull, circa mid to late-20th century. Great desk accessories. Dimensions: Dollar sign: 2....
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Blue 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

Wooden Christmas Tree – Large, Cedar, Juniper
Located in Orlando, FL
The JUNIPER decorative solid cedar handmade Christmas trees are simple yet elegant pieces of holiday décor, inspired by the aesthetic form of the juniper tree. Crafted from the uniqu...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Wooden Christmas Tree JUNIPER – Cedar with Brass Tip, Large Size
Located in Orlando, FL
The brass-tipped decorative Christmas tree is designed to complete your holiday décor with natural cedar wood and elegant brass accents. Inspired by the form of the juniper tree, thi...
Category

2010s Turkish Modern Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Modern desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Modern desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desk accessories created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Modern desk accessories made in a specific country, there are Europe, Italy, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desk accessories, popular names associated with this style include Ghidini 1961, Danese Milano, Enzo Mari, and AIREDELSUR. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desk accessories differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $15 and tops out at $57,800 while the average work can sell for $499.

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