Desk Accessories
1940s German Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Wood
2010s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Wood
2010s Italian Other Desk Accessories
Wood
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Accessories
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Desk Accessories
Stone, Bronze
2010s American Minimalist Desk Accessories
Concrete
2010s American Minimalist Desk Accessories
Concrete
2010s English Modern Desk Accessories
Cement
Early 20th Century French Desk Accessories
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
20th Century Italian Victorian Desk Accessories
Marble
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
Early 1900s Antique Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Late 20th Century Japanese Scandinavian Modern Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
2010s Argentine Desk Accessories
Leather
2010s Pakistani Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Marble, Lapis Lazuli, Jade, Other
1920s British Vintage Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Leather
Early 20th Century French Desk Accessories
Brass
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Bronze
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Desk Accessories
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Desk Accessories
Aluminum, Gold Plate, Chrome
2010s Mexican Modern Desk Accessories
Resin
Early 20th Century American Late Victorian Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
2010s Turkish Desk Accessories
Aluminum
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Porcelain
2010s Dutch Modern Desk Accessories
Brass, Iron, Aluminum
Mid-19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Desk Accessories
Ormolu
2010s Dutch Other Desk Accessories
Acrylic
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
1970s American Vintage Desk Accessories
Bronze
2010s English Modern Desk Accessories
Plastic, Wood
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
2010s Italian Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
1890s French Antique Desk Accessories
Marble, Bronze
2010s Argentine Desk Accessories
Leather
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Desk Accessories
Glass
2010s Lebanese Modern Desk Accessories
Brass
Mid-20th Century Scottish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Glass
Early 20th Century Desk Accessories
Metal
1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
2010s Dutch Other Desk Accessories
Acrylic
2010s Dutch Other Desk Accessories
Acrylic
1980s Finnish Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Art Glass
20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Art Glass
2010s Dutch Other Desk Accessories
Acrylic
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
1970s Italian Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Leather, Glass, Cut Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
1970s Italian Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Art Glass
2010s Italian Modern Desk Accessories
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Black Forest Desk Accessories
Brass
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.