Desk Accessories
1840s English Early Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century French Desk Accessories
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
1910s British Edwardian Vintage Desk Accessories
Brass
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Desk Accessories
Agate
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Chrome
Mid-20th Century British Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Metal
1960s German Space Age Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
1930s British Other Vintage Desk Accessories
Glass, Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Desk Accessories
Marble
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Ceramic
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Cork, Plywood
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern Desk Accessories
Leather
1920s German Other Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
Mid-20th Century Swedish Desk Accessories
Art Glass
1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Silver Plate
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Leather, Bakelite
Early 1900s European Baroque Antique Desk Accessories
Brass
Early 2000s Italian Space Age Desk Accessories
Foam
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
1980s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Murano Glass
Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Desk Accessories
Marble
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Cherry
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Marble, Brass
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Desk Accessories
Glass
20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Sterling Silver, Enamel
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell, Eggshell
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Desk Accessories
Cut Glass
1880s Antique Desk Accessories
Crystal, Silver Plate
20th Century Italian Desk Accessories
Stone, Marble
1980s Brazilian Vintage Desk Accessories
Metal
Late 20th Century North American Bohemian Desk Accessories
Stone
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
19th Century Italian Victorian Antique Desk Accessories
Marble
1970s Hong Kong Space Age Vintage Desk Accessories
Plastic
2010s North Korean Modern Desk Accessories
Shell
Late 20th Century Modern Desk Accessories
Malachite, Onyx
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desk Accessories
Teak
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.