Ink Blotter
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Inkwells
Brass
Vintage 1970s French Desk Sets
Brass
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil More Desk Accessories
Wood
Early 20th Century Egyptian Revival Desk Sets
Bronze, Copper
Vintage 1930s Danish Art Deco Inkwells
Bronze
Vintage 1930s British Art Deco Paperweights
Marble
Antique Late 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Desk Sets
Bronze
Antique Early 1900s Other Inkwells
Porcelain
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze, Enamel
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Desk Sets
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Desk Sets
Bronze
20th Century Art Deco Desk Sets
Marble
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Leather
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Vases
Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets
Leather
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Leather, Faux Leather
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
Metal
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Chrome
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Chrome
Vintage 1960s French Desk Sets
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Inkwells
Marble, Bronze
Mid-20th Century French Desk Sets
Leather
Vintage 1930s German Black Forest Inkwells
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Desk Sets
Metal
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Inkwells
Bronze
Mid-20th Century German More Desk Accessories
Nickel
Mid-20th Century Desk Sets
Silver
Antique Late 19th Century Louis XV Desk Sets
Bronze
20th Century Desk Sets
Crystal, Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Renaissance Cabinets
Leather
Antique 19th Century Moorish Inkwells
Brass
20th Century English Art Deco Desk Sets
Gold
Early 20th Century European Desk Sets
Onyx, Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Inkwells
Brass
Vintage 1920s French Empire Antiquities
Chrome
Vintage 1920s American Paintings
Paint
Vintage 1910s British Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Vintage 1930s European Art Deco Desk Sets
Brass
Early 20th Century European Bauhaus Desks
Faux Leather, Walnut, Maple
Early 20th Century Japanese Post-Modern Desk Sets
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Early 20th Century Austrian Native American More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Desk Sets
Bronze
Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Desk Sets
Chrome
Antique Early 19th Century Georgian Desks and Writing Tables
Mahogany
Antique Late 19th Century British Late Victorian Desk Sets
Leather
Vintage 1930s French Desk Accessories
Leather
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Finding the Right desk-accessories for You
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.
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