French Victorian Bronze Beethoven Letter Opener
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian bronze letter opener with bust of Beethoven.
19th Century French Victorian Victorian Antique Letter Opener
Bronze
French Victorian Bronze Beethoven Letter Opener
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian bronze letter opener with bust of Beethoven.
Bronze
English Victorian Period 19th Century Wood or Horn Letter Opener
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Victorian period letter opener from the 19th century, made of wood or horn.
Horn, Wood
Victorian Sterling Silver and Turquoise Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Martin & Hall
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Period, sterling silver and turquoise blue guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1866, R.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Belle Époque Victorian Style Gold Pierced Brass Desk Letter Opener
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Belle Époque Victorian Style Gold Pierced Brass Desk Letter Opener Continental Brass c. 1900 Dimensions: Length 20.5cm This charming letter opener was crafted at the ...
Brass
Pair of Late Victorian English Bone Letter Openers with Sterling Silver Handles
Located in North Miami, FL
Pair of Late Victorian english bone letter openers/bone folders with sterling silver horse and dog/wolf handles By: unknown Material: bone, silver, metal, sterling silver Technique:...
Metal, Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Brass Letter Opener with Celtic Cifer - Symbolism
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Unusual paper knife in solid brass. Its top depicts a Celtic cifer with symbolism of both love and power. It was made in Europe during the 19th century. It has indistinguishable mark...
Brass
$234Sale Price|46% Off
Antique Italian Brass Letter Opener With Pewter Dog Handle
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Dagger style letter opener featuring leaf-shaped blade and a handmade pewter handle depicting a hunt dog. It was made in Italy in the mid-late 19 th century by an unknown jeweler or ...
Brass, Pewter
English Victorian Mahogany Letter Holder
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian mahogany letter holder with tiered slotted dividers and brass handles on each side.
Brass
$1,048Sale Price|25% Off
THAILAND 1900 Antique Large Desk Letter Opener With Intricate Carved Elephant
Located in Miami, FL
An antique desk letter opener made in Thailand. This is an exceptional antique letter opener created for exportation in Thailand, back in the 1900. The sculptural letter opener has ...
Bone
Magnifying Glass Seashell Handle Victorian
Located in New York, NY
A metal magnifying glass with seashell handle, circa early to mid-20th century. Piece has a metal frame with what appears to be a 'Richer's amalda' seashell, a rare deepwater species...
Metal
Victorian Owl Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Owl Letter Opener crafted of 800 grade silver with celluloid and glass eyes.
Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver Letter Openers by William Eaton, 1843
By William Eaton
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, large pair of antique Victorian English sterling silver letter openers/meat skewers; an addition to our Victorian silverware collection.
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mary Chawner Victorian Sterling Silver Meat Skewer / Letter Opener
By Mary Chawner
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This large antique Victorian sterling silver meat skewer/letter opener has a tapered form.
Silver, Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Combination Fruit Knife / Letter Opener
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
This exceptional antique Victorian sterling silver combination fruit knife/letter opener has an elongated oval form.
Sterling Silver
Antique Victorian Writing Set Sardonyx Banded Agate Pencil Ruler Letter Opener
Located in Munich, Bavaria
The pencil lead holder and revolving mechanism are made out of base metall. The letter opener is a fine, very thinn slice of agate, no thicker than 2 mm.
Agate
Elaborate 19th Century French Silver Lapis Letter Opener
Located in Riverdale, NY
Elaborate 19th Century Sterling Silver Gothic Revivial Lapis Lazuli and Garnet Letter Opener. French in origin set with large lapis lazuli and garnet cabochons in elaborate silver Re...
Garnet, Lapis Lazuli, Silver, Sterling Silver
$455Sale Price|30% Off
English Antique Ink Eraser/Letter Opener with Sterling Handle
Located in Sheffield, MA
Although the purpose was once for "erasing" ink, this antique English piece can very well be used as a letter opener. It probably did serve a dual purpose way back when. The eraser...
Sterling Silver, Steel
Unavailable
H 3.2 in W 9.9 in D 2.4 in
Important Russian silver paper knife, Edward VII as a child, English royalty
Located in Tel Aviv - Jaffa, IL
Rare and extremely important Russian silver paper knife, it was probably made as a presentation gift to someone in the royal family, either the British or the Russian, the knife was ...
Silver
Late 19th Century Regency Style "Greyhound" Letter Opener
By Madel & Son
Located in San Francisco, CA
Think 19th century when people actually received posted mail, a gentleman was sure to have a "letter opener" on hand. This would be the perfect piece - an exquisite "Greyhound head" ...
Bakelite, Polystyrene
Sold
H 1.25 in W 10 in D 0.75 in
Exquisite Antique Victorian Cobra Letter Opener with Emerald Eyes and Horn Blade
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite Victorian letter opener is hand-wrought brass. lt has cabochon emerald eyes and an amber colored Horn blade.
Bone Knife Victorian Sterling Silver Letter Opener, England
Located in Sofia, BG
Amazing 19th century letter opener sterling silver handle and bone blade. Birmingham, England, circa 1897 The terms paper knife and letter opener are often used interchangeably ...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 1 in W 9.25 in D 1 in
Antique English Figural Bronze Letter Opener / Paper Knife, Greyhound circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A very handsome and unusual letter opener / paper knife cast from solid bronze.
Bronze
Sold
H 1 in W 9.75 in D 2 in
Antique Russian Imperial Romanov Silver Gilt Letter Opener Czar Nicholas II 1870
By Imperial Russia
Located in Portland, OR
A very rare & important antique Russian Imperial silver gilt & Mother-Of-Pearl letter opener, which belonged to Czar Nicholas II and was taken from the Winter Palace during the 1917 ...
Silver
Sold
H 1.38 in W 1.58 in D 9.45 in
Late 19th Century Silver Gilt and Horn Letter Opener in the Form of a Lizard
Located in London, GB
A wonderful quality Austro Hungarian letter opener in the form of a lizard - the realistically modelled lizard has inset glass eyes, the quality is superb and gives the lizard a very...
Bronze
Antique Victorian Silver & Leather Hip Flask – Birmingham 1890/91
Located in Worcester, GB
Antique Victorian Silver & Leather Hip Flask – Birmingham 1890/91 A fine Victorian silver-mounted hip flask, hallmarked for Birmingham, 1890 (cup) and 1891 (lid), by Colen Hewer Che...
Sterling Silver
Rare Antique Sampson Mordan Silver Owl Paper Knife
Located in Bath, GB
A magnificent and rare piece of Sampson Mordan solid / sterling silver in the form of a paperknife with a novelty handle in the form of an owl with two fabulous original glass eyes. ...
Sterling Silver
Victorian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel letter opener, Sheffield, England, year hallmarked for 1888, W.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Large Victorian French 18 Karat Gold Silver Diamond Letter Opener Objet D Art
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Letter opener is designed as a sword with an elongated blade Hilt is ornate with a spiraling yellow gold twisted rope motif Set throughout with rose cut and old mine cut diamonds -...
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver
Sold
H 0.5 in W 9.75 in D 1 in
Large Victorian Sterling Silver and Light Green Guilloche Enamel-Letter Opener
By Gibson & Langman
Located in New York, NY
Large, Victorian, all sterling silver and light green guilloche enamel letter opener, Sheffield, England, year hallmarked for 1889, William Gibson and John Lawrence Langman (Gibson a...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.25 in W 7 in D 1 in
Victorian Sterling Silver, Scottish Agate-Mounted Mother-of-Pearl Letter Opener
By Adie & Lovekin
Located in New York, NY
Rare, beautiful, Victorian, sterling silver and Scottish agate-mounted letter opener, Birmingham, England, 1895, Adie and Lovekin - makers.
Agate, Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.25 in W 8 in D 0.75 in
Victorian Sterling Silver-Mounted Mother of Pearl and Chalcedony Letter Opener
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver (unmarked but tested) - mounted mother of pearl and chalcedony letter opener/paper knife, England, circa 1890s.
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8.5 in D 1.75 in
Victorian Sterling Silver-Mounted Dark Gray Agate Letter Opener-Mappin and Webb
By Mappin & Webb
Located in New York, NY
Victorian Period, sterling silver-mounted dark gray agate letter opener/paper knife, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1900, Mappin and Webb - makers.
Agate, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Unusual Sword Shaped Letter Openers Collection
Located in London, GB
Early 20th Century Unusual Sword Shaped Letter Openers Collection We have never seen the like of these unusual and exceptionally well-made mutton bone handle, folk art metal sword sh...
Metal
Sold
H 0.79 in W 15.35 in D 1.42 in
DEAKIN & FRANCIS 1888 Victorian Ivory Letter Opener In .925 Sterling Silver
By Deakin & Francis
Located in Miami, FL
Victorian letter opener designed by Deakin & Francis.
Silver, Sterling Silver
English Victorian Brass Letter Opener
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian brass letter opener with feather and leaf design handle.
Brass
Victorian Boxwood 'Scissors' Letter Opener
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Delicately carved letter opener. Polished and finished boxwood. Measures: 10 inches long. Unsigned. Bearing a certain aura of magic.
Boxwood, Wood
Victorian Brass Feather & Bird Claw Letter Opener & Desk Seal
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A superb quality brass bird claw and feather shaped letter opener and desk seal dating from the 19th century. This heavily and well-made desk accessory is modeled as a bird claw hand...
Brass
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8.5 in D 1.25 in
Victorian Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener Paper Knife
By Joseph Gloster
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel letter opener paper knife, Birmingham, England, 1857, Joseph Gloster maker.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.6 in W 1.25 in D 7.5 in
Antique Victorian 'Italian Ruins Lizard' Horn Brass Letter Opener, 19th Century
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Decorative brass and tortoiseshell colored horn 'Italian Ruins Lizard' letter opener. Quite possibly Austrian Although this piece has issues, it is utterly endearing and collectibl...
Bone
Scandinavian Sterling Silver Repousse Letter Opener
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique Scandinavian sterling silver letter opener, dated 1825. Signed by R. Elvesæter. Substantial and heavy, this Norwegian folk-art inspired letter opener features an ornate l...
Sterling Silver
19th Century Bronze Letter Openers, circa 1870-1890s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Two bronze letter openers may be sold separately. Large bronze letter opener depicting a boy with a goat. Measures: 9.75" x 2" $400 Figure of a man bronze letter opener. ...
Bronze
Large Antique Dagger Shaped Letter Opener with King Handle
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Very old solid brass paper knife with motifs of crowned kings to each side of the handle. We suspect it dates to around 1800 or possibly even earlier. Worn delicately to all its corn...
Brass
Antique English Novelty Letter Opener, Duck with Glass Eyes, circa 1900
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous desk accessory, made from brass with the handle silvered and cast in the form of a Duck's head sporting two lovely glass eyes. An unusual gem dating to circa 1900, late...
Silver Plate, Brass
Sold
H 4.73 in W 9.65 in D 5.12 in
Antique Reception Desk Letter Set, English, Walnut, Magnifying Glass, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique reception desk letter set. An English, walnut and oak magnifying glass and letter opener on a stand, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900.
Oak, Walnut
Sold
H 0.063 in W 13 in D 1.25 in
English Victorian Late 19th Century Papier Mâché Page Turner with World Maps
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English late Victorian period papier mâché page turner from the late 19th century, with world maps and Eastern Telegraph Company Limited logo. Born in England during the later yea...
Other
Sold
H 2.76 in W 9.85 in D 2.37 in
Victorian, Castellani, Brass Paper Knife, Onyx Decoration, Lux Desk Accessories
By Castellani
Located in Glasgow, GB
Immerse yourself in the divinity of this late 19th-century Italian letter opener, attributed to the masterful Michelangelo Caetani for Castellani, Italy. Crafted with meticulous arti...
Onyx, Brass
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Letter Opener
Located in NEWARK, GB
An exceptionally fine, antique, early Victorian era sterling silver letter opener. This particular example is beautifully decorated with all over engraving of flora, a stylised hilt...
Sterling Silver
Rare 19th Century Victorian Antler Monkey Head Letter Opener
Located in Haarlem, NL
Whimsical antique carved Horn monkey head letter opener with original glass eyes. Very exquisitely detailed carvings like the hairs on its head, creases around the eyes, nostrils and...
Antler
Victorian Sterling Silver and Mother-of-Pearl Letter Opener
By Joseph Gloster
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and mother-of-pearl letter opener, Birmingham, England, year-hallmarked for 1862, Joseph Gloster - maker.
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.5 in W 10.13 in D 1 in
Victorian Sterling Silver and Mint Green Guiloche Enamel Letter Opener
By Joseph Gloster
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and mint green guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, Birmingham, England, 1857, Joseph Gloster - maker.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Bovine Bone Fox Head Letter Opener
Located in NEWARK, GB
An exceptionally fine, rare antique, Victorian sterling silver and bovine bone letter opener.
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 1.97 in W 8.67 in D 1.97 in
Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Novelty 'Sword' Letter Opener by Walker & Hall
By Walker & Hall
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Sheffield in 1901 by Walker & Hall, this handsome, antique, sterling silver letter opener, is modelled to resemble a sword. The letter opener measures 8"(20.5cm) in len...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8.75 in D 1.25 in
Victorian Sterling Silver and Blue Enamel, Mounted Letter Opener / Paper Knife
By Henry Harrison
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel - mounted letter / opener paper knife, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 1889, Henry Harrison - maker.
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Sold
H 0.25 in W 8 in D 1.5 in
Victorian Sterling Silver-Mounted Mother of Pearl Letter Opener/Paper Knife
By William Warr
Located in New York, NY
Victorian, sterling silver-mounted mother of pearl letter opener, Birmingham, England, William Warr - maker.
Sterling Silver
19th Century Victorian Brass Paper Knife
Located in Umberleigh, Devon
A Victorian polished brass paper knife, the handle is probably a depiction of Samson. Good quality casting, ideal for home or office, circa 1880. Total weight: 192g.
Brass
Sold
H 0.01 in W 0.01 in D 0.01 in
Victorian Silver Officers Dress Swords Desk Clip Propelling Pencil Letter Opener
Located in Sittingbourne, Kent
One sword is a propelling pencil and the other is a paper knife or letter opener. By Sampson Mordan & Co, London, 1894 Measures: Base 190 mm x 127 mm x 75 mm In good conditi...
Silver
Sold
H 6.34 in W 1.15 in D 1.03 in
Victorian Silver Basket-Hilted Broad Sword Letter Opener, E.H. Stockwell, 1873
By Edward H. Stockwell
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Victorian Sterling Silver replica Scottish Basket-hilted broad sword letter opener with scabbard and short chain.
Sterling Silver
Victorian Letter Opener with Pansy Enameled Decoration
Located in Hudson, NY
Victorian tortoiseshell letter opener with raised enameled pansy decoration in cobalt blue, tortoise and gilded center with red decorations.
Tortoise Shell
Large Wooden Paper Knife with Violin Scroll End
Located in East Geelong, VIC
This beautifully made wooden paper knife features as the handle, a violin scroll end and peg box. Joined to this is the long blade which is probably walnut, or possibly olive wood. W...
Walnut
Victorian Shakudo Carnelian Letter Opener
Located in Narberth, PA
An exquisite Shakudo letter opener from the Victorian (ca1880) era! This beautiful and very unusual piece has a carnelian blade and a wonderfully ornate handle made of bronze.
Carnelian, Sterling Silver, Yellow Gold
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.