Novelty Silver Desk Accessory
A novelty silver desk accessory brings wit and function to the writing table, taking the form of animals, figures and everyday objects.
Novelty Silver Desk Accessory
A novelty silver desk accessory turns mundane writing equipment into miniature sculptures, ranging from frogs and foxes to canoes and boots.
The pieces appearing on this page span the Victorian, Edwardian and George V periods, alongside later twentieth-century examples.
Collectors encounter functional items such as inkwells, pin cushions, letter openers, wax seals and stamp cases modelled with playful ingenuity.
Materials and Working Methods
Craftsmen utilised sterling silver and silver plate, frequently combining the metal with organic elements like horn, tortoise shell, glass, velvet, mother-of-pearl and horse hoof.
Techniques involved detailed casting, chasing and taxidermy mounting to render realistic animal forms and textured surfaces like crocodile skin.
Novelty Silver Desk Accessory Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for novelty silver desk accessory among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Desk accessories took the form of hatching chicks, jester wax seals and frogs waiting patiently on the blotter.
Judging Quality and Execution
Quality rests upon the naturalism of the modelling and the crispness of the chased details, particularly in animal and figurative pieces.
Makers who excelled in this field ensured that the functional aspect of a desk accessory operated seamlessly without compromising the sculptural form.
Hermes Paris·Asprey·Crisford and Norris·Sampson Mordan and Co·Braham
The Novelty Silver Desk Accessory Glossary
- Vesta case
- A small pocket or desk box designed for holding matches. These often doubled as novelty shapes or incorporated compact combination tools.
- Pin cushion
- A small stuffed pad, frequently fitted into silver novelty figures such as spiders, birds and animals. Pins were stuck directly into the fabric body.
- Table lighter
- A stationary device used for igniting cigars or pipes at a desk or smoking table. They commonly took whimsical shapes like oil lamps, canoes or hunting horns.
- Pen wipe
- A desk accessory intended for cleaning surplus ink from steel nibs. They typically featured fabric, velvet or brush elements mounted in silver or taxidermy settings.
- Wax seal
- A hand stamp used for impressing a design into melted sealing wax on correspondence. Novelty examples incorporated figural silver handles.
Novelty Silver Desk Accessory: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a novelty silver desk accessory?
A novelty silver desk accessory is a functional item for the writing desk, such as an inkwell, stamp case or letter opener, manufactured in an amusing or unusual shape.
These pieces transformed utilitarian stationery items into decorative conversation pieces shaped like animals, vehicles or symbolic objects.
How were horse hooves used on desks?
Victorian and Edwardian taxidermy incorporated actual horse or pony hooves into desk tidies, inkstands and paperweights.
Silversmiths mounted these hooves with silver shoes, rims and hinged lids to create robust containers for ink or paper.
What periods do these pieces come from?
The pieces available here date predominantly from the late nineteenth century through to the mid-twentieth century.
Victorian, Edwardian and George V examples dominate, reflecting a golden age of whimsical silver design.
How do I care for silver with organic materials?
Items combining silver with horn, tortoiseshell, velvet or taxidermy require gentle handling and stable environmental conditions.
Keep them away from direct sunlight and moisture to protect the delicate organic components from shrinking or splitting.