It’s back-to-school time, a period that reminds us to get our desks organized. The desk, that singular piece of furniture, is the nerve center for all pursuits and activities. At GasLamp, many desks are ready to send any office roaring into action, complete with lamps, bookends, pen sets and more.

An English Secretary Sets the Tone

The desk sets the tone for an office while providing storage and a workspace. Take this antique English secretary crafted from stunning mahogany wood: It is designed with a fitted interior with multiple drawers and letter organizers ($899; GasLamp Too Booth T-132). The drop-down writing flap ensures one can create letters, content or spreadsheets while hiding an office’s flotsam and jetsam when closed. This desk features solid brass hardware of high quality throughout its design and is pictured with a French country oak chair, one of two ($725 for the pair; GasLamp Too Booth T-132).  

Barley Twist Legs Add Beauty to This Workhorse

At GasLamp, shoppers can find a desk that turns a centuries-old design into a modern-day workhorse. This antique English drop-front secretary desk is one example of practicality contained within beauty ($429; GasLamp Too Booth T-912). While keeping papers and mail tidy, the desk also boasts barley-twist legs, a look that originated in England and France in the 1600s.

Historic Style Hits a High Note

Setting some books on a desk is a classic design move. At GasLamp, it’s easy to find bookends to keep tomes tidy, such as these busts of German composer Felix Mendelssohn ($70; GasLamp Too Booth T-2012C). Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was a creator of Romantic music. Perhaps his best-known work is the Wedding March from his score for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. While these bookends will look smart on any desk, they are particularly fitting for a musician or songwriter.

Add The Thinker to Inspire Thought

This miniature Italian sculpture is a rendition of The Thinker, a famous work by Auguste Rodin (1840–1917), who developed it in 1888 ($52; GasLamp Too Booth T-327). Rodin crafted many versions of The Thinker in various sizes and mediums, including plaster and bronze, although, like most of his sculptures, it was originally modeled in clay. The Thinker is the perfect piece to set on one’s desk, inspiring one to think, think, and think some more.

Light the Way with a Banker’s Lamp

Recreating a classic look is made easy by adding a traditional banker’s lamp to one’s workspace ($58; GasLamp Too Booth T-327). Its iconic glass shade, in deep green, remains a timeless decoration that makes this lamp one of the most recognizable light fixtures of all time. The banker’s lamp, invented in the early 1900s, is a must-have when designing an office that exudes bookish charm.

Get Poised for Progress with a Pen Set

This midcentury vintage Parker pen set features dual pens that are in excellent condition ($65; GasLamp Too Booth T-16). Given its age, it’s surprising to see such a pristine set; the black marble stand, detailed with white veins, shows no chips and both pen holders swivel easily. In this digital age, there’s nothing like a pen set on a desk to show you mean business.

An antique desk and an array of desktop items can infuse any room with charm and character. At GasLamp, finding a desk and the right accoutrements to create a vintage-style office fit for the modern workday is easy.

Featured photo by Ray Shrewsberry on Unsplash. Product photos by Rusti Greene.