Vintage 1970s Sculptural Brass Tape Dispenser Modernist MCM Executive Desk for Sale

Vintage 1970s Sculptural Brass Tape Dispenser Modernist MCM Executive Desk For Sale

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Vintage 1970s Sculptural Brass Tape Dispenser Modernist MCM Executive Desk:
$149.95

Somebody in the 1970s apparently decided that even Scotch tape deserved great architecture. This incredibly heavy vintage brass tape dispenser turns one of the most ordinary objects on a desk into a piece of modernist sculpture—with a long sweeping profile, dramatically curved center and sharply rising ends.Please note! All of my items are priced to sell specifically to an customer. Listings for high-quality vintage 1920s–1970s, mid-century decor and barware are often heavily marked up on Chairish and 1stDibs—sometimes 2–3x. I LOVE sourcing and collecting and have handpicked every item for its uniqueness, rarity or visual impact. I price them here on to share these things with other people like me who appreciate them. I simply try to make back what I spent, plus the time that goes into sourcing, cleaning, packing, etc. So please enjoy and shop!!This substantial sculptural brass desk tape dispenser is a wonderful example of 1970s modernist executive-office design, when even practical desktop accessories could be made with serious materials and architectural form.Comparable examples of this distinctive type are currently identified by specialist vintage-design dealers as American, 1970s modernist brass tape dispensers, including examples measuring approximately 7–8 inches long. The silhouette is fantastic from either side: a broad oval footprint rises into two asymmetrical ends surrounding a deep sweeping recess for the tape roll. One end incorporates the original serrated cutting edge. Its low, elongated proportions and sheer weight give it the presence of a small abstract sculpture even without tape installed.Turn it over and the construction becomes equally interesting. The underside reveals a heavy brass structure with a perforated internal plate featuring numerous circular openings of varying sizes. I’ve left the underside completely exposed in the photographs because the construction is part of what makes this piece interesting.Measures approximately 6.5” long × 2” wide.No visible maker’s mark found, so I am intentionally leaving the designer/manufacturer unattributed. Based on close documented dealer examples, 1970s American modernist is the best current identification, but I am not assigning it to a specific designer without a mark or stronger documentation.The brass retains its natural aged patina, with oxidation, spotting, scratches, discoloration and other surface wear from decades of use. I have intentionally not polished it. A future owner can always polish brass to a brighter finish, but you can’t put 50 years of natural patina back once it’s gone.Functional desk accessory, paperweight and sculpture all at once—and honestly, it may be the most unnecessarily handsome tape dispenser I’ve come across. Related Items: