French Ormolu Mounted Japanese Lacquer Inkwell, Attributed, Maison Millet

A fine quality late 19th century gilded ormolu inkwell Rococo influenced inkwell, having scrolling foliate decoration to the whole, two lidded inkwells, signed; Millet, Paris Mais...

A fine French Empire ormolu desk standish. Set upon a circular base with top and bottom mouldings cast with leaf and dart decoration. The space be...

Antique bronze inkwell, Ormolu mounted inkstand, France 1890, H303 France 1890 Bronze Bronze ormolu mounted inkstand Pen rest to the sides Bras...

Very stylish patinated bronze desk inkwell modelled as a bust of a Chinese or Japanese figure wearing a straw hat, together with a pair French or...

An Exquisite and Rare French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Bloodstone Inkwell, circa 1875. A truly exceptional and jewel like quality inkwell encrier, made with the finest ormolu, mounted on bloodstone. A true collectors and one of a kind piece. Revival of the ancient régime in the late 19th century was paramount to the French furniture and bronze casting firms of the Belle Epoque. Imitation in the highest regard and replication of those tastes and styles was prevalent throughout the Paris Faubourg, where the most talented bronziers and ébénistes established their workshops. The present inkwell encrier recalls the late 18th century's obsession with hardstones - a taste expounded above all by the duc d'Aumont and, subsequently Marie-Antoinette. Such hardstone-mounted pieces, reminiscent of Renaissance schatzkammer objects, enjoyed a revived popularity at the end of the 18th century through the impetus of both the marchands-mercier and, more importantly, the hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs, where the duc d'Aumont himself established a workshop in 1770 specializing in the cutting and polishing of precious hardstones. This exceptional inkwell encrier, sumptuously-mounted with finely chased gilt-bronzes, incorporates a highly-prized material such as bloodstone. Sometimes called the Sunstone, the meaning of Bloodstone comes entangled in fascinating history. The Ancient Greeks held the Bloodstone as a gem with glorious powers. They referred to it as Heliotrope, which directly translates to Sunstone. It was believed to have heavenly healing powers gifted by the gods and most certainly when it came to healing all things related to the blood. Even as we move forward into the Middle Ages, the Bloodstone takes another mystical story under its wing. It was believed to be formed from Christ's blood. It was said that during the Crucifixion, a few red spots of his blood dripped...

This is a wonderful antique Victorian ormolu and malachite mounted inkwell, circa 1870 in date. The ormolu inkwell has a decorative inset turquoise cabochon gemstone with a chain ...