French Inkwells

Antique inkwell made from bronze, gilded. Very good condition of the bronze work.

The underside of the cherry-blossom decorated palanquin forming the shade over the court figure with phoenix resting on the gilt-bronze mounted carton Pierre panel.

A doré bronze and marble inkwell. It is French in the Empire style. Compartments have their little glass containers for ink and are all original.

Decorate a man's desk or office with this antique dog and bird inkwell. Created in France circa 1870 and attributed to Jules Moiniez, the sculpture composition depicts a setter head ...

Beautiful brass inkwell, which shows a antique shoe. France, around 1910.

Rectangular with two cut glass inkwells and pen tray over a drawer. The sides rounded. The inspiration for the decoration from designs by the master cabinet maker Andre Charles Boull...

Antique inkwell made from bronze, gilded. On the base is depicted a hunting scene with hunting hounds in the woods. Very good condition of the bronze work.

French Victorian bronze square inkwell with 2 cornucopia pen holders.  

Iznik-style ceramic and brass-mounted ink stand French, 19th Century Height 10.5cm, width 34cm, depth 19cm Revealing a vase and flowers contained in a border of repeating pattern-work, with two lidded inkwells flanking a central holder, this remarkable desk-piece is a very fine Iznik style inkstand, made in France in the late nineteenth century. Stylistically, it draws upon earlier Islamic...

A Rare Art Nouveau French Ormolu and crystal inkwell Encrier by Baccarat, circa 1900, the ormolu possibly by Francois Linke. Depicting a reclined winged maiden...

French Art Nouveau bronze floral design inkwell with handles and iridescent glass well.       

Inkwell in red Griotte marble and gilt bronze representing an allegory of writing by Henri Chapu (1833-1891). This old 19th century inkstand is ...

19th C. Antique writing stand desk Office Inkwell Center Piece Chinese Porcelain . This beautiful garniture on a desk a table or a console will a...

Art Deco desk set with ink wells & calendar. Modernist design with glass base and streamlined metal with black vitrolite glass tops for the ink wells...

Crafted of brilliant doré bronze and fine brocatelle marble, this wonderful Napoleon III-period inkwell is as functional as it is beautiful. In a style reminiscent of Louis XV Rococo...

A Verona red marble remarkable inkwell, pure Empire style representing a gilded bronze of the bust of Antinous as Dioniso. Empire style, Generous size, excellent state of preservatio...

The black inkstand with a molded lion decoration with a shell pen tray. The two glass inkwells on either end.

Antique French Cloisonné Enamel & Gold Bronze 7 Piece Inkwell Desk Set, Circa 1890. Includes: Inkwell, Pen Holder, Drip Box (with pencil sharpener an...

Marcel Bing was the fourth child of Sigfried/Samuel Bing (1838-1905), the great collector of Japanese art and founder of the gallery L'Art Nouveau Bing located at 22 rue de Provence in Paris. Marcel trained as a jeweler, creating jewelry and vase mounts for the gallery and took over its management upon his father's death in 1905. Bibliography: - L’art appliqué revue internationale, le style moderne...

This is a small bronze champleve enamel set of an inkwell and letter opener. Both of them depicts colorful hand painted flowers, “C” scrolls and foliages. The resting plate of the in...

Exquisite Bizantine French 19th century Empire Napoleon III gilded bronze inkwell. This handcrafted antique desk accessory bears the makers mar...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely antique French Baroque Repoussé gilt brass Cherub ink well letter holder stand A very decorativ...

This is a 19th century French gilt bronze inkwell. Perfect coffee table art or desk statement piece. It is in very good condition and unmarked.

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

Rare and beautiful gilt bronze ink stand with candlestick. French empire, probably made in Paris around 1810. The gilt bronze with some patina. Wear consistent with age and use.

This large Bois Durci ink stand features an intricately moulded base, upon which sit two glass inkwells and a central urn shaped container. The glass inkwel...

We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Orig...

A very rare and important exhibition encrier by François Linke and Léon Messagé. French, circa 1900. Index number 709. Signed to the edge 'F. Linke'. This exceptional and ambitious encrier is modelled as two putti, each holding a standard and sitting on the water's edge, the two inkwells with hinged spirally-fluted covers with glass liners. This important inkwell is based on Léon Messagé's celebrated sculptural group 'La Source' and was originally intended by Linke to form part of his spectacular Stand at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Like seven or eight other pieces originally intended for inclusion on the Stand, it would seem the encrier was a casualty of both Linke's over-ambitious production schedule and the financial burden that the manufacture of such ornate and high quality work imposed. It was eventually shown on the Stand in September after the gilding was finished by Picard at a cost of 90 French francs. The costs of the model were very high: some 2024 francs (of which Message's combined fee was 1158 francs 40 centimes), underlining the originality and complexity. The 1900 Exposition example was sold, along with three important pieces of furniture from the Stand (the Grand bureau and associated armchair, and the Bahut Louis XV Mars et Vénus), to the South African banker and diamond merchant Solomon Joel. A further six encriers were produced up until 1925. Object Literature: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Époque of French Furniture, p. 90, pl. 97; p. 149, pl. 157; p. 150; pp. 182-183, pls 197 & 198 as exhibited at the Liege exhibition in 1905 & p. 480 for the original notes in Linke's Blue daybook of the late 1890s. François Linke (1855 - 1946) was the most important Parisian cabinet maker of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and possibly the most sought after cabinet maker of his period. He was born in 1855 in the small village of Pankraz, in what is now the Czech Republic. Records show that Linke served an apprenticeship with the master cabinetmaker Neumann, then in 1875 at the age of 20 he arrived in Paris where he lived until he died in 1946. It is known that the fledgling Linke workshops were active in Paris in the Faubourg St. Antoine as early as 1881, and during this time he supplied furniture for other more established makers such as Jansen and Krieger. The quality of Linke's craftsmanship was unsurpassed by any of his contemporaries and reached its peak with his spectacular Stand at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, where his Grand Bureau took the Gold Medal. He gambled his fortune and reputation on this Stand, exhibiting several breathtaking items of furniture with sculptural mounts of the most exceptional quality and proportion. His gamble worked and his reputation was established to such an extent that Linke continued to be the pre-eminent furniture house in Paris until the Second World War. As the Art Journal reported in 1900 on Linke's Stand: 'The work of M. Linke ... was an example of what can be done by seeking inspiration amongst the Classic examples of Louis XV and XVI without in any great sense copying these great works. M. Linke's work was original in the true sense of the word, and as such commended itself to the intelligent seeker after the really artistic things of the Exhibition. Wonderful talent was employed in producing the magnificent pieces of furniture displayed....' The formation of Linke's distinctive style was made possible by his collaboration with the sculptor Léon Messagé. Together Linke and Messagé designed furniture for Linke's 1900 exhibition Stand, with exuberant allegorical figures cast in high relief, that exemplified Linke's ability to seamlessly merge the different mediums of wood carving, bronze and marquetry into a dynamic unified whole. Today Linke is best known for the exceptionally high quality of his work, as well as his individualism and inventiveness. All of his work has the finest, most lavish mounts, very often applied to comparatively simple carcasses. The technical brilliance of his work and the artistic change that it represented were never to be repeated. Bibliography: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, (1855 - 1946), The Belle Époque of French Furniture, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2003. Meyer, Jonathan. Great Exhibitions - London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, 1851-1900, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2006; pp. 298 - 300. LeDoux - Lebard, Denise. Les Ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Les Editions de l'Amateur, (Paris), 1984; pp. 439-43. Revue Artistique & Industrielle, (Paris), July-August 1900. Coral Thomsen, D. (ed), The Paris Exhibition 1900, The Art Journal, 1901; p.341. Léon Messagé (1842-1901) had a brilliant, but short lived career. He is best known for his incredible sculptural collaboration with François Linke for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A gifted sculptor, Messagé was also responsible for much of the design and creative work for Roux et Brunet and Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. Messagé enjoyed great success as a designer/sculptor before his collaboration with Linke. Indeed he was mentioned as a Gold Medal winner at the 1889 International Exhibition and was especially praised for his work on a cabinet by Zwiener. He came into contact with Linke in 1885 and it appears from then on Linke employed him on a regular basis. Messagé was primarily influenced by Rococo ornament but he strove to re-interpret it. He did not produce slavish copies, and his original approach can be appreciated in Linke's celebrated Grande Bibliothèque and Grand Bureau exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A number of drawings by Messagé are recorded and after his success at the exhibition of 1889 he was encouraged to publish his designs. 'Cahier...

Glass inkwell with silver art nouveau iris flowers. France 1900 ca.

Beautiful 19th century French porcelain inkwell from the imperial manufacture of Sevres. Green and gold decor with dolphin's head. Stamped Sevres at the back. Rare item.

French inkwell in gilt bronze. Classical lady after the antique to the lid. She lying back against a rock with sandals and long robes and her arm over her head. To the inkwell front is an applied gilt bronze mount of palm fronds. The base has a fine decorative moulding...

Palais Royal mother of pearl and ormolu inkwell depicting Cupid. Set upon a fine ormolu base with four ormolu feet, with the very finely e...

Antique double inkstand, linage blue and gilt, France 1900, H565 France 1900 Porcelain Floral decoration to the back Pair of porcelain inkwells with lids Pen rest Stamp holder to th...

A beautiful, small, European Art Deco brass and black glass desk letter holder, circa 1930s, Europe, possibly France. A great piece for any desk, libr...

A Rare and Marvelous Signed Baccarat Crystal Nautical Inkwell with a Dore Bronze Maiden and Patinated and Dore Bronze Ink Pots. The body is made up of...

An attractive and unusual patinated bronze inkwell of a child feeding his dog which is chained to its kennel. The top of the kennel lifts off to reveal the porcelain inkwell within. The child in 19th...

19th century French Crystal and Bronze Mounumental Inkwell. Signed. Escalier de Cristal Paris.

French Victorian bronze inkwell of standing pheasant with roll blotter. (priced as set).  

This is a mid-19th century French gilt bronze neo-classical style ram form inkwell. It has dual rams to possibly hold the writing instrument.

Exceptional Antique French green marble and gold bronze 4 piece inkwell desk set, circa 1875-1885. Includes: Inkwell: 11W x 8L x 4.75H Paperweight (Left): 3W x 5.25L x 3.5H Rolli...

Antique bronze inkwell in the shape of a bear's head with glass eyes. The sculpture is mounted on a red marble base and has a glass container. ...

Antique French bronze D'Ore and cut crystal inkwell desk set on stand, Circa 1900. Includes inkwell, pen holder, pen nib brush and drip box.

French Victorian bronze inkwell of standing pheasant with roll blotter. (priced as set).   

A beautiful and exceptionally high quality French early 19th century Louis XV st. Sèvres Porcelain and ormolu inkwell, signed Sèvres. The inkwell is raised by striking pierced scrolled foliate ormolu movements in a most decorative satin and burnished finished. At the center is the finely detailed Sèvres Porcelain tray...

Antique French Gold Bronze and Green Marble Inkwell Signed "A. Marionnet," Circa 1890.

French Victorian rectangular double glass inkwell with incised monogrammed sterling silver hinged lids. (Hallmarked).        

An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and crystal inkwell. The inkwell is raised by a fine circular ormolu base with a lovely reeded and richly chased palmette design. Above the fine mottled base is the beautiful crystal bowl with a lovely spiral fluted design. The top rim displays a superb and richly chased wrap around band with charming flowers. Above are the three removable lidded vessels, two for ink, one for pounce, each set within a pierced tray...

A charming and most elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres Porcelain and ormolu inkwell, stamped, P.C.G. The inkwell is raised by Fine fluted bun shaped feet below the beau...

An elegant and charming French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and Vert de Patricia marble inkwell. The inkwell is raised by Fine topie shaped feet below the elegantly shaped wrap ...

Well what can I say about this incredible Inkwell, I have seen many examples from this period that depict monkeys tormenting cats but I have never seen one that is quite this extreme...

A striking French 19th century Louis XVI st. Alabastro marble and ormolu inkwell. The inkwell is raised by elegant topie shaped ormolu feet below the beautiful Alabastro marble suppo...

This exquisite inkwell exhibits the mastery of Baccarat's workmanship. The molded crystal body is decorated in one of their more rare Classic patterns Moulure Russe with concentric swirling spirals...

A beautiful late 19th century gilt and patina bronze inkwell Depicting a bronze sleeping cherub lying on a gilt bronze settee, opening up to two ink holders.

This is a luxurious combination of colors in the form of a French champleve inkstand, with a square crystal inkwell with a champleve top. 19th century.

An exquisite French 19th century Empire st. oval ormolu inkwell. The inkwell is raised by pawed feet below a lattice design with rosettes in the center. Above are two ink dispensers ...

Hand-carved from walnut in France, circa 1880, this unusual inkwell features foliate and floral motifs. A flip-top lid adorned with a pair of bas relief flowers tops the central pen ...

Impressive gilt bronze and Verde Antico marble inkstand centered by a bust of Napoleon I, the sculpture signed on back Basil and dated 1830, with two inkwells flanking. Beautifully...

French Art Nouveau desk table lamp by Charles Schneider (Epinay-sur-Seine, Paris), France, C.1920 on stylised bronze base. The base also with concealed opening for an inkwell. The glass shade was made of blown double glass. Measures approximately 14.00 x 8.00 x 6.00 inches. Lamp shade, white, orange, and amber yellow. Signed Schneider on the shade (difficult to photograph see photos), also with signed base for probably the foundry. The Schneider Glassworks, established by brothers Charles and Ernest Schneider in Epinay-sur-Seine, France, in 1917. Very small chip to top shade fitting, see last photograph. The Schneider Glassworks, established by brothers Charles and Ernest Schneider in Epinay-sur-Seine, France, in 1917, was among the leading producers of fine-art glass between the two world wars, creating exuberantly colorful vessels...