19th Century Inkwells

Gorgeous most rare Swiss Black Forest 19th century Inkwell / desk accessory fully hand carved displaying a dog wearing a hat and monocle Detailed carving by a master carver. Comes w...

Beautiful Porcelain Inkwell from France, 1880s. Wonderfully hand-painted with brass lid.

A Black Forest carved box Constructed from stained and patinated Lindenwood, the lockable box carved to resemble a tied sheaf with its accom...

A good quality bronzed mounted French porcelain inkwell with Chinoiserie floral painted designs possibly made by Samson of Paris in the second half of the 19th century. The inkwell i...

Stunning French “Grand Tour” Filigree mounted ormolu & silver-plated bronze desk inkwell Encrier of exhibition quality, early Nineteenth Century, possibly Regency period. Complete with its original heavy gauge hand cut crystal ink jar and decorative ormolu and silver hinged cover. This exquisite desk piece of circular form with oval vignettes depicting neoclassical cherub group scenes on a lavish cast ormolu filigree...

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...

19th century English brass resting dog double inkwell, the wells opening to the left and the right.

Emerald green glass mounted inkwell with ormolu frieze of laurels, demigods and an eagle (lid). minor wear, interior ink reservoir chipped. Minor wear to gilding. Good overall cond...

French late 19th century cut crystal and ormolu inkwell.