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Antique Inkstands

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Dolphin Inkstand
Located in Cheshire, GB
Ram Horn and silver plate dolphin inkwell, bearing a pair of ram’s horns, mounted with plated dolphin mounts, the tail suspending a bell, the beater for which is on mounts to the fro...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Inkstands

Materials

Oak

Antique Dolphin Inkstand
Dolphin Inkstand
H 13.5 in W 17 in D 14 in
English Tunbridgeware Inkstand
Located in Stamford, CT
Beautiful English Tunbridgeware inkstand rosewood desk accessory. Very detailed inlays all around
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Wood

Antique English Tunbridgeware Inkstand
English Tunbridgeware Inkstand
H 3 in W 10.25 in D 6.75 in
Antique Sterling Silver Inkstand
By Joseph Rodgers & Sons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver inkstand; an addition
Category

1910s British Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Sterling Silver Inkstand
Antique Sterling Silver Inkstand
H 3.6 in W 10.9 in D 6.1 in
William IV silver inkstand
By William Ker Reid
Located in London, GB
Antique silver inkstand of impressive proportions, made at the end of King William IV's reign. The
Category

19th Century British William IV Antique Inkstands

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Antique William IV silver inkstand
William IV silver inkstand
H 8.86 in W 16.15 in D 12.41 in
Italian Empire Silver Inkstand
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire Silver Inkstand. Roman sterling silver inkstand of sober neoclassical form
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

19th Century Dolphin Inkstand
Located in Cheshire, GB
Ram horn and silver plate dolphin inkwell, bearing a pair of ram’s horns, mounted with plated dolphin mounts, the tail suspending a bell, the beater for which is on mounts to the fro...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Inkstands

Materials

Oak

Antique 19th Century Dolphin Inkstand
19th Century Dolphin Inkstand
H 16.5 in W 18 in D 14 in
Napoleon III Boulle Inkstand
Located in Essex, MA
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...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Inkstands

Materials

Brass

Antique Napoleon III Boulle Inkstand
Napoleon III Boulle Inkstand
H 8.75 in W 16.5 in D 10 in
Inkstand of Neopolitan Fisherman
Located in London, GB
A good Italian Grand Tour model of a Neopolitan fisherman at his work. In ormolu and patinated bronze the oval base is naturalistically decorated with rocks and seaweed which the fis...
Category

1860s Italian Grand Tour Antique Inkstands

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Inkstand of Neopolitan Fisherman
Inkstand of Neopolitan Fisherman
H 5 in W 6 in D 3.5 in
Stunning antique continental porcelain inkstand
Located in Ipswich, GB
Stunning antique continental porcelain inkstand having a stunning quality continental inkstand
Category

Early 20th Century Antique Inkstands

Materials

Porcelain

Stunning Antique continental porcelain inkstand
Stunning antique continental porcelain inkstand
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H 4.14 in W 7.29 in D 1.38 in
Italian Majolica Palissy-Type Inkstand
Located in Dallas, TX
Italian majolica Palissy type pottery inkstand in the form of a leaf with fruit, burds and lizard
Category

19th Century Italian Minimalist Antique Inkstands

Materials

Majolica

Italian Majolica Palissy-Type Inkstand
Italian Majolica Palissy-Type Inkstand
H 8 in W 8.5 in D 1,075 in
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand
By Charles Thomas Fox & George Fox
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
of the sterling silver inkstand is ornamented with a paralleling cast and applied decorated border
Category

1840s British Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand
H 2.3 in W 10.9 in D 11.4 in
19th Century French Champleve Inkstand
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a luxurious combination of colors in the form of a French champleve inkstand, with a square
Category

19th Century French Other Antique Inkstands

Materials

Metal

Antique English Papier Mâché Inkstand
Located in Port Chester, NY
Antique black papier mâché inkstand ornately hand-painted, with original inkwells, little lidded
Category

19th Century English Antique Inkstands

Early Villeroy & Boch Stoneware Inkstand
By Villeroy & Boch
Located in Forney, TX
naturalistic grapevines, reminiscent of chamberstick form, the parcel gilt inkstand has three inserts
Category

19th Century German Antique Inkstands

Materials

Pottery

Early Villeroy & Boch Stoneware Inkstand
Early Villeroy & Boch Stoneware Inkstand
H 2.75 in W 10.75 in D 9 in
Wedgwood Decorated Black Basalt Inkstand
By Wedgwood
Located in New Orleans, LA
This enchanting antique Wedgwood black basalt inkwell is crafted in the form of an ancient oil lamp. With a removable well and holes for storing pens and quills, it is decorated with...
Category

19th Century English Other Antique Inkstands

Materials

Porcelain

Wedgwood & Bentley Black Basalt Inkstand
By Wedgwood & Bentley
Located in New Orleans, LA
This elegant inkwell set by Wedgwood & Bentley is crafted of black basalt, one of Wedgwood’s finest inventions. The set is comprised of two canisters, both held within an intriguing ...
Category

18th Century English Other Antique Inkstands

Materials

Ceramic

Antique English Sterling Silver Victorian Inkstand
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English sterling silver Victorian inkstand.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Gilt Bronze and Champleve Enamelled Inkstand
Located in Cheshire, GB
19th Century gilt bronze and champlevé enameled inkstand with single well with hinge cover and pen
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Inkstands

Materials

Bronze

Unusual English Crab-Shaped Brass Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Unusual English crab-shaped brass inkstand English, late 19th century Measures: Height 8cm, width
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Brass

Unusual English Crab-Shaped Brass Inkstand
Unusual English Crab-Shaped Brass Inkstand
H 3.15 in W 7.09 in D 6.7 in
Antique English Officers Horse Hoof Inkstand
Located in Forney, TX
variety of collectors, including military folk art - historical militaria, taxidermy, inkstand, Victorian
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate, Iron

20th Century Sterling Silver Galleried Double Inkstand
By Robert Frederick Fox
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
inkstand; an addition to our ornamental office silverware collection This exceptional, fine and
Category

1910s English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Thomas Wheatley Antique Newcastle Sterling Silver Inkstand
By Thomas Wheatley
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique George IV Newcastle sterling silver inkstand made
Category

1820s English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver

18th Century Antique Sterling Silver Ladies Inkstand
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique George III sterling silver and glass ladies inkstand; an
Category

1780s English George III Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Henry Chawner Georgian Sterling Silver Ladies Inkstand
By Henry Chawner
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
inkstand; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This exceptional antique George III
Category

1780s English George III Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Orientalist Cold-Painted Bronze and Marble Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Orientalist cold-painted bronze and marble inkstand Austrian, c. 1910 Height 21cm, width 34.5cm
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Islamic Antique Inkstands

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand / Desk Standish
By Edward & John Barnard
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver inkstand / desk
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Antique English Sterling Silver Victorian Inkstand
Located in New Orleans, LA
A very handsome double inkwell from the Victorian era.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique French Marble and Bronze Inkstand
Located in New Orleans, LA
This handsome inkwell has well-defined lines and includes spots for four writing pieces. The marble is a soft grey color and the inkwell itself nicely crafted.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Inkstands

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique  French Marble and Bronze Inkstand
Antique  French Marble and Bronze Inkstand
H 6.5 in W 8.25 in D 8.25 in
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand / Desk Standish
By Edward Barnard & Sons
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver inkstand / desk
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Silver Gilt Inkstand by William Bateman II
By William Bateman II
Located in New Orleans, LA
gilt inkstand by William Bateman II. Hailing from one of the most legendary silversmithing families in
Category

19th Century English William IV Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver

Silver Gilt Inkstand by William Bateman II
Silver Gilt Inkstand by William Bateman II
H 10 in W 14.25 in D 8.75 in
Bronze Mounted Shagreen Inkstand, English, circa 1820
Located in New York, NY
Bronze Mounted shagreen inkstand, English, circa 1820.
Category

1820s English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Shagreen

Fine Antique George II Double Partners Inkstand
Located in Torino, IT
A fine and impressive antique George II crested sterling silver double partners inkstand with three
Category

18th Century and Earlier English Antique Inkstands

French Silver and Enamel Inkstand, circa 1920
Located in New York, NY
French silver and yellow enamel inkstand, circa 1920.  
Category

Early 20th Century French Antique Inkstands

Materials

Enamel, Silver

Edwardian Sterling Silver and Crystal Footed Inkstand
By Hawksworth, Eyre & Co. Ltd.
Located in New York, NY
Edwardian, sterling silver, footed inkstand with original sterling silver-mounted, panel-cut
Category

Early 20th Century British Edwardian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Victorian Brass Inlaid Ebonised Wood Boulle Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Victorian brass inlaid ebonised wood Boulle inkstand English, 19th century Measures: height
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Brass

Antique Inkstand, Green Marble, Scotland 1900, H562
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Inkstand, Green Marble, Scotland 1900, H562 Scotland 1900 Green Marble Pair of two crystal
Category

Early 1900s Scottish Antique Inkstands

Materials

Marble

George 111 Silver 3 Bottle Inkstand, 1793
By Henry Greenway
Located in London, GB
Good quality Georgian silver inkstand with 2 bottles for ink and one for sanding Made by Henry
Category

1790s English George III Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Large Modernist Red Marble Vide-Poche / Inkstand
Located in New York, NY
Large Italian marble vide-poche / inkstand. Rich red and buttery gold Sicilian marble calamaio
Category

Late 18th Century Italian Louis XVI Antique Inkstands

Materials

Marble

Equestrian / Jockey CAP Inkstand / Inkwell, C.1890
Located in Bath, GB
A handsome Horseshoe shaped inkstand, the base made from solid English Oak mounted with a silver
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

Equestrian / Jockey CAP Inkstand / Inkwell, C.1890
Equestrian / Jockey CAP Inkstand / Inkwell, C.1890
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H 5.75 in W 5.25 in D 6.5 in
Antique Lion Inkwell Desk Inkstand Napoleon French c1890
Located in Mimizan, FR
Antique Lion Inkwell Desk Inkstand French c1890 Handsome Lion Bronze Good condition with minor
Category

1890s French Neoclassical Antique Inkstands

Materials

Bronze

Empire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkstand 'Encrier'
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular base mounted with a round lidded ink pot with a porcelain container and a sand pot, each raised on winged lion feet, centered by a palm decorated columnar carrying ha...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Inkstands

Materials

Bronze

Antique Italian Green Marble and 'Lava Cameo' Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Antique Italian green marble and 'lava cameo' inkstand Italian, 19th century Measures: Height 10cm
Category

19th Century Italian Grand Tour Antique Inkstands

Materials

Marble, Metal

Antique English Victorian Inkstand and Pen Holder
Located in New Orleans, LA
Charming little piece
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver Plate

Large French Gilt Bronze Marine Inkstand, circa 1875
Located in New York, NY
Large French gilt bronze marine inkstand, circa 1875.
Category

1870s French Antique Inkstands

Materials

Bronze

Silver Inkstand, with Hallmarks, Madrid, Spain, 1779
Located in Madrid, ES
With hallmarks and property marks (AL). A tray of curved profiles is supported on four legs in the shape of plant elements. Fixed to it are four elements. These, and the bell, prese...
Category

1770s Spanish Neoclassical Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver

Italian Empire Silver and Silver Gilt Inkstand
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Of oval shape, with a cupid holding a bow and arrow riding aloft a gilt dolphin forming a lid over a compartment, flanked by ink and sand pots on masked plinths cast with Medusa mask...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Empire Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver

Vintage Brass Inkwell, Single Inkstand, England 1920, H304
Located in Vancouver, BC
Vintage Brass Inkwell, Single Inkstand, England 1920, H304 England 1920 Single Inkwell With Brass
Category

1920s English Antique Inkstands

Materials

Brass

Emancipation Proclamation Inkstand - 19th Century Heavily Chased Brass
Located in Atlanta, GA
President Abraham Lincoln sat at a desk in the War Department telegraph office and with this inkstand began
Category

Mid-19th Century British Rococo Antique Inkstands

Materials

Brass

Restauration Period Inkstand in Ormolu and Patinated Bronze
Located in Paris, FR
Restauration inkstand composed of a high, gilt bronze base with two inkwells and two penholders
Category

1820s Restauration Antique Inkstands

Materials

Bronze

English Silver-Gilt and Agate Inkstand, circa 1830
Located in Paris, FR
inkstand is composed of two inkwells and two penholders. Dim: W: 3.9 in – D: 3.9in – H: 3.5in. Silver
Category

1830s English George IV Antique Inkstands

Materials

Agate, Silver

Scandinavian Modern Pewter Inkstand, Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden, 1925
By Svenskt Tenn
Located in Örebro, SE
Rare pewter inkstand, Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden -1925. Lid in the shape of a fish, relief
Category

1920s Swedish Scandinavian Modern Antique Inkstands

Materials

Pewter

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Glass Inkstand / Desk Standish
By Elkington & Co.
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass inkstand
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique 1926 Sterling Silver Nephrite and Rose Quartz Inkstand
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
rose quartz inkstand; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional antique
Category

1920s British Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Silver Bell Inkstand, Dated 1913, a & J Zimmermann, Birmingham
Located in London, GB
Silver bell Inkstand, dated 1913, A & J Zimmermann, Birmingham Large bell shaped inkstand with
Category

1910s English Modern Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver and Glass Inkstand / Desk Standish
By Walter and John Barnard
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass inkstand
Category

1880s English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand / Inkwell / Desk Tidy 1871
By James Dixon & Sons
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Antique Victorian Solid Silver Inkstand with two glass lined Inkwells with hinged lids
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Bronze Inkwell, Ormolu Mounted Inkstand, France 1890, H303
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique bronze inkwell, Ormolu mounted inkstand, France 1890, H303 France 1890 Bronze Bronze
Category

1890s French Antique Inkstands

Materials

Bronze

Napoleon III Black Gutta Percha Inkstand, Late 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The black inkstand with a molded lion decoration with a shell pen tray. The two glass inkwells on
Category

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkstands

Materials

Rubber

Antique Sterling Silver Inkstand, London 1901, Gallery Border
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1901 by Ernest Damant, this striking, Victorian, antique sterling silver ink stand, features shaped and pierced gallery borders, and two glass ink wells with ...
Category

Early 1900s English Victorian Antique Inkstands

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Oval Silver Plated Double Inkstand, Scotland 1910, H549
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Oval Silver Plated Double Inkstand, Scotland 1910, H549 Scotland 1910 Silver plate and
Category

1910s Scottish Antique Inkstands

Materials

Silver Plate

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Antique Inkstands For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of antique inkstands is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, silver and bronze, all antique inkstands available were constructed with great care. Antique inkstands have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Antique inkstands bearing Victorian or Georgian hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Many antique inkstands are appealing in their simplicity, but Walter and John Barnard, Charles Fox and Elkington & Co. produced popular antique inkstands that are worth a look.

How Much are Antique Inkstands?

Antique inkstands can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $2,044, while the lowest priced sells for $76 and the highest can go for as much as $102,083.

Finding the Right desk-accessories for You

Whether you’ve carved out a space for a nifty home office or you prefer the morning commute, why not dress up your desk with antique and vintage desk accessories? To best tiptoe the line between desk efficiency and desk enjoyment, we suggest adding a touch of the past to your modern-day space.

Desks are a funny thing. Their basic premise has remained the same for quite literally centuries: a flat surface, oftentimes a drawer, and potentially a shelf or two. However, the contents that lay upon the desk? Well, the evolution has been drastic to say the least.

Thank the Victorians for the initial popularity of the paperweight. The Industrial Revolution offered the novel concept of leisure-time to Europeans, giving them more time to take part in the then crucial activity of letter writing. Decorative glass paperweight designs were all the rage, and during the mid-19th-century some of the most popular makers included the French companies of Baccarat, St. Louis and Clichy.

As paper was exceedingly expensive in the early to mid-19th-century, every effort was made to utilize a full sheet of it. Paper knives, which gave way to the modern letter opener, were helpful for cutting paper down to an appropriate size.

Books — those bound volumes of paper, you may recall — used to be common occurrences on desks of yore and where there were books there needed to be bookends. As a luxury item, bookend designs have run the gamut from incorporating ultra-luxurious materials (think marble and Murano glass) to being whimsical desk accompaniments (animal figurines were highly popular choices).

Though the inkwell’s extinction was ushered in by the advent of the ballpoint pen (itself quasi-obsolete at this point), there is still significant charm to be had from placing one of these bauble-like objets in a central spot on one’s desk. You may be surprised to discover the mood-boosting powers an antique — and purposefully empty — inkwell can provide.

The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass-production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier.

Find antique and vintage desk accessories today on 1stDibs.

Questions About Antique Inkstands
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    An inkwell is a small jar or container made to conveniently hold ink for a writer. Inkwells were often made of glass, pewter, brass or porcelain. You’ll find a variety of inkells from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

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