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Inkwells For Sale
Cast Gilt Brass Figural Inkwell
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
Cast brass inkwell on marble base.
Category
1920s Vintage Inkwells
Materials
Marble, Brass
Art Nouveau Gilt Bronze Desk Set by Albert Marionnet
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very comprehensive five piece, late 19th century gilded bronze Art Nouveau desk set by ;
Albert Marionnet (1852-1910).
Each piece have these mythical busts coming out of the grou...
Category
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells
Materials
Ormolu
Antique Art Nouveau Double Inkwell on Sterling Silver Tray by J E Caldwell & Co.
Located in San Diego, CA
Antique Art Nouveau double inkwell on sterling silver tray by J E Caldwell & Co., circa 1900. This stunning piece features two square crystal wells with etched floral designs in the ...
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Inkwells
Materials
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Antique Carved Black Forest Novelty Inkwell, Dog, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
A beautifully carved novelty Victorian inkwell from the Victorian era, having been made in the Black Forest region. The dog has the most lovely face,...
Category
1880s Swiss Black Forest Antique Inkwells
Gilt Bronze Goat Inkwell, circa 1875
Located in New York, NY
Gilt bronze goat inkwell, circa 1875.
Category
1870s Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Inkwell
Located in London, GB
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...
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Inkwells
Materials
Ormolu
Antique English Victorian Inkstand and Pen Holder
Located in New Orleans, LA
Charming little piece
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Inkwells
Materials
Silver Plate
Mother of Pearl English Desk Inkwell
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Very elegant mother of pearl English desk inkwell. In very good conditions. Perfect for a lady's desk. It´s a perfect chic object.
Category
Early 1900s Unknown Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells
Materials
Glass
Impressive Black Marble Inkwell with Bronze Ducks
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Incredible black marble inkwell that is truly an objet d'arte, having two lyrical bronze ducks with bone beaks, as though perched at the side of a pond and two square ink wells lined in brass. Looks like it could be by the artist, Andre Villien...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Inkwells
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Neoclassical-Style Continental Silver '.800' Footed Double Inkstand by Dragstead
By A. Dragsted
Located in New York, NY
Neoclassical - style, Continental Silver (.800), footed, double inkstand, Denmark, year-hallmarked for 1901, A. N. Dragsted - maker. Each of the wells is decorated with bows and garl...
Category
Early 1900s Danish Neoclassical Antique Inkwells
Materials
Sterling Silver
Gilded Austrian Bronze Inkwell / Pen Rest, Signed Bergmann
Located in Bath, GB
A magnificent and grand late Victorian Austrian desk set, made from cast bronze, beautifully finished in gold.
The cast Owl is a figural inkwell ...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Edwardian Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
Wooden Cased Inkwell Intricately Modelled as a Binocular Case, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Intricately carved in fruitwood, modelled as a leather case for opera glasses, circa 1900. Lifting the lid reveals two glass inkwells. This exquisitely crafted piece was originally m...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Inkwells
Materials
Fruitwood
English Silver Capstan Inkwell by Cohen & Charles, Chester, 1908
Located in Delft, NL
English Silver Capstan Inkwell by Cohen & Charles, Chester, 1908
Silver capstan inkwell with pen holder in front
English silver Hall marked, Chester, ...
Category
20th Century British Inkwells
Materials
Silver
Hall's State Toffee Tin Litho Candy Box/Ink Well
Located in Stamford, CT
Tin Litho Hall's state toffee advertising box that doubled as an ink well. The box is marked on the inside Lid, "Hall's STATE Toffee, Sole Manufacturer...
Category
Early 20th Century English Inkwells
Materials
Tin
Set of Two French Macassar Inkwells
Located in North Hollywood, CA
French Macassar inkwell Art Deco ebony Macassar and crystal glass.
Macassar ebony cover with a crystal reservoir in Cubist Art Deco form.
Made in luxury Macassar wood with original c...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Inkwells
Materials
Crystal
Chinese Flora and Fauna Inkstone, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Scholarly pursuits such as painting, calligraphy, and poetry were a highly respected and revered subculture in ancient China, and demanded their own set of tools that were not only f...
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Inkwells
Materials
Stone
French Gilt Bronze and Marble Inkwell and Pen Holder
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
French gilt bronze and marble inkwell and pen holder.
Category
19th Century French Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
French Bronze and Siena Marble Antique Inkwell
Located in Paris, FR
19th century inkstand with three jars crafted of patinated bronze, serving as inkwells. They are decorated with acanthus leaf and small flowers....
Category
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Inkwells
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
18th Century Silver Inkwell by James Young
By James Young
Located in New Orleans, LA
This superlative, Georgian-period silver inkwell was crafted by 18th century London silversmith James Young. Of exceptional size and quality, this large inkwell is perfectly appointed to draft important correspondence, complete with a sand shaker and compartments for writing utensils. A masterpiece of the restrained Georgian style, the inkwell bears the marital coat-of-arms of the Gresley and Coventry families with the motto “Meliore fyde quam fortuna,” or “With better fidelity than fortune.” Hallmarked London, 1782 11 1/4” wide x 7 1/2” deep x 5 1/2” high The armorial bearings almost certainly commemorate the marriage of Sir Roger Gresley, the 8th Baronet of Drakelowe, and Lady Sophia Coventry, youngest daughter of the 7th Earl of Coventry...
Category
19th Century English Georgian Antique Inkwells
Materials
Silver
French Art Nouveau Bronze Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau oval shaped bronze inkwell with pine cones and needles design (signed: ALBERT CHEURET)
Category
Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
Antique English Novelty Equestrian Inkwell, Horse, circa 1880
Located in Bath, GB
This is only the second time in many years of being in the antiques business that I have come across this wonderful figural equestrian inkwell.
B...
Category
1880s English Victorian Antique Inkwells
Materials
Brass
Antique Repousse Sterling Inkwell by Jacobi & Jenkins
Located in San Diego, CA
A rare antique hand-hammered repousse lid sterling silver inkwell by Jacobi & Jenkins of Baltimore, circa 1900. The inkwell has a removable domed sterling repousse lid in a floral pa...
Category
Early 20th Century American Inkwells
Materials
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Art Deco Black Glass and Brass Desk Pen Holder with Crest
Located in New York, NY
An Art Deco period black glass and brass desk pen holder with crest, circa 20th century. Piece holds standard size pen. Crest at front center is a scul...
Category
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Inkwells
Materials
Brass
Antique Carved Inkwell, Swiss Milk Cow, Late 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This intriguing Black Forest inkwell has been meticulously hand carved from wood and dates to 19th century Switzerland.
The piece depicts two men attempting to milk a cow. The man wearing a hat is struggling to control the cow by pulling on the bovine’s tail; his bespectacled partner is situated next to the cow in an attempt to milk it.
The ground immediately beneath these three figures is a rocky formation of varying height. Below this is a wooden terrain that also has quite a lot of depth. Among the forest-like environment, there are two indentations that house the colored and cut glass inkwells. The colored portions of the mushroom-shaped wells are a rustic orange that ties in nicely with the dark brown wood used in the carving. The wells are then capped with silvered lids. One of the glass containers has a perforated top, which would have held the pounce or sand (pounce pot). This would have permitted the writer to sprinkle the sand on the paper before inking to aid in the drying process. Excess pounce was often poured back into the container.
The milk cows...
Category
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Antique Inkwells
Materials
Cut Glass, Wood
French Porcelaine and Bronze Inkstand, Marks of Samson, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
French Porcelaine and bronze inkstand. Marks of Samson, 19th century.
Category
19th Century French Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
René Lalique Clear & Frosted Glass 'Trois Papillons' Inkwell
By René Lalique
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
René Lalique clear and frosted with signs of some light blue staining to glass 'Trois Papillons' Inkwell with some signs of light blue staining. Moulded and engraved makers mark, 'R....
Category
1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Inkwells
Materials
Glass
Naturalistic Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Novelty 'Fruit Design' Ink Stand
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1874 by Daniel & Charles Houle, this very unusual, Victorian, Antique, sterling silver ink stand has a shaped wooden base with applied silver leaf decoration ...
Category
1870s English Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells
Materials
Sterling Silver
Large Antique French Marble and Bronze Inkwell, circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a stunning, large, antique French marble and gilt bronze double inkwell. The inkwells’ lids are hinged to the wells and have motifs of swirling leaves with berries culminatin...
Category
1870s French Louis XIV Antique Inkwells
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Russian Malachite and Gilt Bronze Large Inkwell
Located in Dallas, TX
Rare and exceptional 19th century Russian gilt bronze and malachite inkwell. Gilt Sphinx with two ink deposits and double sided pen holders.
Category
Late 19th Century Baltic Baltic Antique Inkwells
Materials
Malachite
Gilt Bronze Inkwell Lamp Signed A. Féry, Art Nouveau Period. France, circa 1890
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt bronze inkwell lamp signed A. Féry. Art Nouveau period. France, circa 1890.
Dimensions with shade: 62 cm height.
Bronze signed A. Féry.
Category
1890s French Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
20th Century Empire Style Handmade Sterling Silver Inkwell, Italy, 1991
Located in Cagliari, IT
Wonderful handcrafted sterling silver inkwell.
A refined piece of Empire style silverware perfect for an extremely elegant home or office.
Made for us by Argenteria Auge, one of th...
Category
1990s Italian Empire Inkwells
Materials
Sterling Silver
19th Century French Louis XV Hand Painted Delft Style Faience Inkwell Vide-Poche
By Delft
Located in Dallas, TX
This uniquely shaped ceramic inkwell was sculpted in France, circa 1880. The cartouche-shaped desk essential features a hand painted black and white center medallion with sailboats, ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Inkwells
Materials
Ceramic, Faience
Gilt Bronze Figural Inkwell, E.F. Caldwell and Co., circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
Gilt bronze figural inkwell, E.F. Caldwell and Co., circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
Russian Malachite and Bronze Inkwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
Malachite is one of Russia’s most prestigious stones, and its use in the creation of this rare and opulent inkwell indicates commission and ownership by an individual of considerable status. Wonderful doré bronze accents are the perfect complement to the vivid green stone. Two dipping wells and pen tray make this inkwell as functional as it is beautiful,
circa 1890.
Dimensions: 18 1/4” wide x 11” deep x 5 1/2” high.
The 19th century proved to be the golden age of Russian malachite. The stone became a sign of prestige and a token of wealth so much so that Russian papers of the time wrote: “To afford having a big piece wrought in malachite is synonymous to owning diamonds.” Due to malachite's relatively close proximity, Russian tsars could easily obtain the malachite they needed to decorate their lavish palaces, such as the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, paneling walls and commissioning beautiful inlaid works of art. Year after year the Russian (Romanov) treasury paid increasingly unreasonable prices to hoard the best malachite, much of which went into Romanov palaces and extravagant objects d’art. The Hermitage Museum possesses a collection of over 200 examples of this “palatial” malachite...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Inkwells
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
English Pewter Figural Inkwell
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique English cast pewter inkwell of an Asian scholar sporting a Fu Manchu mustache and ponytail, fixed to a lacquered wood tray.
Category
20th Century English Chinoiserie Inkwells
Materials
Pewter
Onyx Marble Gold Gilt Bronze Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful onyx and gold gilt bronze inkwell [ink well] box in the Empire style, circa 19th century, Europe. In addition to its intended use, piece makes a gorgeous standalone decor...
Category
Late 19th Century European Empire Antique Inkwells
Materials
Onyx, Bronze
Antique English Novelty Inkwell, Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut, circa 1890
Located in Bath, GB
Clearly created after the well known idiom "use a sledgehammer to crack a nut"; this is an unusual and fun figural inkwell.
The walnut is the inkwell with a hinged lid which opens...
Category
1890s English Late Victorian Antique Inkwells
Materials
Brass
Napoleon Bronze Sculpture Desk Inkwell, Signed Emile Pinedo
By Émile Pinedo
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Napoleon Bonaparte bronze desk inkwell, signed Pinedo with foundry mark. Mounted over a Green Alps marble.
Antique signed 19th large bronz...
Category
1890s French Empire Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
Gilt Bronze Basket Form Inkstand, French, circa 1810
Located in New York, NY
Charles X.
Category
1810s French Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
Rene Lalique Clear and Frosted Glass 'Cernay' Inkwell
By René Lalique
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Rene Lalique clear and frosted glass 'Cernay' Inkwell. This pattern features a cluster of berries to the lid and leaves to the base. Moulded makers mark, 'R. LALIQUE'. Book reference...
Category
1920s French Art Deco Vintage Inkwells
Materials
Glass
Strasbourg Faience Chinoiserie Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Strasbourg chinoiserie inkwell. Antique double-pot faience handled encrier with quill pot and removeable ink pot and cover and sand pot, both with pagoda-top finials, all painted wit...
Category
Late 18th Century French Chinoiserie Antique Inkwells
Materials
Faience
Twelve 19th Century Painted and Gilt Metal Desk Accessories
Located in London, GB
In a time of computers and technology, this antique desk set harks back to a more romantic period when people read letters at their desks by candlelig...
Category
Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Inkwells
Materials
Metal
Gothic Revival Gilt and Patinated Bronze Inkwell with Porcelain Plaque
Located in London, GB
A Louis-Philippe Gothic Revival gilt and patinated bronze inkwell
Rising from two-tone gilt bronze bracket feet, the patinated bronze rectangular inkwell having a band of circular...
Category
19th Century French Gothic Revival Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Indian Inkwell Peacock, circa 1950
Located in Dallas, TX
This vintage Indian peacock inkwell was made in the 1950s. It was handmade from thin sheets of brass bent, formed and soldered to take on the shape of a peacock. The back is attached...
Category
1950s Indian Vintage Inkwells
Materials
Brass
19th Century Shell-Shaped, White Porcelain Inkwell
Located in Paris, FR
White porcelain inkwell in the form of a shell, highlighted with gold and resting on a square base. The top features two round, glass inkwells and two pen holes. Light wear to the gi...
Category
1820s French Antique Inkwells
Materials
Gold
Bronze Poodle Inkwell, France, 19th Century
Located in Norwalk, CT
A detailed figure of a standard poodle stands on this antique inkwell. All bronze with wood bottom. Interior holes for inkwells. No inserts. Acanthus l...
Category
Early 19th Century French Regency Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
Antique Anglo-Indian Rams Horn and Brass Inkwell
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th century Anglo-Indian rams horn inkwell having decorative brass Hindu deities, quill pen supports and ink pot.
Category
19th Century Antique Inkwells
Materials
Brass
Antique English Bronze, Brass and Glass Inkstand / Inkwell, circa 1870 Victorian
Located in Bath, GB
A truly unusual and quite spectacular Victorian inkstand made from cast polished bronze standing on cast reticulated feet. The gallery around the back is also pierced or reticulated ...
Category
1870s English Late Victorian Antique Inkwells
English Desk Set Inkwell
Located in Westwood, NJ
An early English Queen Anne brass inkwell desk set with a walnut base on brass feet.
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Inkwells
Materials
Brass
Large Bullmastiff Triple Inkwell, circa 1900, Dog
Located in Bath, GB
A handsome and large novelty inkwell in the form of a Bullmastiff / Bull Mastiff dog sporting his two glass eyes.
Made from spelter and beautifully executed, this heavy piece opens to reveal three removable brass ink chambers. There is a hole running through his mouth to hold a dip pen...
Category
Early 20th Century European Edwardian Inkwells
Materials
Metal
Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Encrier by Paul Sormani, French c 1870
By Paul Sormani
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Rare Louis XV Style gilt bronze Encrier, By Paul Sormani.
French, circa 1870.
Signed 'P. Sormani, Paris' to the underside of the cover.
Thi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Inkwell, Louis Philippe Period
Located in Roma, IT
A beautiful double inkwell mounted on a red marble from Verona base, resting on four gilt bronze pad feet.
This product is located and shipped from Italy.
This artwork is shipped ...
Category
19th Century European Louis Philippe Antique Inkwells
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A J Seward of Birmingham Arts and Crafts Hammered Electro-Plated Double Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Arthur John Seward of Birmingham.
An Arts and Crafts hammered electro-plated double inkstand, stamped mark.
Category
Late 20th Century Arts and Crafts Inkwells
Materials
EPNS
19th Century English Silver and Tortoise Inkwell Signed Mappin and Webb
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century English Mappin and Webb silver and tortoise inkwell with
original glass liner for the ink.
Category
19th Century European Regency Antique Inkwells
Unusual Art Deco Sterling Silver and Black Onyx-Mounted Hinged Crystal Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Unusual, sterling silver and black onyx-mounted hinged crystal inkwell, American, circa 1920s-1930s. 12-sided, faceted, clear crystal lid is mounted by a 12-sided piece of black onyx...
Category
1920s American Art Deco Vintage Inkwells
Materials
Crystal, Onyx, Sterling Silver
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Encrier Inkwell by Boin Taburet
By Boin-Taburet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style gilt-bronze, mahogany and porcelain Encrier (Inkwell). The oval mahogany base surmounted with an ormolu mounted trim, dual-trays and fi...
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Inkwells
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Modernist Nickel Bronze Art Deco Inkwell, Attributed to Jacques Adnet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Modernist nickel bronze Art Deco inkwell, attributed to Jacques Adnet.
Category
1930s French Art Deco Vintage Inkwells
Materials
Nickel
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 Inkwells
Materials
Silver
Vintage, New and Antique Inkwells
Now that we no longer need vintage, new or antique inkwells for written communication, these elegant desk accessories make for a distinctive decorative touch in any home office or study.
Prior to the 19th century, the inkwell was an integral part of the writing process. The first fountain pen was patented in 1827. Typewriters found acceptance during the 1880s, and the ballpoint pen, which replaced the inkwell on most desks and writing tables of the era, modernized the way we write. (Later, it would transform how some of us make art.) Today, a well-designed antique or vintage inkwell is a fun, decorative accent for any work area.
If you find yourself working from home today more often than not, why not freshen things up a bit? Small changes can help elevate your workspace: Incremental edits to your interior, such as rethinking your shelving, swapping out your wall decor and adding a touch of the past to your modern-day desktop, can actually make a big difference. Alongside an ornate Art Deco–era desk lamp and an antique paperweight, your inkwell will look right at home and can support your effort to create a happy home office.
Find a collection of unique metal inkwells to suit any taste on 1stDibs or shop by style. Browse a range of Art Nouveau inkwells, Victorian inkwells, Art Deco inkwells and more. Search our selection of inkwells to find the perfect piece for any space.
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