Skip to main content

Inkwells

7
979
8
to
135
465
446
987
984
986
137
85
74
31
27
21
14
14
13
13
12
11
9
4
4
2
23
582
374
8
263
58
9
60
22
38
30
3
5
4
2
Height
to
Width
to
766
312
213
206
196
787
312
281
204
60
24
6
6
5
5
Inkwells For Sale
Tiffany Studios New York 'Zodiac' Bronze Doré Large Inkwell
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique bronze doré large inkwell featuring Zodiac designs By Tiffany Studios New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 6.5"W x 6.5"D x 3.5"H. Very good orig...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Sevres Porcelain Marbelized Gilt and Lustre Dolphin Inkwell, Dated 1832
Located in New York, NY
Marked MC-31 for Micaud.
Category

1830s French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain

Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Inkwell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This sterling silver inkwell conjures memories of a time when letter writing was an art and people waited for letters from loved ones with anticipation....
Category

1890s American Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

Antique Inkwell, Wild Boar Foot, Late 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Exceptional inkwell made from a wild boar foot. Beautiful craftsmanship from the late 19th century. .
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bone

Nice Inkwell of the 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Nice inkwell of the 19th century with its two ink receptacles and the stamp holder" Inkwell, Napoleon III period, gilt bronze and glass, 19th century, with its two ink receptacle...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
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...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Rare Early 19th Century George IV English Porcelain Inkwell by Coalport
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Rare early 19th century George IV English porcelain inkwell by Coalport in the naturalistic form. Referred to as ‘Coalbrookdale’ this piece has been modeled in the form of a lemon fr...
Category

19th Century English Regency Antique Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain

Stunning Antique French Bronze Statue on Inkwell Stand, circa 1880
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely 19th century French bronze ink well stand A good looking we...
Category

1880s French High Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Antique Gutta-Percha Inkwell, Desk Pen Tray With Glass Insert, Circa 1880s
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique inkstand with one glass for the ink in the center. Made of Gutta-Percha in a very nice condition.
Category

19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Glass, Resin

Famille Rose Qianlong Period Enamel Inkwell by L'Escalier de Cristal C.1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A Famille Rose Painted Enamel inkwell set Qianlong Period (1736-1795) by l’Escalier de Cristal It consists of a fretworked tray with raised edges in blackened wood surrounded by a fine gilded bronze ring, on which rests two Famille Rose Qianlong Period (1736-1795) hexagonal inkwells with pierced tops, one with original glass container, decorated with polychrome stylised flower heads and foliate scrollwork. This inkwell is characteristic of the productions of the Maison de l'Escalier de Cristal, it shows a hybrid realization, using ancient Asian elements, used as a container for feathers and ink. Stamped «Escalier de Cristal Paris» Circa 1880 L’Escalier de Cristal, Parisian firm created about 1800 by Mme veuve Desarnaud, famous under the French « Restoration » for its decorative objects combining crystal and bronze. She was awarded a gold medal at the 1819 Paris Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie for an outstanding gilt-bronze mounted crystal dressing table. Located in Paris, at the Palais-Royal, Galerie de Valois, L’Escalier de Cristal was bought out around 1830 by Boin, and then by Lahoche in 1840. The company owed its rise to a position amongst the most im-portant Paris decorative wares shops to Lahoche, who expanded considerably the business and entered later in partnership with his son-in-law to set up in 1852 Lahoche et Pannier...
Category

1870s French Japonisme Antique Inkwells

Materials

Ormolu, Enamel

19th Century French Bronze Inkwell with Roman Figure on Brown Marble Base
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your office desk with this large Empire style inkwell. Created in France circa 1870 and rectangular in shape, the inkwell features a bron...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Empire Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Stone Inkwell, Souvenir from Oran Area, circa 1940, Morocco
Located in Labrit, Landes
Marocain stone inkwell The sculpture represents a horseshoe surrounded by branches of leaves The words "Souvenir oranais" are wroten in French on ...
Category

1940s Moroccan Mid-Century Modern Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Stone

Silver Plate Ink Well with Gallery, Sphinx and Greek Key Details
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning silver plate ink well with two cut crystal ink wells - both capped with a silver top and greek key trim. A center storage piece is pr...
Category

20th Century English Art Deco Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate

Double Inkwell of the XIXth Century in Gilded Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Double inkwell of the XIXth Century in gilded bronze" Important double inkwell, Napoleon III period, gilded bronze with nice neo-classical decorations, XIXth century. H: 12cm, W...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Gardener’s Delight, Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Beehive Model Encrier
Located in New York, NY
Great fun for a gardening afficionado - a delightful desk accessory wether you're planning a beautiful garden, tending a beehive, ordering new seeds for the season or wish for a an uplifting reminder at your work space of the bounty and beauty of nature... France, 19th century This fabulous antique French gilt bronze inkstand has a beehive central well with a hay stack cover, several bees on the surface, flanked by two bronze baskets with covers laden with fruit, flowers and wheat sheaves, at the base of one sits a bird leaning over a large basket with a container for sand in the shape of a large bunch of wheat tied with a rope and a bird perched on top as a cover. The back of this fantasy is composed of a group of garden implements which include a sickle, a spade, a trowel, a scythe, ring pliers and a pitch fork tied with an attractive bow and hung with garlands of flowers, masses of grapes, wheat forming a support for a quill. The base designed as naturalistic wood logs topped with rustic wood...
Category

19th Century French Empire Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Vienna Bronze Walrus Inkwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
Wonderfully charming and boasting a high level of detail, this bronze walrus also serves as an inkwell. The incredible artistry of Viennese bronze work i...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Other Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Danish 18th Century Blue Faience Inkwell by Store Kongensgade
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Rare Danish blue and white faience ink stand by Johan Ernst Pfau for Store Kongensgade Faience Manufactory, Copenhagen Denmark circa 1740. This inkwell retain with its original ink a...
Category

Early 18th Century Danish Baroque Antique Inkwells

Materials

Faience

Antique Inkwell, Gilded Bronze, Antique Desk Utensil, Pen Holder, circa 1880
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique inkwell made from gilded bronze. circa 1880. The plate is made of marble. Nice bronze work with a well preserved gilding. The original glass insert is existing....
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Gold, Bronze

Antique Inkwell, Baccarat Déposé, Gilded Brass, Late 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Exceptional inkwell with pen tray made of BACCARAT crystal. The rectangular pen tray has a cube-shaped inkwell holder in the center, closed with a gild...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Gold Plate, Brass

Antique Inkwell, Gilded Bronze, Thatched Roof Cottage, Circa 1880
Located in Greven, DE
Exceptional antique inkwell made from bronze, gilded. Little house with cute details. Nice bronze work, beautifully chiseled. The original glass insert is existing. A similar inkwell...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Inkwells

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Inkwell of the XIXth Century in Gilded Bronze
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Inkwell of the XIXth Century in gilded bronze" Inkwell, Napoleon III period, gilt bronze, 19th century. H: 15cm, W: 21cm, D: 14,5cm.
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Antique Inkwell, Gilded Bronze, Antique Desk Utensil, French Pen Holder, Around
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique inkwell made from gilded bronze. Nicely coloured ceramic parts. The plate is made of marble. Nice bronze work with a well preserved gilding. The original glass...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Gold, Bronze

Large Antique English Brass Owl Inkwell, circa.1890
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful and rare large figural inkwell, beautifully executed in the form of an Owl with fine detail. The hinged head lifts to reveal a fitted ink chamber which looks to be a ...
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Antique Art Deco Black Marble Five Piece Desk Set with Chrome & Brass Accents
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique desk set is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from the United States and date to approximately 1920 and done in the period Art De...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Deco Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Chrome

Sterling Silver Inkwell Made by Gösta Helenius, Ábo Sweden, 1928
Located in Paris, FR
Writing stand, Sterling silver and glass, by Gösta Konstantin Helenius, Ábo Sweden 1928. Square bottle, bevelled edges, size 6x6 cm, height tot. 9 cm. W...
Category

Mid-20th Century Inkwells

Materials

Sterling Silver

19th Century, French, Patinated Bronze Hunting Dog and Duck Inkwell
Located in Dallas, TX
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 ...
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Antique French Inkwell in Gilded Brass and Porcelain
Located in Bradenton, FL
Beautiful Antique 19th century painted and gilded brass inkwell. Floral motif with pink rose on handle. 'Made in France' on underside.  
Category

19th Century French Rococo Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Antique bronze Inkwell
Located in Brescia, IT
Lost wax cast bronze inkwell, 16th century Central oval-shaped vase for ink masterfully decorated by four masks with different physiognomies and expressions. Supporting the sa...
Category

16th Century Renaissance Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Sèvres Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
A Sèvres inkwell in immaculate condition with dorè bronze fittings and a burled wood base on paw feet. With liner. France, circa 1890s.
Category

1890s French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Antique American Modern Sterling Silver and Glass Inkwell on Stand
Located in New York, NY
Modern sterling silver and glass inkwell on stand, circa 1920. Lobed melon-form glass bowl; sterling silver cover domed with overlapping ovoid ring finial. stand has well and large l...
Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Inkwells

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Small Tray, Signed Octave Georges Lelievre, Gilded Bronze
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful small plate made from gilded bronze. Signed "O. Lelièvre" by the french artist Octave Georges Lelièvre (*1869- ?). The plate shows floral applications and little bugs and...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Gold, Bronze

19th Century French Bronze Doré Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
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.
Category

1920s French Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Antique Inkwell, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Silverplated
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful silver inkwell with purple ornaments. Nice authentic condition. Art Nouveau.
Category

Early 1900s Unknown Antique Inkwells

Materials

Metallic Thread

Stately Antique Brass Bronze Inkwell, Around 1880
Located in Berlin, DE
Stately antique brass bronze inkwell around 1880 Solid brass bronze inkwell with lid. Original glass insert. Inkwell with paw feet standing on...
Category

1880s German Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Brass, Bronze

"Conquest of Spain, " Extraordinary, Monumental Bronze Inkwell, Art Deco
Located in Philadelphia, PA
More of an indictment of the Spanish conquest of North America than a celebration, this quite extraordinary, large bronze inkwell depicts a Conquistador, holding sword and whip, seat...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Antique Inkwell, Gilded Bronze, Antique Desk Utensil, Vase-Shaped, Pen Tray
Located in Greven, DE
Antique inkwell made from bronze, gilded. Very good condition of the bronze work.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Gold, Bronze

British Studio Pottery Brown Glazed Water Dropper or Inkwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual and finely hand crafted studio pottery water dropper or inkwell decorated in brown glazes dating from the 20th century. The hand thrown hive shaped vessel stands on a flat...
Category

20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Inkwells

Materials

Ceramic

Baccarat "Victor Hugo" Crystal Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
French midcentury (1980s-1990s) limited edition (28/450) " Victor Hugo" crystal inkwell with a six-sided shape and a cut star base (signed BACCARAT). Baccarat Crystal has, from the...
Category

20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Inkwells

Materials

Crystal

Antique French Gilt Bronze Inkwell on Rouge Marble Stand, 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French gilt bronze inkwell on rouge marble stand. It is of superb quality and features a central figure of Diana The Huntress. Provenance: From the estate of Texas Oil...
Category

19th Century Regency Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Small Empire Inkwell in Gilded and Dark Patinated Bronze from the 1820s
Located in Knivsta, SE
A small and beautiful inkwell in gilded and dark patinated bronze with cups in porcelain. French Empire from the 1820s. Wear consistent with age and use.
Category

1820s French Empire Antique Inkwells

Materials

Gold Plate, Bronze

Inkwell, Glazed Ceramic, Talavera de la Reina, Spain, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Inkwell. Glazed ceramic. Talavera de la Reina, Spain, 17th century. Inkwell or spice rack with a square shaped hole that is made of glazed ceram...
Category

17th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Inkwells

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Gutta-Percha Inkwell, Original Glass Inserts, Circa 1880s
Located in Greven, DE
Exceptional Gutta-Percha inkwell with original glass inserts.  
Category

1880s Late Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Glass, Resin

Sterling Silver Inkwell XL Size, Denmark, 1920
Located in Paris, FR
Sterling silver inkwell made in Denmark, 1920. Very large size silver inkwell holder made of sterling silver, weight 620 grams. Good condition, some engraving on the silver as seen...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Inkwells

Materials

Silver

Antique Black Forest Inkwell, Wood, 1920-1930
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful handmade Black Forest inkwell. Around 1920 / 1930. Depiction of a chamois. Wood with glass eyes.
Category

1920s Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Glass, Wood, Nutwood, Walnut

Micro Mosaic Pen Holder
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Micro mosaic Moorish pen holder: simply beautiful ! Elegant sitting on Your desk. It must not remain near heat sources because the mosaic could be dama...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Aesthetic Movement Inkwells

Materials

Enamel

19th Century French Doré Bronze and Marble Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
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.
Category

1890s French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Iznik-Style Ceramic and Brass-Mounted Ink Stand
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

19th Century French Islamic Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Liberty & Co. An Arts & Crafts Pewter Inkwell with Violet Enamel Decoration.
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. Regent Street. London. An English Arts & Crafts Pewter Inkwell with violet-colored enamel decoration to the top, and to each of the circles at the four corners. Stamped...
Category

Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Inkwells

Materials

Enamel, Pewter

Victorian Era Inkstand with Boulle Marquetry in Ebonised Wood and Brass
Located in London, GB
Victorian era inkstand with Boulle marquetry in ebonised wood and brass English, dated 1853 Measures: Height 17cm, width 38.5cm, depth 27.5cm This 19th Century English inkstand ...
Category

Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

An Arts & Crafts Pewter Inkwell with a Green Ruskin Jewel and original ink liner
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co in the style of. An English Arts & Crafts hexagonal pewter Inkwell with a Green Ruskin ceramic jewel to the hinged lid. Retaining the origi...
Category

Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Inkwells

Materials

Pewter

Antique French Brass Inkwell, Shoe, Early 20th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful brass inkwell, which shows a antique shoe. France, around 1910.
Category

Early 20th Century French Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Antique Inkwell, Crystal Glass, Silver Plated, Late 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Inkwell made from crystal glass. The lid is silver-plated.
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Silver Plate

Antique Inkwell, Gilded Bronze, Antique Desk Utensil, Vase-Shaped
Located in Greven, DE
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.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Silver Plate Hoof Inkwell with Pen Rest, by Rowland Ward & Co
Located in Reepham, GB
A late 19th century silver plate mounted horse hoof inkwell, the lid and horseshoe of silver plate, the hinged lid opening to the glass inkwell wit...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver Plate

Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand / Desk Standish
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
A magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver inkstand / desk standish; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian inkstand...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Small Antique Calligrapher's Quill Pot, Chinese, Soapstone, Carved, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small antique calligrapher's quill pot. A Chinese, rouge soapstone carved pen holder, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Intricate pierced detail accentuates...
Category

Late 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Inkwells

Materials

Soapstone

19th Century Dog-Shaped Scrip in the Shape of a Bronze Hat
Located in Marbella, ES
19th century dog-shaped scrip in the shape of a bronze hat.
Category

19th Century Spanish Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Antique English Officers Horse Hoof Inkstand
Located in Forney, TX
Scarce antique English Officers equestrian silver plate and metal mounted horse hoof. An exceptional, most likely one-of-a-kind example, featuring a finely detailed sculpture of a fox with cane and stirrups to the front, hinged lid opening to two cylindrical inkwell cutouts, and original iron horse shoe...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate, Iron

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.

Recently Viewed

View All