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Inkwells

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Inkwells For Sale
Double Patina Bronze Inkwell, Playing Dog, Period, Charles X, 19th Century
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
A lovely bronze inkwell, double patina, brown and gold, featuring a dog with a lively look, wanting to play, on a base with a doucine decorated with a frieze of water leaves. This...
Category

19th Century Charles X Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Rare Art Nouveau French Ormolu and Crystal Inkwell Encrier by Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
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...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu

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

Art Deco chrome inkwell
Located in Barnstaple, GB
Circa 1930s a charming chrome on marble depiction of a little girl seated reading a book next to an inkwell. She sits upon a variegated black marble plinth with chased recess for a f...
Category

1930s British Art Deco Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Chrome

Antique Black Forest Carved Wooden Pug Inkwell, 19th Century Dog Carving
Located in Bristol, GB
Antique Carving in the Form of a Dog Raised up on his hind legs, the head with original glass eyes tilts back to reveal the original glass inkwell ins...
Category

19th Century German Black Forest Antique Inkwells

Materials

Wood

Silver inkwell , Italy, Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Silver inkwell is a vintage silver decorative object. A beautiful inkweel with stamps realized in the mid-20th Century. Don't miss this precious object
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Inkwells

Materials

Silver

Antique Inkwell, Bronze, Late 19th Century, Dog and Cat
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful inkwell made of bronze. Depicted is a doghouse with a dog barking at the cat on the roof. The roof of the doghouse opens to reveal the inkwell. Nicely chiseled bronze work.
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Victorian Brass Inlaid Ebonised Wood Boulle Inkstand
Located in London, GB
Victorian brass inlaid ebonised wood Boulle inkstand English, 19th century Measures: height 12.5cm, width 38cm, depth 23.5cm Made from ebonised wo...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Antique English Wedgwood Blue Porcelain Coromandel Wood Inkwell, Circa 1880.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Wedgwood blue porcelain and coromandel wood inkwell desk compendium, circa 1880.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Antique English Presentation Inkwell & Desk Set with Horse Jockey Theme
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique desk set has no maker's signature, but is presumed to have originated from England and date to approximately 1890 and done in the period ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Onyx, Brass

Scandinavian Desk Set in Bronze by Gusum, A 5 Pieces Set, Signed
Located in Paris, FR
A very rare desk set of 5 pieces made by Gosum. Sweden. Signed Bronze.
Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern Inkwells

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Inkwell in red marble with "Allegory of writing" in gilt bronze, signed H.CHAPU
Located in Paris, FR
Inkwell in red Griotte marble and gilt bronze representing an allegory of writing by Henri Chapu (1833-1891). This old 19th century inkstand is ...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

Beautiful Art Nouveau Inkwell, Signed "Guénardeau", Susse Frères
Located in Greven, DE
Exceptionally beautiful inkwell from the French Art Nouveau period. Great workmanship of Art Nouveau decor with maple and vine motifs on the bottom of the pen tray, the ink cup holde...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Gold, Bronze

Arthur & Bond Sterling Silver Inkwell with Repousse & Chased Water Lilies
By Arthur Bond
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique inkwell was made by the well known English owned Arthur & Bond of Japan in approximately 1900 in a period Anglo-Japanese style. The cube shaped bottle of the inkwell is ...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Sterling Silver

19th Century French Enameled Champlevé Inkwell
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning and rare French mid-19th century encier in Louis Revival taste with Moorish Arabesque influence. Handcrafted in Champlevé enameled gilt bronze with ornate and colorful blue, pink, red, green and white enameling over the heavily shaped and scalloped base, that borders the stunning Severes style (I have not removed it to check for a makers mark) enameled porcelain tray scene of frolicking putti. The stunning enameling continues on the raised inkwell body and hinged lid with finial. Opposite, two raised balls act as a pen rest, the inkstand raising on four ball feet. Similar to French cloisonne, each champlevé design is a one-of-a-kind work of art. A beautiful warm verdigris patina adds to its character and charm. This wonderful antique objet...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

19th Century Scottish Double Inkwell
Located in Cheshire, GB
19th century Scottish double inkwell by Arthur Medlock with two hoof inkwells with metal covers centred by a facet citrine, on a wooden base, th...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Inkwells

Materials

Oak

Antique Victorian Tatum's Dual Postal Ink Stand with Two Crystal Inkwells
Located in Stamford, CT
Hard to find antique Victorian Tatum's dual postal inkwell stand with two crystal inkwells in a decorative iron stand with hinged lids and three pen quail rests. The inkwell is signed Tatum's Postal Ink Stand and is in very good condition, a nice desk...
Category

Late 19th Century American Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Iron

18th/19th Century English Georgian III Period Matthew Boulton Inkstand
Located in Forney, TX
A fine quality Georgian III period silver plated inkstand by celebrated English silversmith Matthew Boulton, displaying all of the timeless eleganc...
Category

Late 18th Century English Georgian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver Plate

19th C. Antique Writing Stand Desk Office Inkwell Center Piece Chinese Porcelain
Located in West Hollywood, CA
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...
Category

19th Century French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Wood Black Forest Brienz Carved Walnut Inkwell German Antique, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1890s Black Forest Brienz wood carved inkwell in form of a walnut on a leaf. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and gl...
Category

1890s German Black Forest Antique Inkwells

Materials

Metal

French 2 Pot Inkwell Stand with a Hunting Retriever Dog
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
French 2 pot inkwell stand with a Hunting Retriever Dog This is a very attractive desk top inkwell, the centre of the stand is set with a curly coated retrie...
Category

Late 19th Century Country Antique Inkwells

Materials

Spelter

Antique Continental .800 Silver Daybed Form Hinged Silver Inkwell
Located in Stamford, CT
A fabulous antique continental .800 silver desk set in the form of a daybed or chez lounge. Standing on four incredibly elegant legs and all over figural r...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver

Cut Glass Tortoise Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Cut glass tortoise inkwell. Vintage turtle pillbox inkwell of cut glass carrying a mounted finial topped circular lidded well originally for ink but cha...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver Plate

Art Deco Desk Set with Ink Wells & Calendar
Located in Oakland, CA
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...
Category

1930s French Art Deco Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Metal

Antique 19th Century French Green Marble and Ormolu Ink Stand.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique handsome 19th century French green marble and ormolu ink stand.
Category

19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Antique Kayserzinn Pewter Inkwell with Lovebirds, German, 1910s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Decorative inkwell with two small lovebirds and original ink-glass. Manufactured by Kayserzinn in Germany circa 1910. It features a rustic authentic patina and the original silver-pl...
Category

1910s German Arts and Crafts Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Pewter

French Marble and Bronze Inkwell Signed Ferdinand Barbedienne, Paris, circa 1870
Located in Milan, IT
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...
Category

1860s French Empire Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Bronze

LOVELY ANTIQUE FRENCH BAROQUE REPOUSSE GiLT BRASS CHERUB INKWELL LETTER STAND
Located in GB
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...
Category

Early 1900s French Edwardian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Late 19thC Spelter Ink Stand Centered with a Gun Dog
Located in Altrincham, GB
Late 19thC spelter ink stand Centred with a Gun Dog with pheasant in its mouth, flanked by glass inkwells in a shaped base c1890 Measures: 10" W x 5" D x 5" H.
Category

Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Spelter

Late 19th c. French Hand Painted Faience Inkwell, signed Alice Chaumeil
Located in Winter Park, FL
A good French inkwell faience with great colors and details. Minors chips on the edges but overall condition. Signed CA,, with number 820. From Alcide Chaumeil's atelier in Paris ac...
Category

Early 20th Century European French Provincial Inkwells

Materials

Ceramic

Art Nouveau Repousse Brass & Glass Inkwell
Located in Austin, TX
Circa 1900, this antique inkwell exemplifies the Art Nouveau period in decorative arts through the shape of its glass bowl and repousse brass-hinged cov...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Rare French Ormolu and Diamond-Cut Crystal Figural Inkwell Encrier by Baccarat
Located in New York, NY
A rare French Ormolu and diamond-cut crystal figural inkwell Encrier by Baccarat, circa 1875. Depicting a cherub with books, with the finest ormolu mounts, this exquisite jewel...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu

Marcel Bing, Art Nouveau Butterfly Inkwell in Enameled Bronze, France, 1905
By Marcel Bing
Located in New York, NY
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...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Antique French Cloisonné Enamel & Gold Bronze 7 Piece Inkwell Desk Set, Ca. 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Cloisonné Enamel & Gold Bronze 7 Piece Inkwell Desk Set, Circa 1890. Includes: Inkwell, Pen Holder, Drip Box (with pencil sharpener an...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

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 either end.
Category

Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Rubber

Black Forest Carved Terrier Inkwell, Hinged Lid, with Pen Tray, Swiss, ca. 1880
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Black Forest Breinzware Inkwell, carved as begging terrier with tongue protruding, with inset glass eyes, the hinged head concealing a glass inkwell, the dogs front paws mounted on a naturalistically carved hollowed tree forming the pen tray, Brienz, Switzerland ca. 1880. *Jay Arenski, et al, quotes Swiss Poet Heinrich Federer, who said in his memoirs, "Woodcarving brought riches to the village [of Brienz]. It became all the fashion and no Englishman left the Bernese Highlands without having seen the Giessbach, having eaten a fat roasted eel, and having bought a Brienz woodcarving." Arenski continues, "Thus, as the tourist industry flourished and thrived, so did the carvers, selling their wares to the well-heeled visitors." This fashion had been set in motion by Queen Victoria's visit to the area in April 1868, and by her subsequent inspiration to build a Swiss chalet at Osborne House and fill it with Black Forest Swiss carvings...
Category

1880s Swiss Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Softwood

Antique Fayence Inkwell By Henri Delcourt, 1925s, France, Monogram HDV
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful heart shaped faience inkwell by the french artist Henri Delcourt. Monogrammed at the bottom " HDV". One tint cup and three holes for feather pens. Faiences are open-pored ...
Category

1920s Arts and Crafts Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Faience

Unusual Antique Victorian Quality Brass Inkwell
Located in Suffolk, GB
Unusual antique Victorian quality brass inkwell having a quality antique Victorian brass inkwell of a dog with original glass eyes on a circula...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

French Bronze Mounted Chinoiserie Floral Painted Inkwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
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...
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Rare Mammoth English Victorian Novelty Inkwell, Owl with Glass Eyes C.1880
Located in Bath, GB
A truly outstanding and rare find, this is an outstanding Victorian figural inkwell made from a winning combination of brass and silver plate and retaining his wonderful two original...
Category

1880s British Late Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

English Regency antique inkwell ecrier in patinated bronze
Located in London, GB
A fine English Regency period patinated bronze inkwell in the shape of a long ship. The main body of the inkwell is in the form of a ship and in a form of shipbuilding known as clink...
Category

19th Century English Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Black Forest Carved Large Terrier Inkwell, Hinged Lid, Exceptional Carving
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Black Forest Breinzware Large Inkwell, carved as begging terrier with tongue protruding, with inset glass eyes, the hinged head concealing a glass inkwel...
Category

1880s Swiss Black Forest Antique Inkwells

Materials

Softwood

Majolica Rams Head English Decorated Partners Desk Stand with Inkwells
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very stylish English majolica pottery partners desk stand with inkwells with ram heads by renowned maker William Brownfield and dating from around 1870. The rectangular shaped desk...
Category

19th Century English High Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Pottery

Royal Vienna 19th Century Hand Painted Double Inkwell
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A beautifully hand painted Royal Vienna double inkwell. The floral decoration on the stand and the two removable original ink holders with hinged lids. The Royal Vienna beehive...
Category

1890s Antique Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain

Vintage Brass Inkwell, Single Inkstand, England 1930, H305
Located in Vancouver, BC
Vintage Brass Inkwell, Single Inkstand, England 1930, H305 England 1930 Single Inkwell With Brass Fitting And Cover Sitting In A Brass Base H3...
Category

1930s English Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Brass

19th Century Victorian English Double Inkwell Desk Set
Located in Forney, TX
A charming Victorian era English silver plate desk stand, born in the late 19th century, having two glass inkwell pots, candlestick, recessed pen wells, gadrooned border, ebonized ca...
Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver Plate

Gorham Sterling Silver 1886 Table Top Double Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Gorham sterling silver tabletop double inkwell from 1886 with intricately pierced figural gallery. It contains two glass inkwells with sterling silver caps and has an open compartment with hinged door. A great gift and addition to one's home or collection. It measures 7 3/4'' in length by 2 7/8'' in height by 4 3/4'' in depth, and bears hallmarks and monograms as shown. During the heyday of American silver manufacturing–approximately 1850 to 1940–Gorham was one of the most influential. The White House has used Gorham silver services...
Category

1880s American Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

Early 19th Century Bronze and Ormolu Encrier
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century bronze and ormolu Encrier having lyre and flower handle flanked by engine-turned inkwells with penholders, raised on platform base ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Regency Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Cricket Ball Inkwell
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Rare Novelty Cricket Inkwell. A wonderful leather covered traveling inkwell in the shape of a cricket ball. This is a very desirable, rare and unusual obj...
Category

1920s British Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Brass

French Set of Champleve Enameled Small Inkwell and Letter Opener
Located in Guaynabo, PR
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...
Category

Early 20th Century French Classical Roman Inkwells

Materials

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

20th Century Italian Solid Silver Inkstans Empyre Style
Located in VALENZA, IT
Empire style 800 silver inkstand The base of the inkstand, completely handmade, is shaped like a "cathedral". The classic "palmettes" of the Empire style have been chiseled around i...
Category

1990s Empire Inkwells

Materials

Silver

Antique Metal Inkwell, Victorian Double Inkstand, England 1890, H302
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Metal Inkwell, Victorian Double Inkstand, England 1890, H302 England 1890 Metal Three Quarter Metal Gallery Pen Rest To The Back Pair ...
Category

1890s English Antique Inkwells

Materials

Metal

Vintage Carved Wooden Inkwell, Shape of a Corn Hush, European 1930, H307
Located in Vancouver, BC
Vintage carved wooden inkwell, shape of a corn hush, European 1930, H307 European 1930 Wood A carved wooden corn hush with lid top Opens to reveal a si...
Category

1930s European Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Neo-Classical Style Gilt Bronze Desk Inkwell
Located in Kennesaw, GA
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.
Category

Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

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 plated horseshoe and a square gallery to secure the glass inkwell. The glass inkwell is topped with a hinged brass lid in the form of a Jockey's cap with a silver plated peak, slight wear to edge. There is a support for a dip pen...
Category

1890s British Late Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver Plate, Brass

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 sterling silver inkstand / desk standish has a rectangular shaped form. This antique inkstand is plain and embellished with chased and embossed egg decorated borders. The surface of this exceptional example of antique silverware incorporates two elongated oval recesses, composing pen wells. This antique hallmarked silver inkstand is supported by four impressive cast paw style feet embellished with scroll and leaf decoration in junction with the plain collet rim. The body of the inkstand incorporates two cylindrical ink bottles flanking a central rectangular stamp box. The impressive ink bottles are each embellished with impressive applied rams head masks conjoined with swag decoration, in addition to leaf and egg decorated borders. Each ink bottle is surmounted with a push fit cover, allowing access to the original glass liner. The centre of each cover is fitted with a cast silver flame decorated finial; once removed this provides a pierced hole for access to the contents of the ink bottle. The central sterling silver stamp box...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver, Sterling Silver

WMF Secessionist Art Nouveau Pewter Inkstand of Rectangular Organic Flowing Form
Located in London, GB
WMF. Secessionist Art Nouveau Pewter Inkstand. Germany. The inkstand is of rectangular organic form with stylized clovers to the front border, plain deep welled front and smaller si...
Category

Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Inkwells

Materials

Pewter

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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