A Portoro Black and Gold Marble Inkwell Desk set

Fine mid-19th century inkwell with inlaid mother-of-pearl decoration surrounding pen trays, a lidded compartment and two crystal inkwells. The whole raised atop four flattened bun feet.

A very handsome letter holder in beautifully patinated leather with fine stitching.

An Art Nouveau bronze letter opener with beautiful carvings.

Set of six decorative vases by the firm of Villeroy & Boch, each with splatter-glaze decoration having a midcentury or studio feel.

A fine and original Christian Dell light. Brown painted metal with adjustable arm and base.

Small Art Deco period eggshell and black lacquer vase. Abstract modern exterior with eggshell ground, black lacquer circle and arc, interior and bas...

We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Original and important desk set in polished black marble; the massive inkwell with an elongated octagonal shape, has a container with a hinged lid that echoes the shape of the top, inside there are two cylindrical housings for glass ink containers (one of which is missing); on the plan has been created a seat for a pen; the part below the inkwell is rough, not polished and there are applied four circular feet in black wood; the ticket holders have a rectangular base with three metal supports to support tickets or envelopes, finally we find the pad with ink blotting paper. It was handcrafted in France between 1930 and 1933 when the Art Deco movement was at its peak; our desk set features classic, symmetrical shapes and sharp geometries reflecting the energetic and compact style of Art Deco. The thing that makes it precious and fascinating is the material with which it was made: it is Portoro (or Portovenere) marble, one of the most valuable qualities of Italian marble. This material has an ancient and compelling history that links it to the Etruscan civilization present in Luni, in the province of La Spezia (Italy), still today its only place of extraction. The Etruscans and then the Romans loved it immensely for its decorative aspect and for those celebratory golden veins, due to the oxidation of the organic substance present in the mixture, so perfect for objects of art and furnishings that over the centuries have embellished homes and brought prestige to kings and emperors. Portoro is one of the most beautiful of polychrome marbles; the highly prized Italian stone has an intense, brilliant black color with golden veins ranging from deep yellow to honey-colored; the uniqueness of its appearance makes it a unique marble, irreplaceable as an ornamental material. There is no similar stone that is as distinctive and as luxuriously sophisticated. Portoro is a true work of art of nature, in front of which it is easy to be enchanted. As we have said, the outcrops of Portoro that are exploited for extraction are present exclusively in the province of La Spezia and extend in particular from the islands of Tinetto, Tino, and Palmaria towards Portovenere. The current number of quarries is very limited compared to the last century and the blocks are obtained inside large chambers whose vault is supported by pillars to avoid the impact on the landscape (see photo). At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the export in Europe developed, first to France, Belgium, and Switzerland to embellish palaces and castles such as those of Versailles, Marly, and Compiegne, then to the United States of America: the great projection room of Paramount is completely covered with the so-called "Black and Gold Marble", as Portoro marble is often called in English-speaking countries. Our set is a simple and charming set that by virtue of its extreme elegance and its strong and decisive line, makes it pleasantly placed on any desk or desk. The items are in good condition, you can see a small superficial crack on the unpolished part below the top (see photo), also missing a glass container for ink. Measures inkwell width cm.35, depth cm.21, height cm.10; ticket holder width cm.15, depth cm.8, height cm.12; ink pad...

late 19th century Ram Horns with snake on marble Inkwell Desk Set

An inkwell, a mail buffer and a pad with ink blotting paper. Manufactured in France during 1930's. Made of Italian Portoro marble and chrome plated steel. In ...

Very precious Italian inkwell and signature pad with original paper. It's made with very rare portoro marble, particular for its black with brown and gold veins. Price is for the com...

An art deco desk set manufactured in Italy in the Thirties, in original conditions with small signs of use and age, brass it's in original patina. Dimensions are of the Inkstand. Thi...

Onyx and bronze inkwell desk set depicting Louis Pasteur. A nicely cast bronze with double ink holders on an onyx pen and pencil base.