Sterling Silver-Mounted "Controlled Bubbles" Crystal Inkwell

Large, Victorian period, sterling silver-mounted controlled bubbles crystal inkwell with hinged lid, Boston, circa 1895, Bigleow ,Kennard and Co. makers. Measures: 3 3/4 inches high ...

Edwardian, sterling silver - mounted onyx inkwell, Birmingham, England, year-hallmarked for 1915. Measures 3 3/4 inches wide (at widest point) x 2 1/4 inches high x 4 inches deep. So...

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...

Unusual, vintage, sterling silver-mounted, controlled bubbles crystal match holder, Sheffield, England, year-hallmarked for 2007. The controlled b...

These interesting inkwells were crafted in Britain between the Victorian period and early to mid-20th century. The works have been created from horse hooves, applied with sterling silver mounts. Each hoof has been set onto a silver horseshoe and features a silver top and lid. Two of the tops have been engraved to imitate real horse hair, while the third is more simple, with banded ornament. All three have been given covers, two of which feature commemorative inscriptions. One lid states, ‘The Grey/1907-1917’ — presumably the name of the favourite racehorse, whose hoof this is — and another reads, ‘Mavourneen/ Died June 29th / Aged 53’. ‘Mavourneen’ is an Irish Gaelic word meaning ‘my beloved’. The dedicatee’s age of 53 implies that they were a human, perhaps a jokey, or racehorse owner. The lids open up onto a silver-lined interior, intended to be used for storing ink as part of a desk arrangement. The inkwells are stamped, on their underside, with silver hallmarks and maker’s marks, ‘J.T.’ and ‘C & CS’. This set of three horse hoof inkwells...

French Ormolu monkey motif green crystal controlled bubble paperweight. France, Circa 1900s. An extraordinary work, with fine cast ormo...

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....

Antique English hallmarked sterling silver & cut crystal clock inkwell, circa 1900.