Pewter Desk Accessories

French Art Nouveau Inkwell by Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, France, circa 1890. A rare and exquisite Art Nouveau inkwell by renowned French ceramist Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910). This finely crafted piece showcases Dalpayrat’s signature red copper-glazed stoneware, especially rich and luminous near the base. Elegantly mounted in pewter, the design exemplifies the organic flow and refined detail of the Art Nouveau period. Dimensions: Height: 3.54 in. (9 cm) Diameter: 5.12 in. (13 cm) Materials: Stoneware with pewter mount Condition: Excellent+++++, museum-quality preservation Markings: Incised signature "Dalpayrat 1500" under the base (see photo) This inkwell is a collectible example of French ceramic art at the turn of the century—perfect for collectors of Art Nouveau, 19th-century French ceramics, or the works of Dalpayrat. Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910): A Pioneer of French Ceramic Innovation Adrien Dalpayrat was a French ceramicist and researcher who played a key role in the revival of stoneware at the end of the 19th century. Born in 1844 in Limoges, Dalpayrat studied drawing and porcelain painting in his hometown before beginning his professional career at the Jules Vieillard faience factory in Bordeaux. There, he met his wife, Marie Tallerie, with whom he had two sons—Albert and Adolphe—who would later become his primary collaborators. Throughout his early career, Dalpayrat worked for several major ceramic manufacturers, including Ashwin (Valentine), Fouquet (Toulouse), François Blanc (Monaco), and Léon Sazerat (Limoges). In 1889, seeking greater independence, he moved to the Paris region and established his own studio in Bourg-la-Reine. Collaborations and Artistic Evolution Dalpayrat’s creative vision expanded through his collaboration with sculptor Alphonse Voisin-Delacroix. Together, they explored neo-Gothic and Palissy-inspired motifs, creating a remarkable ceramic bestiary. Following Voisin-Delacroix’s death in 1893, Dalpayrat partnered with Adèle Lesbros, which marked a shift in his work toward simpler, more refined vase forms influenced by Japonism. Japanese art had been introduced to France during the 1867 Universal Exhibition, but it wasn’t until the 1878 Exhibition, particularly through the ceremonial stoneware used in the Japanese tea ceremony, that Japonism truly captivated French artists. This influence led Dalpayrat to create vessels with organic, vegetal, and animal-inspired forms. Technical Mastery: The Secrets of Copper Red Among all the ceramists of his time who sought to replicate the elusive Chinese “sang de boeuf” (oxblood) glaze, Adrien Dalpayrat was arguably the most successful. He didn’t simply reproduce the legendary copper red—he transformed it. By manipulating glaze thickness, firing temperature, atmosphere, and copper oxide content, he developed a unique palette of flamed and mottled red glazes that became his signature: the renowned Dalpayrat red. He further enriched his pieces by introducing streaks and inclusions of turquoise, blue, green, and yellow—freeing the red glaze from monochromy and turning it into an expressive, living surface. His work pushed stoneware beyond function into expressive art, merging form and glaze in bold, sculptural harmony. Beyond Ceramics: Bronze Mounts and Architectural Works Dalpayrat also collaborated with renowned jewelers such as Ernest Cardeilhac and Keller to produce pieces mounted in gilt bronze, blending ceramics with decorative arts at the highest level. In an effort to make his work more accessible, he opened a second faience workshop focused on simpler, more affordable pieces inspired by Nevers and Rouen ware. However, this venture faced financial difficulties and closed by 1900. The main family studio followed in 1906 as the popularity of Art Nouveau declined. Dalpayrat then returned to Limoges, devoting his final years to painting and drawing until his death in 1910. Legacy and Recognition Despite financial struggles during his lifetime, Dalpayrat’s ceramics were widely acclaimed at major international exhibitions: Bronze medal, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago (1893) Silver medal, Antwerp International Exhibition (1894) Gold medal, Exposition Universelle, Paris (1900) Today, his work is part of prestigious museum collections. In 2020, the Petit Palais in Paris acquired a large bird motif vase created in collaboration with Voisin-Delacroix, now on view in Room...

WMF Art Nouveau Jugendstil pewter photograph frame, Germany C.1900, WMF. Ref No 90 page 304 WMF 1906 catalogue. WMF marks B 1/0 beehive B and export mark. Overall measurements: 8 3/4...

A very stylish German Jugendstil pewter desk stand and inkwell by renowned makers WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) and dating from around 1906. The stand comprises of a centr...

Mauro Manetti classic style stirrup cup, is of plain beaker form with a cast boar head to one end. Playful stirrup cup from the 1970s in brass and silver plate. Gorgeous stirrup cup ...

A petite Just Andersen pewter cache pot with fluted rim Perfect as a desk accessory or purely ornamental Stamped and numbered 2352 on base Height 2.5 inch, Diameter 2.75 inch In ver...

A large and solid silver pewter art nouveau letter opener featuring a lady - a wonderful decorative piece for any desk or work station.

Antique Just Andersen, Danish pewter Viking ship salt cellar. Stamped and numbered 1109 on base Circa 1920's Height 2.25 inch, Width 4.25 inch, Depth 1....

Antique 19th century library writing barometric / barometer pen holder and ink stand, Circa 1860s-1880s. Made of brass featuring pewter inkwell with glass dome reservoir and slots f...

Antique French Rococo style gilt pewter and porcelain inkwell from circa 1900, marked "Chatelain". This beautifully shaped gilt pewter inkwell is adorned with flowers in the center ...

This is a vintage Parisian ink tray. A French, pewter brass desktop inkwell in Art Deco taste, dating to the early 20th century, circa 1930. Alluring tonality and form, to this fin...

Dagger style letter opener featuring leaf-shaped blade and a handmade pewter handle depicting a hunt dog. It was made in Italy in the mid-late 19 th century by an unknown jeweler or ...

One of a kind letter knife made by Just Andersen, Denmark in the 1930's with the original box from the Jeweller that the knife were bought from. Mint condition been laying in the bo...

Inkwell with Beetle Relief Origin: France Material: clear pressed glass, silver-plated metal lid Date: circa 1900 Dimensions: H × W × D: 11 × 8 × 8 cm Description: Square inkwell ...

Style WMF Art Nouveau Punch Bowl Pewter with Levers and Organic Details Pewter with Organic style details With original Patina on all the parts. We Prefer to sell our items in 'uncl...

Joseph Reinemann Jugendstil Pewter Novelty Bird Desk Inkwell, Germany c1902. Joseph Reinemann, Munich, a Jugendstil silvered pewter novelty desk inkwell in the form of a grotesque bi...

Original Glasgow School of Art, artist's proof of a pewter casting of a Victorian door knob The mold for this one-off casting was created using a V...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Compulsion Gallery Pewter model of a Jaguar Mark I made in 1955-1959 This is one of the sleekest and most elegant cars ever made, it was produced during 1955-1959, can you imagine post war Britain...

Place this elegant antique signed inkwell in a man’s office. Created in France, circa 1880, the pewter desk accessory sits on four small curved feet, an...

A hand mirror in pewter designed in Sweden but not marked, it is in a beautiful Art Deco style from the 1930-1940´s. It is 15 cm in diameter and in very ...

Vintage Casino Monte Carlo wine tester in Pewter with the fleur de Lys as a handle and the Monaco flag inside the bowl marked with the Casino Monte Carl...

An elegant and rare 4-piece desk set designed by Carl-Einar Borgström for Ystad Tenn, Sweden. Executed in pewter with details in Bakelite, this Art Deco set includes: – Inkwell stan...

Just Andersen. Two matchbox holders and a vase in pewter, 1930s. In good condition with minor wear. Matchbox holder measures: 10.5 x 6.5 cm. The vase measures: 14.5 x 6 cm. Stamp...

Decorative Mid-20th Century English Pewter Letter Opener England, circa 1950s Pewter A finely cast English letter opener or paper knife, crafted in pewter with a decorative handle f...

A fantastic inkwell in the form of a pocket globe, dating from the mid 19th century.

Art Nouveau antique pewter footed tray made by Liberty & Co., Regent Street, London Historic household piece of English pewter with hand hammered stylised decoration Circa 1910 Signe...

Small round pewter plate with London and makers mark on the rear side.

A fantastic inkwell in the form of a pocket globe, dating from the mid 19th century.

Ink-stand designed by Nils Fougstedt. Produced by Fabriksaktiebolaget Kronsilver in Sweden.  

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...

One 1930s Danish Art Deco pewter elephant bookend by sculptor, Just Andersen.

Art Nouveau antique pewter footed dish for Liberty & Co., Regent Street, London Superb dark pewter patina and hand hammered with stylised edging decoration Circa 1910 Signed English ...

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...

A fantastic set of Paul Evans 'Patchwork Copper' smoking accessories, manufactured by C.C. Design Inc and retailed by Directional in the 1970s, with beautiful light patina and age, p...

Pair of diminutive Just Andersen Disko metal flared flower vases with rich patina Delicate in design and particularly decorated at base with stylised leaves Stamped and numbered D5...

Just Andersen of Denmark, pewter stylised large match box holder Decorative chevron patterning border Circa 1930's Stamped 1497 on side panel Height 1.5 inch, Width 4 inch, Depth 2.5...

Elegant double inkwell crafted by renowned Swedish silversmith CG Hallberg, dating to the 1931. Executed in richly patinated, hand-hammered pewter, the piece features a rectangular t...

Antique Art Nouveau pewter inkwell Continental Pewter c. 1900 Dimensions: H x W x D: 10 cm x 21.5 cm x 15.5 cm This beautiful pewter inkwell was designed and crafted at the turn ...

A very well cast Italian pewter owl bust paperweight from retailer Buffums, circa 1970s. The piece is in very good vintage condition with no chips or cracks and measures 3"W 2.25"D x...

Walter Valentini was born in 1928 in South Italy. A painter and engraver, he lives and works in Milan. He is Holder of the chair for engraving at the ...

Modern desk set of pewter for letters and visit cards by Jean Goardere Measures: 26 x 20 cm 5 cm 20 x 14 cm 3 cm 11 x 6 cm 3 cm.

Classic Elizabeth II style stirrup cups, is of plain beaker form with a cast foxes head to one end. Set of two playful stirrup cups from the 1970s. Gorgeous stirrup cup adorned with a hand-carved fox head on its base. They balance with the animal heads up or down and can just be used as decorative objects if desired. Traditionally, a stirrup cup is the beverage given to guests just before the very moment of departure, referring to having one's feet in the stirrups. It is also the drink served at the meet before a fox hunt. Mauro Manetti Style Animal Heads Stirrup Goblets...

Wonderful huge plate designed by Olof Ahlberg in organic forms of the Art Nouveau, the design is datable to the year 1905. The pewter plate is masterfully ...

This is an antique Art Nouveau ink well. A French, pewter decorative pen tray, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Wonderful example fro...

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...

Letter case in pewter by Jean Goardere, hammered by hand by one of France's finest craftsmen, a remarkable piece of work. It will look wonderful on a desk.

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...

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...

Fishing spear wall thermometer, European, 1950s.

French Art Deco palisander and pewter inlaid inkwell with 2 crystal wells.

Celebrate the spirit of the hunt with this charming set of six vintage glass tumblers, each adorned with a detailed pewter emblem depicting traditional hunting motifs — including dee...

Fun and Whimsical antique figural letter opener of a man with a fly on top of his head. And that face, truly a great expression and a piece of sculptural art! Most likely pewter or s...

A squat pewter vessel for pouring oil fuel into a small opium lamp.

German Art Nouveau pewter inkstand with scroll designs supporting a square cut glass inkwell with a square molded pewter lid.  

Beautiful Scandinavian Modern paperweight in pewter, ca 1930s. Good vintage condition, wear and patina consistent with age and use.

Inkwell WMF Germany (Juatice) silver plate, crica 1920 Art nuveau. Art nouveau, modernist art or modernism was an international artistic and decorative movement, developed between ap...

Very rare and amazing pewter inkstand with glass tube by Nils Fougstedt, adorned with a flute playing, crosslegged Pan figurine -1930. Good vintage condit...

Rare pewter inkstand, Firma Svenskt Tenn, Sweden -1925. Lid in the shape of a fish, relief decoration along the sides. The insert in glass is missing. Wear and patina consistent wit...

Dated 1765 a pewter book stand size 20cms high open 25cms x 30cms flat

Antique English cast pewter inkwell of an Asian scholar sporting a Fu Manchu mustache and ponytail, fixed to a lacquered wood tray.

Art Nouveau rectangular pewter double inkwell with floral design and shaped gallery corners (Kayserginn).