England Inkwells

This spectacular piece has a shaped broad rectangular form and stands on four winged paw feet. The edge of the main body is decorated with gadrooning interspersed with raying shells,...

19th century model of a ship's capstan in mahogany with a hinged lid enclosing an inkwell.

A very rare and important exhibition encrier by François Linke and Léon Messagé. French, circa 1900. Index number 709. Signed to the edge 'F. Linke'. This exceptional and ambitious encrier is modelled as two putti, each holding a standard and sitting on the water's edge, the two inkwells with hinged spirally-fluted covers with glass liners. This important inkwell is based on Léon Messagé's celebrated sculptural group 'La Source' and was originally intended by Linke to form part of his spectacular Stand at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Like seven or eight other pieces originally intended for inclusion on the Stand, it would seem the encrier was a casualty of both Linke's over-ambitious production schedule and the financial burden that the manufacture of such ornate and high quality work imposed. It was eventually shown on the Stand in September after the gilding was finished by Picard at a cost of 90 French francs. The costs of the model were very high: some 2024 francs (of which Message's combined fee was 1158 francs 40 centimes), underlining the originality and complexity. The 1900 Exposition example was sold, along with three important pieces of furniture from the Stand (the Grand bureau and associated armchair, and the Bahut Louis XV Mars et Vénus), to the South African banker and diamond merchant Solomon Joel. A further six encriers were produced up until 1925. Object Literature: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, 1855-1946, The Belle Époque of French Furniture, p. 90, pl. 97; p. 149, pl. 157; p. 150; pp. 182-183, pls 197 & 198 as exhibited at the Liege exhibition in 1905 & p. 480 for the original notes in Linke's Blue daybook of the late 1890s. François Linke (1855 - 1946) was the most important Parisian cabinet maker of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and possibly the most sought after cabinet maker of his period. He was born in 1855 in the small village of Pankraz, in what is now the Czech Republic. Records show that Linke served an apprenticeship with the master cabinetmaker Neumann, then in 1875 at the age of 20 he arrived in Paris where he lived until he died in 1946. It is known that the fledgling Linke workshops were active in Paris in the Faubourg St. Antoine as early as 1881, and during this time he supplied furniture for other more established makers such as Jansen and Krieger. The quality of Linke's craftsmanship was unsurpassed by any of his contemporaries and reached its peak with his spectacular Stand at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1900, where his Grand Bureau took the Gold Medal. He gambled his fortune and reputation on this Stand, exhibiting several breathtaking items of furniture with sculptural mounts of the most exceptional quality and proportion. His gamble worked and his reputation was established to such an extent that Linke continued to be the pre-eminent furniture house in Paris until the Second World War. As the Art Journal reported in 1900 on Linke's Stand: 'The work of M. Linke ... was an example of what can be done by seeking inspiration amongst the Classic examples of Louis XV and XVI without in any great sense copying these great works. M. Linke's work was original in the true sense of the word, and as such commended itself to the intelligent seeker after the really artistic things of the Exhibition. Wonderful talent was employed in producing the magnificent pieces of furniture displayed....' The formation of Linke's distinctive style was made possible by his collaboration with the sculptor Léon Messagé. Together Linke and Messagé designed furniture for Linke's 1900 exhibition Stand, with exuberant allegorical figures cast in high relief, that exemplified Linke's ability to seamlessly merge the different mediums of wood carving, bronze and marquetry into a dynamic unified whole. Today Linke is best known for the exceptionally high quality of his work, as well as his individualism and inventiveness. All of his work has the finest, most lavish mounts, very often applied to comparatively simple carcasses. The technical brilliance of his work and the artistic change that it represented were never to be repeated. Bibliography: Payne, Christopher. François Linke, (1855 - 1946), The Belle Époque of French Furniture, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2003. Meyer, Jonathan. Great Exhibitions - London, New York, Paris, Philadelphia, 1851-1900, Antique Collectors' Club, (Woodbridge, UK), 2006; pp. 298 - 300. LeDoux - Lebard, Denise. Les Ébénistes du XIXe siècle, Les Editions de l'Amateur, (Paris), 1984; pp. 439-43. Revue Artistique & Industrielle, (Paris), July-August 1900. Coral Thomsen, D. (ed), The Paris Exhibition 1900, The Art Journal, 1901; p.341. Léon Messagé (1842-1901) had a brilliant, but short lived career. He is best known for his incredible sculptural collaboration with François Linke for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A gifted sculptor, Messagé was also responsible for much of the design and creative work for Roux et Brunet and Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. Messagé enjoyed great success as a designer/sculptor before his collaboration with Linke. Indeed he was mentioned as a Gold Medal winner at the 1889 International Exhibition and was especially praised for his work on a cabinet by Zwiener. He came into contact with Linke in 1885 and it appears from then on Linke employed him on a regular basis. Messagé was primarily influenced by Rococo ornament but he strove to re-interpret it. He did not produce slavish copies, and his original approach can be appreciated in Linke's celebrated Grande Bibliothèque and Grand Bureau exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. A number of drawings by Messagé are recorded and after his success at the exhibition of 1889 he was encouraged to publish his designs. 'Cahier...

Antique 20th Century German silver plated inkwell depicting a group of children on a toboggan sliding down the mountain, under one of the mountain peaks is a glass lined inkwell. A f...

Gorgeous French malachite desk inkwell set Love the colour and grain to the malachite which really stands out The gilt fixtures are original and very well cast with great patina Come...

A Napoleon III bronze inkwell Encrier. Three winged cupids holding up a bowl with masked faces with an eagle standing atop. Dimensions: H 16cm W 11cm D 8cm Origin: French Date: ...

Antique early-20th Century Victorian lignum vitae inkwell carved in the form of a bulldog head. The detail is of exceptional quality, featuring glass eyes and a red felt collar aroun...

Inkwell Charles X French Gothic in Patinated Bronze, Early 19th Century Gothic inkwell in patinated bronze and fine chiseled bronze decorated with arcatures, rosettes, polylobed mo...

Grey & Co Silver  From our Accessories collection, we are pleased to offer this Antique English Silver & Tortoiseshell Inkwell. The Inkwell of globular shape with a quilt cut glass ...

A George V silver double inkstand presented to Major Seymour Egerton, Coldstream Guards, by Prince Arthur Duke of Connaught & Strathearn, of rectangular fo...

A wonderful and very large example of a figural Black Forest inkwell in the form of a Dog's head, with a beautiful bright patina. He retains his original large glass eyes, without d...

The Inkwell of square shape made from glass with hand cut diamond quilt pattern to the exterior. The lid of the inkwell mounted with a Sterling Silver hinged lid is hallmarked to the...

A Rare Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Inkwell. Designed by Léon Messagé and Cast By The Ferdinand Barbedienne Foundry, Paris. Designed in the exuberant Rococo style surmounted by a sea...

An outstanding late Victorian inkwell made from two cattle horns and mounted with silver plated fittings, a stunning combination and always highly sought-after; I haven't had one of ...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique George V English sterling silver Art Deco ink box; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This exceptional antique George V ...

A fine vintage Must de Cartier crystal inkwell. It is a melon shaped inkwell with a chunky ribbed crystal body, reflecting the light beautifully, the ...

Baroque Style Putti Letter Rack with 2 Inkwells This is a very grand desk top inkwell, the letter sections are decorated with Putti and Cherubs th...

In the manner of Paul Storr. A very rare George IV Bachelor Inkstand made in Sheffield in 1822 by Thomas & James Settle. This exceptionally rare Inkstand is modelled in the bachelor...

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...

Townshend Art Metal Workers. Birmingham. An Anglo-Japanese brass pen/quill tray with a pair of porcelain inkwells decorated with cherry blossoms. Impressed makers mark.

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...

Viennese cold-painted bronze and marble inkstand by Franz Xaver Bergman Austrian, c. 1910 Height 22cm, width 40cm, depth 17cm Crafted by the renowned Franz Xaver Bergman (1861-1936)...

Magaret Gilmour School. An Arts & Crafts brass inkwell with a dome lid and Celtic interlacing around the inkwell body and to each side of the base with a shallow pen holder at the fr...

Quality antique Victorian Staffordshire Greyhound inkwell having a greyhound laying on a shaped blue coloured base, hand painted in wonderful blue an...

Quality pair of antique Victorian Staffordshire Dalmatian inkwells having a quality pair of Dalmatians laying down on a blue shaped base hand p...

A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry, made of ebonised fruitwood naturalistically carved with a cockerel and hen perched on a rocky outcrop, bundles of wh...

Elegant Art Deco Silver Plated Desk Inkwell Made in Denmark Ideal For A Central Focal Point For A Desk Or Writing Station. Stamped With 2 towers indicating Danish Silver Plate tha...

A fantastic quality beaten copper with turquoise finial arts and crafts inkwell signed by Edgar Simpson. A superb jewellery designer whose workmanship is of the very highest quality ...

Rare Luxurious Silver Plated Stag's Head Ink Stand Desk Set Comprising of Pop Up Inkwells Art Nouveau by W W Harrison & Co Sheffield - 1800's Befitting for any desk, Inkwells can be...

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely made in Austria stamped Ink well depicting an Arabic carpet seller which is after and original design by Franz Bergman This is a very ...

Antique Solid Silver ink well and tray, having a square glass ink well with a solid silver lid, sitting on a solid silver oval shaped tray with a moulded edge raised on reeded taperi...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and blown glass ink bottle made by Horace Woodward & Co; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian glass and sterling silver ink bottle has a circular rounded, shaped form. This Victorian ink bottle is fitted with the original hallmarked silver cylindrical mount to the upper portion, encircled with a cast and applied band of oval motifs. The mount is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover, featuring a subtly concave upper plateau and encompassed with an applied egg decorated to the rim. The cover opens to reveal a circular sunken well and removable glass ink liner. The exceptional body of the antique ink bottle...

Hob Nail Boot Shaped Inkwell Stand This is a quirky desk top inkwell, the boot is heavy and made in a silver coloured metal with a scruffy finish, the well opens by a lever at the ...

A Black Forest carved box Constructed from stained and patinated Lindenwood, the lockable box carved to resemble a tied sheaf with its accom...

An unusual and stylish British Victorian inkwell in the form of a wooden knife box dating from the 19th century. The box hand crafted in mahogany is of tall shaped with a bellowed ro...

A late 19th century blue and white ceramic inkwell with circular pierced brass stand and brass lid. They ceramic inkwell depicts a riverside scene of birds and rushes.

A Chinese style blue and gold ceramic inkwell, with a hinged brass lid, mounted on a reticulated brass base.

This wonderfully detailed bronze inkstand is of unusably small proportions and was made to compliment a lady's writing table most likely. It is of an oval form with a moulded base which is mounted with a detailed bronze study of a rural scene of a young man harvesting corn with a sickle. The bushels of corn hide the inkpot which hinges back to reveal a white porcelain container...

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...

Antique silver inkstand of impressive proportions, made at the end of King William IV's reign. The inkstand has finely detailed scroll and leaf pattern cast mounts and rets on four s...

Antique late 19th Century Victorian solid silver & bronze desk Inkwell in a shape of a 4lb weight. When you haven't seen a comparable in your lifetime, it is always exciting, and why...

We are delighted to offer this magnificent French silver gilt inkstand made circa late 19th/early 20th century by one of the most important Parisian silversmiths: Puiforcat. Puifo...

This is an antique pen tray. An English, brass and silver plated inkwell stand, dating to the Edwardian period and later, circa 1910. Compact and n...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Edwardian cut glass jockey cap inkwell by Hukin & Heath, mounted on a hallmarked English silver collar. Hinged collar with hallmark and engraved monogram cover Hallmarked Birmingham ...

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 ...

19th century Victorian lignum vitae inkwell modelled as the head of a growling bulldog with realistic glass inset eyes, original leather collar with a copper buckle. The head is hing...

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...

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...

Very highly sought-after, this is a lovely example of an inkwell with the pocket watch lid. Made from sterling silver, the inkwell is hallmarked forBirmingham 1906, Edwardian in era. The watch is the original and has been overhauled and cleaned by our clock repairer...

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...

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...

Wonderful German late 19th century carved wood black Forest inkwell. Beautifully carved with a seated dog on a naturalistic base of ferns and foliage, the cut glass inkwells retaining their original leaf carved stoppers...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass inkstand / desk standish; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This magnificent, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular shaped form. This Victorian inkstand...

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 ...