Antique Mahogany and Brass Desk Inkwell with Glass Pot — Europe, 19th Century

The desk inkwell of the nineteenth century was a working object before it was a decorative one — every letter, every ledger entry, every signed document passed through it, and the person who owned a good one understood that the tools of correspondence deserved the same care as the correspondence itself. The combination of a hardwood tray with a fitted glass pot was among the most sensible designs the period produced: mahogany for warmth and weight on the desk, brass for the durable fittings that took daily handling, and a removable glass pot that could be lifted out, cleaned, and refilled without disturbing the base.

This inkwell is European, nineteenth century, in mahogany with brass banding and a clear glass ink pot. The tray is a shaped mahogany platform with an arched raised back rail, bordered on all sides with a brass strip inlay that follows the tray's curved outline — the metal edge protecting the wood from the daily wear a desk accessory receives. At the centre, a stepped square recess, also brass-bordered, holds the glass pot in place. The pot itself is a solid clear glass cube with a hinged brass lid — a domed cap that lifts on a simple pivot hinge to reveal the ink chamber below, a magnifying-lens style glass disc set into the collar that would have helped the writer see the ink level at a glance. Note how the glass pot's solid faceted form — square-cut rather than turned — gives it real weight in the hand, a small object built not to tip.

Whoever kept this inkwell before you used it for its intended purpose across many years — the wood tray shows the honest marks of ink and use across its surface, the brass fittings carry age-appropriate patina, and the glass pot is sound with its hinge functioning. It sits well on a desk or a library table, ready for a fountain pen or simply as a piece of writing history.

It arrives professionally packed and fully insured. All duties and import charges are our responsibility — you pay nothing beyond the listed price. Returns are accepted within 30 days.

DETAILS:
Size: Tray approximately 16 × 16 cm (6.3 × 6.3 in) · Glass pot approximately 5.5 × 5.5 cm (2.2 × 2.2 in)
Material: mahogany tray with brass banding; solid glass ink pot with hinged brass lid
Style/Period: European, 19th century
Shipping: professionally packed, fully insured, worldwide — all import duties paid by us, nothing to settle on delivery
Condition: good; wood tray with honest age-related marks and patina; brass fittings with age-appropriate wear; glass pot sound with functioning hinge
Returns: accepted within 30 days

Read our condition standard. Please ask if you need additional photographs or measurements.

Worldwide delivery is included in the price. Every piece is individually packed, tracked and fully insured. No shipping charge is added at checkout. If your destination is not listed, please contact us before ordering.

Maison Jaspers pays US tariffs and import duties. For other destinations, local import taxes and duties may apply and are payable by the recipient. Contact us before ordering if you need destination-specific guidance.

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Delivery information

Notify us within 30 days of delivery if you wish to return a piece. No reason is required. You pay return shipping for a change-of-mind return.

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