Antique Renaissance Revival Style Double Inkwell Desk Stand in Brass-Tone Metal with Pen Tray

Before fountain pens, every writing desk needed a place to keep the ink. A stand like this held two colours, or ink and sand, within easy reach while the pen rested in the tray in front.

The stand is made of brass-tone metal and covered in engraved scrolls, leaves and knotwork. At the back, a pierced gallery has two small ball finials, and there are shaped handles on each side. Two round wells sit on a raised platform. Each has a domed lid with a knob on top and an interlaced pattern. The wide front tray, with its curved edge, is where pens were laid. Inkwells like this were fitted with glass liners because old iron-gall inks were acidic and would slowly eat into bare metal. The glass kept the ink in, and the liner could be lifted out and washed.

The stand is in very good antique condition, with a soft green patina in the recesses of the engraving. Only one of the two glass liners remains. It has been looked after for many years and is ready for its next owner. Place it on a desk or library table, where it can hold pens, clips or stamps.

Inkstand in brief: a brass-tone metal double inkwell stand with a pierced gallery, two lidded wells and an engraved pen tray, with one glass liner.

DETAILS

Size: Width 23 cm (9.1 in) · Depth 15 cm (5.9 in) — about the size of a sheet of letter paper folded in half
Material: brass-tone metal, glass liner
Style-Period: Renaissance Revival style · late 19th to early 20th century
Shipping: professionally packed, fully insured, worldwide · we handle the paperwork and pay all import duties · nothing to settle on delivery
Condition: very good antique condition · one glass liner only (second liner missing) · green patina in the recesses
Returns: accepted within 30 days

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