Antique Inkstands
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Antique Empire Paris Amor Love Quiver Arrow Wreath Torch Doves Bronze Inkstand
Located in Munich, Bavaria
Excepional patinated bronze inkstand in the shape of a cascet on a pedestal with a drawer. It has
Category
1810s French Empire Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
Antique Grand Tour Mahogany Brass Inlaid Desk Set Inkstand English Regency 19Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning and Rare Example of an English Grand Tour Regency period brass inlaid Mahogany Inkstand of
Category
19th Century English Grand Tour Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass
Vienna Bergman Bronze Indian Man on Elephant Inkstand Inkwell Inkpot, circa 1880
By Franz Bergmann
Located in Vienna, AT
Stunning bronze item which has function of an inkpot, inkstand, inkwell, Indian man is situated on
Category
1880s Austrian Other Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
A 19th century French Empire green figured marble and ormolu inkstand C 1870
Located in Central England, GB
This very stylish French Empire gilt bronze and marble inkstand is a fine example.
It is made from
Category
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkstands
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Antique French Regency Grand Tour Bronze Crystal Desk Set Inkstand Encrier 19Ct
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning Heavy Gauge Chisel Cast French Grand Tour German Neo-Classical Bronze and Crystal Ink Stand of Museum Quality and generous proportions. First quarter of the Nineteenth Centu...
Category
19th Century French Grand Tour Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Empire Bronze and Marble Desk Top Inkstand by Lefebvre of Belgium, circa 1820
Located in Central England, GB
Empire bronze and marble desk top Inkstand by Lefebvre of Belgium.
This magnificent large scale
Category
19th Century Belgian Empire Antique Inkstands
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Vieille Garde Sculpture on Inkstand by A. Le Véel and Susse Frères
By Susse Freres, Armand LeVeel 1
Located in North Miami, FL
Late 19th century Napoleon III 'Vieille Garde' sculpture with inkwells and marble base inkstand by
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkstands
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal, Bronze, Copper, Tin
George III Three Bottle Inkstand Made in London in 1810 by Emes
Barnard
Located in London, GB
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,...
Category
1810s European George III Antique Inkstands
Materials
Sterling Silver
Irish Bog Oak Hand Carved Inkstand in the Form of an Owl
Cornelius Goggin
By Cornelius
Co.
Located in Central England, GB
An Irish bog oak hand carved inkstand in the form of an owl
Attributed to Cornelius Goggin, Dublin
Category
19th Century Irish Other Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bog Wood
C F A Voysey Attri, Made by Richard Rathbone, an Arts
Crafts Copper Inkstand
By Richard Rathbone, Charles Voysey
Located in London, GB
copper inkstand with domed top lid with upturned lip handle and a pen tray to the front.
Category
Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Antique Inkstands
Materials
Copper
A Very Good 19th Century Napoleon III Gilt Bronze
Marble Inkstand, Circa 1870
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
The crescent shaped & dished ‘verdi alpi’ marble base affixed with a pair of lidded gilt bronze inkpots (glass inkwells absent), decorated with fine engine turned detail, flanking a ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkstands
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Inkstand in leather in the shape of a heart for love letters. Late 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful Inkstand in leather in the shape of a heart for your love letters. Made in France during
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass
Late 19th Century English Table Casket with Mother-of-pearl Inlay
Located in Paris, FR
an inkstand. It features a large receptacle for quills and a tray lined with dark purple velvet and
Category
1880s English Antique Inkstands
Materials
Velvet, Paint
Renaissance Bronze Lion. Germany or Italy, 16th century.
Located in London, GB
within larger composite objects such as inkstands or caskets, where the lion served as an emblem of
Category
16th Century Antique Inkstands
Antique lacquered wooden inkwell with matching glass inkwells
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
A late Victorian wood and bronze double inkstand with a molded ogival base and two carved quill
Category
1890s Argentine Victorian Antique Inkstands
Materials
Crystal
$784 Sale Price
20% Off
Partly Gilt Copper Art Nouveau Double Inkwell with Porcelain Vessel
Located in Greven, DE
Art Nouveau Inkstand with Leaf-shaped Lids
Origin: Germany
Material: Copper with porcelain
Category
Early 20th Century German Art Nouveau Antique Inkstands
Materials
Copper
Antique French Pewter Decorative Louis XV Style Stamp Box Case Etains D’Art
Located in Greven, DE
introduction of postal stamps in the 1840s. Early stamp boxes evolved from existing writing boxes and inkstands
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XV Antique Inkstands
Materials
Pewter
19th C. French Faience Blue and White Hand Painted Inkwell with Harbor Scene
By Delft
Located in Dallas, TX
pierced designs, giving the piece a balanced Rococo flair. This refined vide-poche or inkstand is both
Category
Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Inkstands
Materials
Ceramic, Faience
Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver Parcel Gilt Inkwell (1907)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
antique Edwardian English sterling silver antique inkstand has a navette shaped form.
The concave surface
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Inkstands
Materials
Silver
Antique Anglo-Indian Carved Ebony Elephant Inkwell Desk Stand
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Colombo Ceylon desktop inkstand..
Antique circa 1890 inkstand made in India.
Dimensions: 7.5 x 10 x x 3 in
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Antique Inkstands
Materials
Ebony
Walker
Hall Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver and Glass Desk Standish
By Walker
Hall
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
standish, in sterling standard, has an oval shaped form.
This Edwardian inkstand is plain and
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Inkstands
Materials
Sterling Silver
Beautiful Desk Set in brass and crystal from late 19th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
Beautiful Desk Set in brass and crystal from late 19th Century. The set consist of double inkstands
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Inkstands
Materials
Crystal, Brass
A fine silver mounted presentation penholder Commemorating the Laying Down
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
oak inkstand consists of an oak base, made from timbers salvaged from the Royal yacht Royal George and
Category
Early 20th Century English Antique Inkstands
Materials
Silver
French Napoleonic Revival Gilt Bronze Armorial Dolphin Finial on Marble Base
Located in Atlanta, GA
decorative but functional, perhaps serving as the finial to a reliquary box, ceremonial inkstand, or as a
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkstands
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th c. Oak Ink Well Box c.1800s
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT
A Victorian period desktop inkstand box with drawer, metal handle and large round feet. Two
Category
19th Century Antique Inkstands
Materials
Oak
$120 Sale Price
20% Off
Charming Headshaped Ink Stand, Gilt White Metal Patinated Wood 19th C. England
Located in Knivsta, SE
Charming Ink Well/Inkstand in the shape of man's head, painted white metal and patinated wood. Made
Category
19th Century English Antique Inkstands
Materials
Metal
Three-piece Desk Set in gilded silver. Swedish Grace from CG Hallbergs from 1929
Located in Knivsta, SE
Stockholm, Sweden dated 1929 by Swedish hallmarks. An elegant gilded silver inkstand standing on a Carrara
Category
1920s Swedish Art Deco Antique Inkstands
Materials
Carrara Marble, Silver
Dutch Humanist Stephan Crachtius – 17th c. Engraving by Matham after Spilberg
Located in Langweer, NL
. The oval frame in which he appears is surrounded by symbolic objects: candles, an inkstand, and an
Category
Mid-17th Century Dutch Antique Inkstands
Materials
Paper
A Champlevé Enamel Three Piece Desk Set, Attributed to Barbedienne
By Ferdinand Barbedienne
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
a flaming torch.
French, Circa 1880.
Approximate Dimensions
Inkstand:
Height 15 cm / 6 inches
Category
19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Antique Edwardian Sterling Silver Tortoise Inkwell (1903)
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
inkstand further incorporates an inset silver receptacle and a stamp box, each bearing secondary hinged
Category
Early 1900s English Edwardian Antique Inkstands
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Gutta-Percha Inkwell, Desk Pen Tray With Glass Insert, Circa 1880s
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful antique inkstand with one glass for the ink in the center.
Made of Gutta-Percha in a very
Category
19th Century Unknown Late Victorian Antique Inkstands
Materials
Glass, Resin
Italian 1920s Art Deco Wrought Iron and Marble Bird Inkwell
Located in Milan, IT
Italian 1920s Art Deco wrought iron and marble bird inkstand.
Category
1920s Italian Art Deco Antique Inkstands
Materials
Marble, Wrought Iron
French gilt bronze ink stand depicting a young man harvesting circa 1860
Located in Central England, GB
This wonderfully detailed bronze inkstand is of unusably small proportions and was made to
Category
1860s French Napoleon III Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
Period French Louis XV Ormolu Mounted Japanese Lacquer Chinoiserie Inkwell Tray
By Vernis Martin
Located in Forney, TX
encrier (inkwell or inkstand)
Paris, France, circa 1750, exceptionally executed in Louis 14th exotic far
Category
Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Antique Burled Secretaire a Abattant for Restoration
Located in Bridgeport, CT
, white porcelain pulls and a center compartment with door housing an inkstand with two glass bottles with
Category
19th Century Regency Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass
19th Century Sevres Style Bronze Mounted Encrier
Located in Atlanta, GA
inkstand in the manner of Sevres, having gilt accented reserves decorated with florals, two inkwells with
Category
19th Century French Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
Antique Quality 19th Century French Cast-Brass Desk Set
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality 19th century antique French cast-brass desk set with a very attractive inkstand
Category
19th Century French Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass
$1,537 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Magnificent Quality Antique 19th Century French Cast-Brass Desk Set
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality 19th century antique French cast-brass desk set with a very attractive inkstand
Category
19th Century French Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass
$1,537 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Antique French Gilt Bronze Encrier Inkwell Desk Stand, Signed JF
Located in Forney, TX
A most impressive fine quality antique Louis XV style French ormolu encrier / inkstand.
Born in
Category
19th Century French Louis XV Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Tiffany Studios New York 7-Piece "Pond Lily" Desk Set
By Tiffany Studios, Louis Comfort Tiffany
Located in New York, NY
: Patinated Bronze
Signed: blotter ends, inkstand, calendar frame, pen tray and rocker blotter each impressed
Category
Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
Antique French Solid Silver Gilt Rococo Style Inkwell / Stand, Emile Puiforcat
By Emile Puiforcat
Located in London, GB
We are delighted to offer this magnificent French silver gilt inkstand made circa late 19th/early
Category
Late 19th Century French Rococo Antique Inkstands
Materials
Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Brunswick Round Snuff Box, Painted with a Banker
Located in Montreal, QC
subject or view. Here we see a banker bagging up his gold pieces, with a scale and inkstand in the
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Inkstands
Materials
Other
Elkington
Co. Silver Inkwell Of Henry Morton Stanley
By Elkington
Co.
Located in New Orleans, LA
. The charming inkstand was designed by Walter & John Barnard for the royal silversmiths Elkington & Co
Category
19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkstands
Materials
Silver
English Regency Ecrier and Match Strike in Patinated Bronze
Located in London, GB
English Regency figural ecrier or inkstand. Set upon a rectangular base with milled edges all
Category
1810s English Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
Inkwell in red marble with "Allegory of writing" in gilt bronze, signed H.CHAPU
By Henri Chapu
Located in Paris, FR
(1833-1891). This old 19th century inkstand is composed of a penholder hollowed out of the marble and
Category
19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkstands
Materials
Griotte Marble, Bronze
Austrian Cold-Painted Bronze Desk Set of American Interest
Located in London, GB
: height 14.5cm, width 16.5cm, depth 9cm.
Inkstand: height 12cm, width 19cm, depth 17cm
This unusual
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Native American Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
Naturalistic Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Novelty
Fruit Design
Ink Stand
By Daniel
Charles Houle
Located in London, London
inkstand measures 6.75"(17cm) wide, by 4"(10cm) deep, by 4"(10cm) tall.
Category
1870s English Art Nouveau Antique Inkstands
Materials
Sterling Silver
Christian Thomsen Royal Copenhagen 1903 Art Nouveau Porcelain Cocks Inkwell #524
By Christian Thomsen
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Designed by Christian Thomsen of Royal Copenhagen, Denmark, this fine antique porcelain inkstand
Category
Early 20th Century Danish Art Nouveau Antique Inkstands
Materials
Porcelain
French Bronze and Siena Marble Antique Inkwell
Located in Paris, FR
19th century inkstand with three jars crafted of patinated bronze, serving as inkwells. They are
Category
19th Century French Louis Philippe Antique Inkstands
Materials
Siena Marble, Bronze
Iznik-Style Ceramic and Brass-Mounted Ink Stand
By Iznik Pottery
Located in London, GB
lidded inkwells flanking a central holder, this remarkable desk-piece is a very fine Iznik style inkstand
Category
19th Century French Islamic Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass
French Louis XIV Boulle Marquetry Tortoiseshell Gilt Bronze Inkwell Desk Stand
Located in Forney, TX
(1642-1732) style marquetry inlaid tortoise-shell sculptural encrier (inkstand).
Guaranteed to elevate
Category
19th Century French Louis XIV Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu, Brass
Grand French Three-Piece Desk Set, Hand Painted Porcelain Inset, circa 1860
Located in Bath, GB
of quality.
The next piece is a hefty large oval Walnut Inkstand with a large glass inkwell to the
Category
1860s French Victorian Antique Inkstands
Materials
Brass
$3,031 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Rare
Important Spanish Damascene, Iron, Steel, Gold Inlaid Clock, Eibar, Spain
By Plácido Zuloaga 1
Located in Queens, NY
their own private use. The latter included a gold and silver-damascened iron inkstand supplied to Isabel
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Egyptian Revival Antique Inkstands
Materials
Steel, Iron
Gardener’s Delight, Antique French Empire Gilt Bronze Beehive Model Encrier
Located in New York, NY
French gilt bronze inkstand has a beehive central well with a hay stack cover, several bees on the
Category
19th Century French Empire Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
Fine 19th Century Ormolu Mounted KPM Porcelain Desk Set - Inkwell Candlesticks
By Berlin Royal Porcelain Factory
Located in Forney, TX
pieces:
1 encrier (inkwell desk tray / inkstand);
1 ink blotter;
Pair of (2) dainty candle holders, which
Category
Late 19th Century Louis XV Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Enameled Champlevé Inkwell
Located in Forney, TX
balls act as a pen rest, the inkstand raising on four ball feet.
Similar to French cloisonne, each
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Inkstands
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Pair Gilt Bronze Andirons in the Style of Andrea Briosco (Riccio)
By Andrea Briosco (Riccio)
Located in Miami Beach, FL
characteristic swags and shells.
The Wallace Collection (London) has a triangular bronze inkstand of similar
Category
19th Century Italian Renaissance Revival Antique Inkstands
Materials
Ormolu
$2,000 Sale Price / set
55% Off
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Antique Inkstands For Sale on 1stDibs
An assortment of antique inkstands is available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of metal, silver and bronze, all antique inkstands available were constructed with great care. Antique inkstands have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Antique inkstands bearing Victorian or Georgian hallmarks are very popular at 1stDibs. Many antique inkstands are appealing in their simplicity, but Walter and John Barnard, Charles Fox and Elkington
Co. produced popular antique inkstands that are worth a look.
How Much are Antique Inkstands?
Antique inkstands can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price at 1stDibs is $2,044, while the lowest priced sells for $76 and the highest can go for as much as $102,083.
Finding the Right Desk-accessories for You
Whether you’ve carved out a space for a nifty home office or you prefer the morning commute, why not dress up your desk with antique and vintage desk accessories? To best tiptoe the line between desk efficiency and desk enjoyment, we suggest adding a touch of the past to your modern-day space.
Desks are a funny thing. Their basic premise has remained the same for quite literally centuries: a flat surface, oftentimes a drawer, and potentially a shelf or two. However, the contents that lay upon the desk? Well, the evolution has been drastic to say the least.
Thank the Victorians for the initial popularity of the paperweight. The Industrial Revolution offered the novel concept of leisure-time to Europeans, giving them more time to take part in the then crucial activity of letter writing. Decorative glass paperweight designs were all the rage, and during the mid-19th-century some of the most popular makers included the French companies of Baccarat, St. Louis and Clichy.
As paper was exceedingly expensive in the early to mid-19th-century, every effort was made to utilize a full sheet of it. Paper knives, which gave way to the modern letter opener, were helpful for cutting paper down to an appropriate size.
Books — those bound volumes of paper, you may recall — used to be common occurrences on desks of yore and where there were books there needed to be bookends. As a luxury item, bookend designs have run the gamut from incorporating ultra-luxurious materials (think marble and Murano glass) to being whimsical desk accompaniments (animal figurines were highly popular choices).
Though the inkwell’s extinction was ushered in by the advent of the ballpoint pen (itself quasi-obsolete at this point), there is still significant charm to be had from placing one of these bauble-like objets in a central spot on one’s desk. You may be surprised to discover the mood-boosting powers an antique — and purposefully empty — inkwell can provide.
The clamor for desk clocks arose as the Industrial Revolution transitioned labor from outdoors to indoors, and allowed for the mass-production of clock parts in factories. Naturally, elaborate designs soon followed and clocks could be found made by artisans and luxury houses like Cartier.
Find antique and vintage desk accessories today on 1stDibs.
Questions About Antique Inkstands
- What was an inkwell used for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022An inkwell is a small jar or container made to conveniently hold ink for a writer. Inkwells were often made of glass, pewter, brass or porcelain. You’ll find a variety of inkells from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
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