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Inkwells For Sale
Wooden Cased Inkwell Intricately Modelled as a Binocular Case, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Intricately carved in fruitwood, modelled as a leather case for opera glasses, circa 1900. Lifting the lid reveals two glass inkwells. This exquisitely crafted piece was originally m...
Category

Early 1900s European Antique Inkwells

Materials

Fruitwood

art nouveau pewter inkwell, glass bucket, circa 1900
Located in Mouscron, WHT
art nouveau pewter inkwell, glass bucket, circa 1900
Category

Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells

Materials

Metal

Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Swiss bear with log pen rest and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 93a. Book included. In the 1800’s the wood carving...
Category

19th Century Swiss Black Forest Antique Inkwells

Materials

Wood

Art Deco Glass Ink Well
Located in Asheville, NC
Glass inkwell with ball-peened silver flip cap. Blackened body with deco-clover pattern inside the glass.
Category

19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Glass

19th Century Victorian Lignum Vitae Bulldog Inkwell, c.1860
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
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...
Category

19th Century English Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

English Regency Desk Set in Form of British Sailors Defending a Fort with Mortar
Located in London, GB
An extremely rare and very unusual bronze desk set in the form of British sailors ( or Jack Tars) defending or more likely attacking a fort with mortars. Set on bun feet with what ap...
Category

1810s English Regency Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Tortoiseshell Double Inkwell
Located in Dallas, TX
An exquisite blend of elegance and functionality, this tortoiseshell double inkwell is a true collector's delight. With its stunning glass inkwells, brass accents, and convenient sto...
Category

1870s English Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Charles X Mother of Pearl and Ormolu Watch Holder and Inkwell
Located in Paris, FR
Mother of pearl and Ormolu watch holder and inkwell. The center of the piece is decorated with an angel who is standing on a pedestal that rests in a semi...
Category

Early 19th Century French Restauration Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Antique Bronze Inkwell
Located in Dallas, TX
Category

19th Century Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Lode Van Boeckel Inkwell Holder with Wrought Iron Rosette
By Lodewijk Van Boeckel
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Inkwell holder with wrought iron rose bush, rose branch. Lode van Boeckel (Lodewijk, Louis) ± 1900 Ink jars possible from later date, they do not fit exactly in the holder. 35 ...
Category

Early 1900s Belgian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Wrought Iron

Sèvres Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
A Sèvres inkwell in immaculate condition with dorè bronze fittings and a burled wood base on paw feet. With liner. France, circa 1890s.
Category

1890s French Antique Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain, Wood

Very Nice Late 19th Century Bronze and Marble 3 Piece Desk Set
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Very Nice Late 19th Century Bronze and Marble 3 Piece Desk Set The large Chinese designed rectangular desk set centered with a bronze crane and two de...
Category

Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Antique Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Antique English Brass, Cobalt and Porcelain Inkwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
A lovely inkwell, typical of the period.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Classical 19th Century Letter Rack and Ink Well
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality Edwardian period silver plated letter rack and ink well, having three scallop shaped divisions with classical engraved decoration, a pair of cut glass ink wells o...
Category

Early 20th Century English Inkwells

Materials

Silver

Antique English Victorian Inkstand and Pen Holder
Located in New Orleans, LA
Charming little piece
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver Plate

French 19th Century Louis XVI St. Ormolu and Crystal Inkwell
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and crystal inkwell. The inkwell is raised by a fine circular ormolu base with a lovely reeded and richly chased palmette design. Above the fine mottled base is the beautiful crystal bowl with a lovely spiral fluted design. The top rim displays a superb and richly chased wrap around band with charming flowers. Above are the three removable lidded vessels, two for ink, one for pounce, each set within a pierced tray...
Category

19th Century French Louis XVI Antique Inkwells

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

18th Century Silver Inkwell by James Young
Located in New Orleans, LA
This superlative, Georgian-period silver inkwell was crafted by 18th century London silversmith James Young. Of exceptional size and quality, this large inkwell is perfectly appointed to draft important correspondence, complete with a sand shaker and compartments for writing utensils. A masterpiece of the restrained Georgian style, the inkwell bears the marital coat-of-arms of the Gresley and Coventry families with the motto “Meliore fyde quam fortuna,” or “With better fidelity than fortune.” Hallmarked London, 1782 11 1/4” wide x 7 1/2” deep x 5 1/2” high The armorial bearings almost certainly commemorate the marriage of Sir Roger Gresley, the 8th Baronet of Drakelowe, and Lady Sophia Coventry, youngest daughter of the 7th Earl of Coventry...
Category

19th Century English Georgian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Silver

C19th Carved Wood and Velvet Black Forest Inkwell with Dog
Located in London, GB
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...
Category

19th Century German Black Forest Antique Inkwells

Materials

Velvet, Cut Glass, Wood

Antique English Brass Double Ink Stand, circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English brass double inkwell stand circa 1880.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Inkwells

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Silver and Tortoise Inkwell Signed Mappin and Webb
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century English Mappin and Webb silver and tortoise inkwell with original glass liner for the ink.  
Category

19th Century European Regency Antique Inkwells

English McClark Tartanware Ink Stand Circa 1810
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
English McClark Tartanware Ink Stand Circa 1810 to 1840. Rare.
Category

Early 19th Century English Early Victorian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Hardwood

19th Century Italian Siena Marble Ink Set
Located in Esbeek, NL
Italian Siena marble ink set, 19th century or earlier.
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Inkwells

Materials

Siena Marble

Silver Presentation Inkstand by Turner Simpson Ltd.
Located in New Orleans, LA
This superlative silver inkwell was presented to Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland, the United Kingdom’s Minister of Labour, on the occasion of the opening of the Salford Bridge in Birmingha...
Category

20th Century English Other Inkwells

Materials

Silver

Sterling Silver Inkwell Made by Gösta Helenius, Ábo Sweden, 1928
Located in Paris, FR
Writing stand, Sterling silver and glass, by Gösta Konstantin Helenius, Ábo Sweden 1928. Square bottle, bevelled edges, size 6x6 cm, height tot. 9 cm. W...
Category

Mid-20th Century Inkwells

Materials

Sterling Silver

Gilt Bronze Inkwell with Ibex, Napoleon III Period, 19th Century
Located in Beaune, FR
Lovely inkwell in gilded bronze surmounted by an ibex. This inkwell opens with its interior complete and in good condition.
Category

19th Century French Napoleon III Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Encrier by Paul Sormani, French c 1870
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Rare Louis XV Style gilt bronze Encrier, By Paul Sormani. French, circa 1870. Signed 'P. Sormani, Paris' to the underside of the cover. Thi...
Category

Late 19th Century French Louis XV Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

18th Century Venetian Bronze Figural Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Patinated bronze urn-shaped inkwell rests on three winged-horses evoking movement and action. The body of the inkwell is decorated with faces among garlands and the lid is topped by a seated putti holding fruitVenetian patinated bronze figural inkwell...
Category

18th Century Italian Renaissance Antique Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

19th Century English Brass and Milk Glass Dog Inkwell
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century English brass and milk glass dog inkwell.
Category

19th Century British Victorian Antique Inkwells

Rare 18th Century German Faience Rococo Encrier Inkstand Stockelsdorf
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The form of this rare encrier is based on the model of the known faience master Johann Georg Buchwald, who produced it first in the manufacture of Marieberg, later also in Eckernförd...
Category

Late 18th Century German Rococo Antique Inkwells

Materials

Faience

Wedgwood Bentley Black Basalt Inkstand
Located in New Orleans, LA
This elegant inkwell set by Wedgwood & Bentley is crafted of black basalt, one of Wedgwood’s finest inventions. The set is comprised of two canisters, both held within an intriguing double stand. One is designed to hold ink and features a top with slots for quills or pens, and the other is a powder Shaker with a shell-ornamented lid. Black basalt refers to the fine-grained stoneware that Josiah Wedgwood, inspired by the hard, natural stone known as Egyptian basalt...
Category

18th Century English Other Antique Inkwells

Materials

Ceramic

Naturalistic Victorian Antique Sterling Silver Novelty Fruit Design Ink Stand
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1874 by Daniel & Charles Houle, this very unusual, Victorian, Antique, sterling silver ink stand has a shaped wooden base with applied silver leaf decoration ...
Category

1870s English Art Nouveau Antique Inkwells

Materials

Sterling Silver

56" Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk Special Order
Located in Water Mill, NY
Rare 56" tall vintage Louis Vuitton special order steamer wardrobe trunk with leather handles and keys.
Category

1950s French Vintage Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Vintage, New and Antique Inkwells

Now that we no longer need vintage, new or antique inkwells for written communication, these elegant desk accessories make for a distinctive decorative touch in any home office or study.

Prior to the 19th century, the inkwell was an integral part of the writing process. The first fountain pen was patented in 1827. Typewriters found acceptance during the 1880s, and the ballpoint pen, which replaced the inkwell on most desks and writing tables of the era, modernized the way we write. (Later, it would transform how some of us make art.) Today, a well-designed antique or vintage inkwell is a fun, decorative accent for any work area.

If you find yourself working from home today more often than not, why not freshen things up a bit? Small changes can help elevate your workspace: Incremental edits to your interior, such as rethinking your shelving, swapping out your wall decor and adding a touch of the past to your modern-day desktop, can actually make a big difference. Alongside an ornate Art Deco–era desk lamp and an antique paperweight, your inkwell will look right at home and can support your effort to create a happy home office.

Find a collection of unique metal inkwells to suit any taste on 1stDibs or shop by style. Browse a range of Art Nouveau inkwells, Victorian inkwells, Art Deco inkwells and more. Search our selection of inkwells to find the perfect piece for any space.

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