17th Century Inkwells

Bronze inkwell. Spain, 17th century. Inkwell made of octagonal bronze with eight small holes and one larger one in the center of the upper part that has a flat base and decoration on its fronts based on moldings of different shapes and widths, all smooth and leaving areas flat in the center of the piece. Around this central hole it presents an enhancement of moldings, in a combination similar to the one mentioned. Typologically, the most common form of inkwell in Baroque Spain was square, and they were made of bronze, ceramic, etc. The polygonal shape, although also relatively frequent and apparently more so in the 18th century, is less common. Compare, for example, the polygonal ceramic inkwell from Talavera de la Reina dated from the 17th century in the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas (Madrid), or the bronze one with an octagonal lid from the 19th century. from the same institution, with various ceramics and different provenances from the 18th century (same museum), etc. Above all, it is necessary to remember the polygonal inkwell with six holes made of bronze and dated from the 17th century, which is in the Museo Casa Natal de Cervantes (Alcalá de Henares, Madrid), due to its resemblance to this piece. Likewise, it is possible to see the use of pieces of this type in paintings such as San Gregorio Magno...

Inkwell, variegated series. Glazed ceramic. Possibly Talavera, 17th century. Slightly rectangular inkwell, decorated with two semicircular pillars on each front, made of glazed cera...