1890s Inkwells

French Art Nouveau Inkwell by Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, France, circa 1890. A rare and exquisite Art Nouveau inkwell by renowned French ceramist Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910). This finely crafted piece showcases Dalpayrat’s signature red copper-glazed stoneware, especially rich and luminous near the base. Elegantly mounted in pewter, the design exemplifies the organic flow and refined detail of the Art Nouveau period. Dimensions: Height: 3.54 in. (9 cm) Diameter: 5.12 in. (13 cm) Materials: Stoneware with pewter mount Condition: Excellent+++++, museum-quality preservation Markings: Incised signature "Dalpayrat 1500" under the base (see photo) This inkwell is a collectible example of French ceramic art at the turn of the century—perfect for collectors of Art Nouveau, 19th-century French ceramics, or the works of Dalpayrat. Adrien Dalpayrat (1844–1910): A Pioneer of French Ceramic Innovation Adrien Dalpayrat was a French ceramicist and researcher who played a key role in the revival of stoneware at the end of the 19th century. Born in 1844 in Limoges, Dalpayrat studied drawing and porcelain painting in his hometown before beginning his professional career at the Jules Vieillard faience factory in Bordeaux. There, he met his wife, Marie Tallerie, with whom he had two sons—Albert and Adolphe—who would later become his primary collaborators. Throughout his early career, Dalpayrat worked for several major ceramic manufacturers, including Ashwin (Valentine), Fouquet (Toulouse), François Blanc (Monaco), and Léon Sazerat (Limoges). In 1889, seeking greater independence, he moved to the Paris region and established his own studio in Bourg-la-Reine. Collaborations and Artistic Evolution Dalpayrat’s creative vision expanded through his collaboration with sculptor Alphonse Voisin-Delacroix. Together, they explored neo-Gothic and Palissy-inspired motifs, creating a remarkable ceramic bestiary. Following Voisin-Delacroix’s death in 1893, Dalpayrat partnered with Adèle Lesbros, which marked a shift in his work toward simpler, more refined vase forms influenced by Japonism. Japanese art had been introduced to France during the 1867 Universal Exhibition, but it wasn’t until the 1878 Exhibition, particularly through the ceremonial stoneware used in the Japanese tea ceremony, that Japonism truly captivated French artists. This influence led Dalpayrat to create vessels with organic, vegetal, and animal-inspired forms. Technical Mastery: The Secrets of Copper Red Among all the ceramists of his time who sought to replicate the elusive Chinese “sang de boeuf” (oxblood) glaze, Adrien Dalpayrat was arguably the most successful. He didn’t simply reproduce the legendary copper red—he transformed it. By manipulating glaze thickness, firing temperature, atmosphere, and copper oxide content, he developed a unique palette of flamed and mottled red glazes that became his signature: the renowned Dalpayrat red. He further enriched his pieces by introducing streaks and inclusions of turquoise, blue, green, and yellow—freeing the red glaze from monochromy and turning it into an expressive, living surface. His work pushed stoneware beyond function into expressive art, merging form and glaze in bold, sculptural harmony. Beyond Ceramics: Bronze Mounts and Architectural Works Dalpayrat also collaborated with renowned jewelers such as Ernest Cardeilhac and Keller to produce pieces mounted in gilt bronze, blending ceramics with decorative arts at the highest level. In an effort to make his work more accessible, he opened a second faience workshop focused on simpler, more affordable pieces inspired by Nevers and Rouen ware. However, this venture faced financial difficulties and closed by 1900. The main family studio followed in 1906 as the popularity of Art Nouveau declined. Dalpayrat then returned to Limoges, devoting his final years to painting and drawing until his death in 1910. Legacy and Recognition Despite financial struggles during his lifetime, Dalpayrat’s ceramics were widely acclaimed at major international exhibitions: Bronze medal, World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago (1893) Silver medal, Antwerp International Exhibition (1894) Gold medal, Exposition Universelle, Paris (1900) Today, his work is part of prestigious museum collections. In 2020, the Petit Palais in Paris acquired a large bird motif vase created in collaboration with Voisin-Delacroix, now on view in Room...

Classic 1890s black forest Brienz wood carved inkwell in form of a Bear. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and glass eyes. Found at...

A handsome antique English inkwell cast in solid English brass in the form of a Tortoise retaining his original glass eyes. The lid lifts to ...

A wonderful and very large example of a figural Black Forest inkwell in the form of a Dog's head, with a beautiful bright patina. He retains his original large glass eyes, without d...

English Officers Equestrian silver plate, enamel and hoof inkwell, an exquisite example with a portrait of the beloved horse, expertly mounted, possibly b...

Classic early 1890s Black Forest Brienz wood carved inkwell in form of a walnut on a leaf. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and gl...

A stylish and rare Royal Worcester Art Nouveau porcelain desk stand decorated in blush colors and moulded in low relief with trailing floral designs dated 1894. The stand is of recta...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian cut glass and English sterling silver mounted desk inkwell, part of our antique silver and gl...

Victorian Period, sterling silver-mounted, controlled bubbles crystal inkwell with hinged lid, Ca. 1895, Boston, Goodnow and Jenks, - makers, The inkwell measures approximately 3 in...

More information coming soon… Hand-carved in France, circa 1890, this Black Forest inkwell is incredibly detailed with motifs of oak leaves and a pair of birds. The two birds (a fl...

Onyx, Champlevé and Gilt Bronze Inkwell, France, circa 1890.

Sterling silver tabletop double inkwell with aquatic and wavy pattern. Two glass inkwells with sterling silver tops. Maker JJ, made in Sheffield, England in 1891. A great gift and ad...

A magnificent and substantial French Art Nouveau gilded bronze inkwell, sculpted with detail and fluidity, signed Ledru (Auguste Ledru - French, 1860–1902) and bearing the prestigiou...

A Baccarat crystal inkwell with decorated bronze. Circa 19th century, France. The interior is two inches deep and the opening is one inch wide.

A superbly carved figural Black Forest inkwell in the form of a Dog's head, with great detail and retaining two large glass eyes. The hinged lid opens to reveal an inner ink chamber...

Classic 1890s Black Forest Brienz wood carved inkwell in form of a cabin. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and glass eyes. Found a...

A magnificent English Victorian inkwell made from solid English brass having been professionally polished to gleam. This grand figural dog inkwell was modelled in the form of an E...

Louis XV style bronze inkwell ,in the middle you have a marble plaque in the shape of a heart ,the bronze are finely executed,original condition Extremly rare this inkwell have its...

Gilt bronze inkwell in the Louis XVI style, representing Love seated with two sticks in his hands, surrounded by timbales. The circular timbales in gilt bronze, are decorated with dr...

An outstanding late Victorian inkwell made from two cattle horns and mounted with silver plated fittings, a stunning combination and always highly sought-after; I haven't had one of ...

A wonderful and rare large figural inkwell, beautifully executed in the form of an Owl with fine detail. The hinged head lifts to reveal a fitted ink chamber which looks to be a ...

Antique Vienna Bronze Parrot Bird Sculpture Inkwell

A handsome Horseshoe shaped inkstand, the base made from solid English Oak mounted with a silver plated horseshoe and a square gallery to secure the glass inkwell. The glass inkwell is topped with a hinged brass lid in the form of a Jockey's cap with a silver plated peak, slight wear to edge. There is a support for a dip pen...

A handsome and substantial novelty inkwell in the form of a running Ostrich standing on an oval shaped base with a naturalistic base incorporating two "rocks" acting as a pen rest. I...

Fabulous, rare, sterling silver (.950) Art Nouveau, Martele inkstand with ball feet and hinged lid, the Gorham Manufacturing Corp., Providence, Rhode Island, circa 1905. According to the PTB mark on the underside, most probably, the Gorham silversmith who made it...

A very stylish Arts & Crafts hand-beaten lidded copper inkwell by J F Poole Hayle dating from around 1895. Made in Cornwall the inkwell is of rounded cylindrical shape and stands rai...

Silver and cut crystal inkwell from Morning Star ship made by Samuel Jacob. Silver part has a full set of London Hallmarks for 1896. 13.5 Diameter 6.5 High

Townshend Art Metal Workers. Birmingham. An Anglo-Japanese brass pen/quill tray with a pair of porcelain inkwells decorated with cherry blossoms. Impressed makers mark.

Mounted horse hoof inkwell with horseshoe pen holder Inkwell shoe ferrer pen holder with beautiful finish, popular art work Shipping: L11 P19 ...

Large, Victorian period, sterling silver-mounted controlled bubbles crystal inkwell with hinged lid, Boston, circa 1895, Bigleow ,Kennard and Co. makers. Measures: 3 3/4 inches high ...

Albert Marionnet (1852-1910), A Large Belle-Epoque Naturalistic Inkwell, circa 1900 In gilded and chiseled bronze with naturalistic decoration of grapevines, the green marble board ...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver fox inkstand; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular form. This inkstand is fitted with a gallery, embellished with impressive pierced and applied scrolling foliate ornamentation. The shaped, incurved rims of the body and anterior rim of the sterling silver inkstand are ornamented with a paralleling applied gadroon decorated border. The surface of the fox silver inkstand incorporates a concave oval pen receiver. The body of the inkstand incorporates two ink bottle receivers flanking a rectangular stamp box. The impressive hallmarked ink bottles each have a tapering cylindrical form and are embellished with further pierced scrolling foliate ornamentation; these ink bottles secure to the stand with a screw fitment to the underside. Each ink bottle is fitted with a plain domed hinged cover and opens to allow access to the original glass liner. The central sterling silver stamp box...

This antique Edwardian inkwell from 1890 is covered in ornate detailing and was made by Elkington. Elkington was established in 1830's - 1963 in Birmingham, England. This inkwell has...

Antique coppered Japonais Revival inkstand with two ink pots and a stamp holder. The border of the base is in relief and abounds with flowers and birds while the pen rest has a quain...

19th-century dore gold stag double ink well is an elegant and ornate piece crafted with a sense of luxury typical of the era. The glass Jars with delicate tops make this piece except...

This sterling silver inkwell conjures memories of a time when letter writing was an art and people waited for letters from loved ones with anticipation....

Napoleon Bonaparte bronze desk inkwell, signed Pinedo with foundry mark. Mounted over a Green Alps marble. Antique signed 19th large bronze ...

A late Victorian wood and bronze double inkstand with a molded ogival base and two carved quill rests.

Extremely fine cherub figural two-tone doré bronze with original crystal inkwells and ink inserts attributed to F. Linke. The two cherubs sit atop this beautiful bronze piece which i...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and blown glass ink bottle made by Horace Woodward & Co; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional antique Victorian glass and sterling silver ink bottle has a circular rounded, shaped form. This Victorian ink bottle is fitted with the original hallmarked silver cylindrical mount to the upper portion, encircled with a cast and applied band of oval motifs. The mount is fitted with a hinged hallmarked cover, featuring a subtly concave upper plateau and encompassed with an applied egg decorated to the rim. The cover opens to reveal a circular sunken well and removable glass ink liner. The exceptional body of the antique ink bottle...

A beautifully hand painted Royal Vienna double inkwell. The floral decoration on the stand and the two removable original ink holders with hinged lids. The Royal Vienna beehive...

French inkwell in gilt bronze. Classical lady after the antique to the lid. She lying back against a rock with sandals and long robes and her arm over her head. To the inkwell front is an applied gilt bronze mount of palm fronds. The base has a fine decorative moulding...

Bronze inkwell Georg Josef BURGSTALLER (German/Austrian) Neo classical woman signed Burgstaller ruge marble.

A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry, made of ebonised fruitwood naturalistically carved with a cockerel and hen perched on a rocky outcrop, bundles of wh...

Gilt bronze inkwell lamp signed A. Féry. Art Nouveau period. France, circa 1890. Dimensions with shade: 62 cm height. Bronze signed A. Féry.  

Heading : A 19th century banded agate and ormolu bronze inkwell Date : 1880-1910 Origin : France Decoration : The handle and inkwell with engraved foliate design. Original glass line...

A wonderful antique bronze inkwell with a bronze dore statue of a lady and three inch deep ink dispenser. All on a rouge marble base that has an are...

A doré bronze and marble inkwell. It is French in the Empire style. Compartments have their little glass containers for ink and are all original.

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