Vienna Bronze Walrus Inkwell

This extraordinary crystal inkwell from the renowned Baccarat is a piece of exquisite charm and grace. Featuring a doré bronze mermaid languishing upon the crest of a rolling wave, i...

The unbridled boldness of William IV-period silver design is on full display in this grand silver gilt inkstand by William Bateman II. Hailing from one of the most legendary silversm...

Malachite is one of Russia’s most prestigious stones, and its use in the creation of this rare and opulent inkwell indicates commission and ownership by an individual of considerable status. Wonderful doré bronze accents are the perfect complement to the vivid green stone. Two dipping wells and pen tray make this inkwell as functional as it is beautiful, circa 1890. Dimensions: 18 1/4” wide x 11” deep x 5 1/2” high. The 19th century proved to be the golden age of Russian malachite. The stone became a sign of prestige and a token of wealth so much so that Russian papers of the time wrote: “To afford having a big piece wrought in malachite is synonymous to owning diamonds.” Due to malachite's relatively close proximity, Russian tsars could easily obtain the malachite they needed to decorate their lavish palaces, such as the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, paneling walls and commissioning beautiful inlaid works of art. Year after year the Russian (Romanov) treasury paid increasingly unreasonable prices to hoard the best malachite, much of which went into Romanov palaces and extravagant objects d’art. The Hermitage Museum possesses a collection of over 200 examples of this “palatial” malachite...

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...

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...

Early twentieth century silvered bronze inkwell in the form of a caparisoned elephant in mid-stride with trunk raised, the blanket opening to reveal double inkwells. Standing on a wh...

A magnificent and grand late Victorian Austrian desk set, made from cast bronze, beautifully finished in gold. The cast Owl is a figural inkwell ...

English Regency patinated bronze and ormolu double inkwell. Set upon a rectangular base with mercury gilt ormolu moulding of "stiff leaf and dart" design. The inkwell holder itself, ...