1890s Desk Accessories

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...

Beautiful metal tray or catchall to hold quills. Made of cast Iron, has some nice patina, but this is old-age. A beautiful piece for your desk or any room. It was made for the 100th ...

Elegant French bronze letter rack, late 19th century. The openwork design features intricate Gothic Revival motifs with stylized foliage, quatrefoils, and decorative details, complem...

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 beautiful antique desk box. Made of wood, covered with leather with beautiful gold details. Fine copper fittings. The interior has two small boxes, ...

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 ...

Antique Victorian measuring sewing tape in a bell shape. Collectible

Bronze Skull Over a Book Sculpture / Paperweight. This sculpture is a quiet thunderclap—elegant, solemn, and rich with philosophical weight. The skull atop the closed book, resting o...

A Fantastic 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Mounted Blue Opaline Crystal Box. The box is composed of two sections of French opaline crystal which are mounted to a fa...

A Fantastic 19th century French Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Mounted Blue Opaline Crystal Box. The box is composed of two sections of French opaline crystal which are mounted to a fab...

A Fantastic 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Dore Bronze Mounted Black Crystal Box. The box is composed of two sections of French black crystal wh...

Wonderful very old professional office relic with a cheeky message; Hands off! Private papers. Reminiscent of the odd fellows Victorian Era designs. Created from some kind of powdere...

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

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...

A large antique letter rack, made of carved wood. The wickerwork is also made of carved wood. With three compartments. Made in France around 1890-1...

An Elkington & Company Silver Gilt Presentation Casket Hall Marked for Birmingham, 1891 and the maker; the casket, in the Victorian Gothic manner, with cluster columns at the angles...

A Pair of Incredible French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Silvered Bronze Lions Mask Plinths with Hand-Carved and Hand-Polished Rock Crystal Orbs. Boasting sumptuous French Regency d...

A fabulous oak desk calendar Lovely colour of oak Original patina. Not re-polished Good condition. All text and numbers complete Free UK shipping   

Wonderful pair of rare stand/table frames, made circa 1890. The construction is made of brass, into which a glass plate has been inserted, in between is place for the image you hav...

Simply Fabulous! Vintage 19th century letter opener or page turner with an ornate sterling silver handle and bone blade. Hallmark corresponds to: Birmingham, England, circa 1897.

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 Unusual 19th century French Ormolu Mounted Globe Style Tantalus liquor set. The round globe top which rests on an elongated ormolu base is not common to find. The crystal top is m...

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

The pair of obelisks with gilt lion faces on front base and gilt lion paws at corners, signed indistinctly. Rome dated 1893.

Pair of Barbotine ceramic dishes, Art Nouveau Period, France, circa 1890.

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver and glass match striker; an addition to our ornamental collection. This exceptional antique silver and glass match striker has a globular form. The surface of the glass body is embellished with a serrated texture which composes a match striker. The ornamentation to the glass body is segmented with plain subtly concave vertical flutes. The upper portion of this antique glass match striker...

Very rare collectible desktop telephone L. M. Ericsson model BC 2000 (Old Catalogue No. 400) for battery ringing. Exclusive and unusual design in the form of an old times book press. Framework of polished walnut. Micro-telephone RE 2002 (Old Cat. No. 520) with cord RS 7021 (Old Cat. No. 2252) and switch in the handle resting on a cradle switch, flexible cable, RS 9000 (Old Cat. No. 2084) and terminal block within Ericssons serial number that dates device on 1900 Stockholm, Sweden. Size app.: 22.5 cm (roughly 8.9 in) high, 27 cm (roughly 10.6 in) wide, 11 cm (roughly 4.3 in) deep. Very good condition, age and usage wear plus tiny losses. Please study high-res pictures for cosmetic condition! In person actual item may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 2 kg it is going to measure some 3 kg packed for shipment. Lars Magnus Ericsson began his association with telephones in his youth as an instrument maker. He worked for a firm which made telegraph equipment for the Swedish government agency Telegrafverket. In 1876, aged 30, he started a telegraph repair shop with help from his friend Carl Johan Andersson. The shop was in central Stockholm (No. 15 on Drottninggatan, the principal shopping street) and repaired foreign-made telephones. In 1878 Ericsson began making and selling his own telephone equipment. His phones were not technically innovative, as most of the inventions had already been made in the US. In 1878, he made an agreement to supply telephones and switchboards to Sweden's first telecom operating company, Stockholms Allmänna Telefonaktiebolag. Also in 1878, local telephone importer Numa Peterson hired Ericsson to adjust some telephones from the Bell Telephone Company. This inspired him to buy a number of Siemens telephones...

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...

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...

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...

An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian sterling silver pin cushion modelled in the form of a shoe made by Adie & Lovekin Ltd; an addition to our animal related silverware collection. This exceptional antique sterling silver pin cushion...

Heading : Arculus Walsh Walsh paperweight – “1848” Old English paperweight Concentric Polychrome Millefiori c1900 Date : c1900 Origin : England Features : A sic row concentric millef...

An Unusual 19th Century French Dore Bronze Mounted Orange/Red crystal box. The box is composed of two sections of French orange/red crystal which are m...

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

A rare find, this fabulous figural desk bell was cast in metal in the form of a pig with a quality screwed construction. The mechanical bell can be wou...

This rare four-piece bronze and marble desk set includes a pen holder, inkwell stamper, and letter holder.   

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...

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 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...

Japanese articulated copper spiny lobster sculpture on a solid rock Lapis Lazuli. Every single body parts are in working condition and no missing ...

A gorgeous ladies hand wall or desk letter / paper clip. Made of Ormolu, by Erhard & Sohne, Germany. Beautiful color and patina. This was made by Erhard & Sohne in the early 1890s-19...

Antique Vienna Bronze Parrot Bird Sculpture Inkwell

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 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...

Arabic themed garniture made by Franz Xavier Bergman (1861-1936). The pieces are made of polychrome bronze. The central one is an inkwell that is ...

Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...

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...

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 ...

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...

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

Lippich polarimeter, scientifi instrument made in 1893 signed Societé Genevoise Genève, brass and black metal. It is an optical instrument of analysis used to determine the concentra...

A rectangular shaped paperweight with inset Porphyry, Siena Marble and Mother of Pearl in black marble framework

A gorgeous candlestick and match stick holder set. Made of Ormolu, by Erhard & Sohne, Germany. Beautiful color and patina. This was made by Erhard ...

A Charming Victorian Postcard or Stationary Stand, South Coast This is a very attractive piece, the box is made walnut and is sign written with local advertisements The cabinet has...

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 ...

A rare and magnificent English desk set made from gilded bronze in superb condition. The set consists of a pair of candlesticks, a pen tray, an inkwell, a seal and a letter opener. ...

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...

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...

An exceptional, fine and impressive, rare antique Victorian cast English sterling silver paperweight/model of a nest with glass eggs; part of our rare silverware collection. This ex...