This is a most beautiful antique inkwell for the specialist collector.
It is a rarer Victorian design - and you would have to look long and hard to find another quite like it.
It is made of heavy brass and is beautifully made. It stands nice and straight on your desktop.
The inkwell stylistically dates to the late 19th century and takes the form of a Classical Wedgwood style urn or vase.
The lid has a palmette design made up of little oak leaves and acorns - there is a little acorn as the finial.
The lid is hinged and the hinges are nice and firm.
The main urn body is decorated with raised floral swags and ribbons. At each side there are two ram handles with rings in their mouths.
The base of the urn is fluted.
The urn stands on a base - it has diamond shaped lozenges. It also rests on four palmette feet.
At each side of the urn (on the base - below the ram heads) there are two brackets which act as pen rests.
It has its original clear glass inkwell. Sadly this has some damages and losses to the top of the glass liner, but another replacement could easily be found.
This piece is certainly beautifully made and quite exquisite.
Dimensions: Overall height is 5 1/2 inches (14 cm)
Unpacked it is a hefty 600 grams - a substantial weight for such a wee piece.