19th Century French Brass Double Inkwell with Shell Crest
2601-26188 (Click to Inquire About This Item)
3.5H x 8W x 7.5D
Location: Dallas
Cast in brass with the full exuberance of the French Rococo revival, this 19th century double inkwell is a desk ornament of real presence and artistry. A magnificent scallop shell crowns the composition, rising above two generously proportioned inkwell reservoirs fitted with their original hinged lids. Boldly scrolled acanthus feet carry the piece with great theatrical confidence, while rose garland ornament and a diamond lattice ground fill the center platform with the layered decorative richness so beloved in French 19th century casting.
Before the fountain pen changed the ritual of writing forever, the inkwell occupied a place of honor on every desk of consequence, from the private studies of Parisian townhouses to the writing rooms of French country châteaux. Crafted to be both functional and beautiful, pieces such as this were as much a statement of taste as they were a tool of daily life.
Today this inkwell brings that same sense of cultivated elegance into a contemporary interior. Placed on a writing desk, a library table, or a side console, it speaks to a tradition of fine living where even the smallest objects on a surface were chosen with care and an eye for beauty.
Circa 1890s
Measures 3.5H x 8W x 7.5D
Available for pickup at our Dallas Design District showroom in Dallas Texas
