Live up to your desk instead of letting it live up to you. Inkstands in silver. Not that long ago, at least sort of. All huge and in fun designs. A bridge, the Sphinx smiling and getting ready to swish her tail, etc.

Silver presentation inkstand in the form of a bridge. Single-arch masonry bridge with turrets at the angles linked by a balustrade, fitted with three removable inkwells with glass liners and masonry arch finials, mounted on a blonde mahogany base with silver presentation plaque with the inscription reading: The inscription reads “Presented to Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland BT. M.P., Minister of Labour by the Public Works and Town Planning Committee of the Birmingham City Council on the occasion of the opening by him of the Salford Bridge on 13th October 1926. 1926. English silver. Turner and Simpson, Ltd, Birmingham, England, makers. Image © 2023 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/european-furniture-silver-ceramics/an-english-silver-presentation-inkstand-in-the?fbclid=IwAR31bo9XeAMlvYjgEPxDgz7VcrfeFmgqLmftZ3Y02KixVjksrUse7igNs8Y
Rectangular form presentation inkstand with drop ring handles and the interior with two silver-mounted glass inkwells that was presented to Lionel de Rothschild to commemorate the centenary of the Alliance Assurance Company with the inscription on the lid stating: Presented to Lionel de Rothschild Director of the Alliance Assurance Company on the occasion of its centenary 1824-1924. 1924. Sterling silver with glass inkwells. George V. Charles Comyns, silversmith. Hallmarked. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2023. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/desk-accessories/inkwells/george-v-presentation-treasury-inkstand/id-f_32075952/
Egyptian Revival inkstand in sterling silver with the Sphinx guarding the ink pots and lotus motif decorations, along with other Ancient Egyptian motifs. 1908. British. Edwardian. Garrard, maker. Maker’s marks: hallmarked and stamped R. and S. Garrard and Company, Haymarket, London. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2023. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/dining-entertaining/sterling-silver/monumental-edwardian-sterling-silver-ink-stand-egyptian-revival-garrard-1908/id-f_28836512/?utm_content=condensed&allowUniversalLink=no&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz6ShBhCMARIsAH9A0qU9SzlXdZzfJRHJOaunJ4E76sgGKCe0O_zbFZBTkdGJf9Vn5HRwJG0aA
Silver Neo-Classical Imperial presentation inkwell, the central compartment modeled as a pedestal with the Roman numerals XXV representing 25 years of service to the Imperial Court, with the presenters’ names engraved on the sides. The cover is finely cast and chased with Hermes seated on timber, the two inkwells with the dates 1873 and 1898 with lids cast and chased with corresponding tools. The base has a gadrooned border and central cartouche engraved with the interlacing monogram OS, on four circular feet. 1892. Made in Saint Petersburg, Russia by Grachev. Maker’s marks: Struck on the base, inside the lids and on the inkwells, 84 standard. By repute presented by Emperor Nicholas II to Otto Sevko for his service supplying wood for the extension of Catherine Palace, Tsarskoe Selo. Image © 2023 Sotheby’s. Fair use license. via https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/russian-works-of-art-faberge-and-icons/a-large-silver-imperial-presentation-deskset

Leave a Reply