Bronze inkwells that double as sculptures or at least draw the eye better than a Post-It note. So much more fun than your next computer mouse. Mostly Victorian, some not.

*The Vanishing Race.* Undated, by 1920. American. Bronze inkwell. Charles Plein, maker (1870-1920). Signed *Plein, Omaha.* Image © 2026 Abington Auction Gallery. Fair use license. https://www.abingtonauctions.com/auction-lot/charles-plein-bronze-inkwell-the-vanishing-race_4644BC7944

Bronze and oak wood sailboat ink stand with two glass inkwells and lids. Mid 20th c. No further information available. Image © 2026 Abington Auction Gallery. Fair use license. https://www.abingtonauctions.com/auction-lot/bronze-wood-sailboat-ink-stand-mid-20th-c_0274746AB7

Bronze inkwell embellished with floral, scallop, and ram’s head details and a centered scroll handle with two wells. French. Victorian, 19th c. Maker not known. Image © Newel Gallery. Fair use license. https://www.newel.com/product/french-victorian-bronze-inkwell-2

Inkwell in yellow Siena marble with a gilded bronze sphinx and inkwells. French. Egyptian Revival. Early 20th c. Maker not known. Image © 2026 Pamono GmbH. Fair use license. https://www.pamono.com/early-20th-century-french-inkwell?srsltid=AfmBOopp0UTSL9wnUi3e1BxG7TQ4jbMbAk16XuXUGy861sbIFP_rzkWm

Solid brass or bronze maritime motif inkwell with a glass jar to hold the ink flanked on each side by a clam shell that can be open or shut and a large clam shell on the front that serves as a vide poche to keep small odds and ends in one place. The back is embellished with the motif or two roped anchors. The lid for the glass ink well missing. Undated, ca. 1900. Image © antiquesboutique.com. Fair use license https://www.antiquesboutique.com/antique-desk-accessories/art-nouveau-inkwell-bronze-maritime-decor-early-20th-century/itm248114

Bronze inkwell in the Rococo style and featuring intricate scrollwork, a central bust, and two lidded ink pots along with a letter opener. mid-late 19th c. Probably French. Maker not shown. Image © intondo.com. Fair use license. https://www.intondo.com/en/products/127957/decor/decorative-object/desk-inkwell-bronze-19th-century

Why get a bronze plaque that vanishes in the weeds when you can decorate the family plot with immortal century plant leaves sitting in forever urns. Imagery from WHITE BRONZE MONUMENTS, STATUARY, PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS, BUSTS, STATUES AND ORNAMENTAL IRON WORK for Cemeteries, Public and Private Buildings, manufactured by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Published in October, 1882.

*32nd Degree, 9 x 10 1/2 inches.* (top row, center). The motto, written in Latin, reads: ‘*Spes Mea in Deo est.’* From a page in the catalogue made up of fraternal order pieces with this motto being associated with the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. American. Page 6 of a trade catalogue published in October 1882 by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/6/mode/1up

*Number 1 Emblem, Eastern Star, 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.* Page 4 (lower right) of a trade catalogue published in October 1882 by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/4/mode/1up

WHITE BRONZE CENTURY PLANTS AND FL.OWER VASES: Number 2 Century Plant. 12 Leaves, height of vase and leaves 18 inches. Price, $15. (left) – Number 3 Century Plant. 16 Leaves, height 33 inches. Price, $45. Page 11 (upper images) of a trade catalogue published in October 1882 by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/11/mode/1up

*Number 222. Statue of ‘Faith.’ Price, $300. Height: 5 feet.* Page 13 (upper images) of a trade catalogue published in October 1882 by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/13/mode/1up

WHITE BRONZE, For Fountain Statues is the best, and will never need painting: ‘Baby Elephant,’ holding a Watch and Chain, showing how it can be utilized as a sign for many kinds of businesses. Price, without the Watch and Chain, $100. (left) – Baby Elephant Statue. Price, $100. Extreme height of this Bronze Cast is 26 inches, which includes the Base, which is 15 x 24 inches square and 4 inches thick. the length of the figure is 35 inches (right). Page 16 (upper images) of a trade catalogue published in October 1882 by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/16/mode/1up

THE MONUMENTAL BRONZE COMPANY’S DESIGNS: Number 105. 6 feet 7 inches high. Price, $535. Bottom Base, 41 ½ x 41 ½ inches square. The 4 upper Emblem Tablets are solid. The 4 Tablets in the die will be made removable. The 4 Tablets on 2^nd Base will be made solid. The Statue is our Number 99 (See page 15). This monument is suitable for any of our large and medium statues. Page 38 of a trade catalogue published in October 1882 by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/38/mode/1up

Number 160. 9 feet, 8 inches high. Price, 660. Bottom Base, 62 x 62 inches square. The Cross is a ‘Double Front,’ being alike on front and back. The Inscription Tablets in the Gothic panel on front and back of the Cross will be made removable, unless ordered solid. The four Tablets in top portion of second Base will be made removable. Page 55 of a trade catalogue published in October 1882 by the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Collections of the Smithsonian Libraries. Artwork in the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/55/mode/1up

I found out about the Monumental Bronze Company and their catalogue from this blog post which also shows one of their monuments in real life, which appears on page 57 of the catalogue here. https://archive.org/details/Whitebronzemonu00Monu/page/57/mode/1up

https://gravelyspeaking.com/2025/11/23/gone-to-join-the-angels/

Gravestones to Order

a new article from the same blog where I found the mention of Monumental Bronze describing how their markers were marketed, etc. Whether this is in response to my blog post I have no idea but am going to hope so-

A red carpet look for your next special occasion. Animal themed brooches from Attwood & Sawyer. Starting in Wales in 1956, they dressed the stars including the leading ladies of “Dallas” and “Dynasty.” Very glitzy. What else could it be?

Crab brooch with diamante, faux pearls, and enamel decoration. 20th c. British. Attwood and Sawyer, maker. Gillian Horsup, photographer. via pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/351912450261034/?utm_campaign=hfdigestpins&e_t=fa7b243907f149ca9b0ba3bf7c6ff41c&utm_source=31&utm_medium=2004&utm_content=351912450261034&utm_term=16&news_hub_id=2530468982684949248

Bird brooch. Gold plated with green, blue, and red enamel and embellished with rhinestones, including the green rhinestone eye. Late 20th c. by 2001. British. Attwood and Sawyer, maker. Maker’s marks: signed *A&S* on the reverse. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2025. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/brooches/brooches/attwood-sawyer-gold-plated-green-blue-red-enamel-rhinestone-bird-brooch/id-v_24504052/

Squirrel brooch. Gold plated with pave set clear round Swarovski crystals running the length of his tail, ear, and abdomen with a single red round Swarovski crystal eye. 1956-2001. British. Attwood and Sawyer, maker. Maker’s marks: signed *A&S* on the reverse. Image © 2025, Bramble & Lily. Fair use license. https://www.brambleandlily.com/products/att

Winged insect/bee brooch in bronze tone modeled as a winged insect, possibly a bee, in enamel, with a large faceted oval claw-set cognac crystal for its abdomen and a crown of smaller faceted round claw-set clear crystals crowning its head. Late 20th c. British. Attwood and Sawyer, makers. Maker’s marks: signed *A&S* on the back. Image © 2025 Bramble and Lily. Fair use license. https://www.brambleandlily.com/products/a-s

Gold plated frog brooch with an enamel back merging from green to blue with wavy lines of gold and Swarovski crystal pave set legs. Late 20th c. British. Attwood and Sawyer, maker. Maker’s marks: signed *A&S* on the back. Image © 2025 Bramble and Lily. Fair use license. https://www.brambleandlily.com/products/attwood-and-sawyer-22ct-gold-plated-swarovski-crystal-and-enamel-frog-brooch

Mythica Dragon/griffin figural pin brooch. Gold plated with bright red enamel and Swarovski crystals. Late 20th c. British. Attwood and Sawyer, maker. Image © 2025 Mink Road Vintage Jewelry, Spheres & Gemstones. Fair use license. https://www.minkroad.com/products/a-s-attwood-sawyer-mystical-beast-dragon-tiger-vintage-figural-brooch

Ormolu encriers shaped like beehives. Amaze your business acquaintances when they visit your office. They’ll never guess that India ink lives inside.

Ormolu beehive model Encrier (ink well). Beehive central well with a hay stack cover and several bees on the surface, flanked by two baskets with covers laden with fruit, flowers and wheat sheaves. At the base of one of the baskets sits a bird leaning over a large basket with a container of sand in the shape of a large bunch of wheat tied with a rope and a bird perched on top as a cover. The rear of the encrier is composed of a group of garden implements which include a sickle, a spade, a trowel, a scythe, ring pliers and a pitch fork tied with an attractive bow and hung with garlands of flowers, masses of grapes, and wheat forming a support for a quill. The base is designed as naturalistic wood logs topped with rustic wood planks. An amusing mouse sits by the handle of the large front basket nibbling a piece of wheat. Gilt bronze with porcelain liners. 19th c. Empire. French. Maker not given. Image © 1stDibs.com, Inc. 2024. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/desk-accessories/inkwells/gardeners-delight-antique-french-empire-gilt-bronze-beehive-model-encrier/id-f_32219442/

Freemasonry gilt bronze (ormolu) inkwell designed with a beehive shaped system decorated with bees on the top, on a base animated with flowers and vegetation. The basket-shaped receptacle is decorated with wheat sheaves and bees. This inkwell is embellished with two lidded cups, one with a stopper featuring an eagle. ca. 1824-1830. French. Ormolu (gilt bronze) with a porcelain ink cup. Maker not known. Image © Ouaiss Antiquites Paris 2024. Fair use license. via https://www.ouaissantiquites.com/en/objectdetails/859309/french-19th-century-gilt-bronze-inkwell/19678

The beehive with its worker bees is a Freemasonry symbol. Whether these inkwells are connected with Freemasonry, were made for one of their lodges, etc. it is not possible to learn as far as I know. But they probably were.