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

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.

Gothic Revival and Neo-Gothic inkstands and inkwells. Early and mid 19th century. So needed in case the archbishop wants to share a whiskey in the library.

890567 — Patinated inkstand together with two similar spill vases. Mid 19th c. Gothic Revival. Molded with tracery. Image © 2020 William Doyle Galleries, Inc. Fair use license. via https://doyle.com/auctions/12an01-estate-of-lee-b-anderson/catalogue/1247-gothic-revival-patinated-metal-inkstand

f2fb4a1299c6d48c1c7e9a4a452e6579 — Inkwell modeled as a medieval helmet with pierced visor with applied cut and chased steel scrolled acanthus ornaments that is raised on a concave shield form base with three ball feet. The hinged top opens to reveal the inkwell. 19th c. Gothic Revival. Probably German. Patinated steel. Image © Jackson’s International Auctioneers and Appraisers. Fair use license. via https://www.pinterest.com/pin/75224256254422550/

Screenshot (814) — Inkwell in a Neo-Gothic style with a top that lifts to reveal three round openings resting on a marble plinth base and raised on cast bronze feet. The three glass inkwells are missing. 1875. Neo-Gothic. Patinated bronze and marble. Maker not known. Image © 2020 ROBUCK. Fair use license. via http://robuck.co/collection/curiosities/italian-gothic-revival-period-patinated-brass-and-marble-architectural-model-inkwell-r6803.html

Screenshot (820) — Oval inkwell modeled with cathedral arcades and rosettes that houses two inkwells with lids, a pounce pot and four pen holders. Rectangular Sienna marble base. 1820-1829. Neo-Gothic. French. Gilt bronze and Siena Marble. Maker not known. Image © 1stdibs.com, Inc. 2020. Fair use license. via https://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/decorative-objects/desk-accessories/inkwells/gothic-revival-inkwell-gilt-bronze-sienna-marble-19th-century/id-f_16380242/

Screenshot (816) — Inkstand modeled with a Gothic tracery design with a pierced rose window gallery enclosing a sander, two ink wells and four pen holders. Rectangular base. Victorian. Gothic Revival. Brass. Image © 2020 Mayfair Gallery Limited. Fair use license. via https://www.mayfairgallery.com/antique-victorian-gilt-brass-inkstand-with-gothic-tracery