Before the invention of the fountain pen, all correspondence would be done using a dip pen and ink. Inkwells came in all shapes and sizes and for all pockets, from the humble stone bottle to the wonderfully ornate bronze and silver inkwels.
 
This is a very fine quality, French, gilded bronze inkwell. The two wells sit side by side and can be removed to fill with blue and black ink. In the front of the ink stand is a shallow shell form, this would be where the user would rest the dip pen, thus if it dripped it would be caught in the shallow indentation.
 
This would be found in the house of a rich family and would be used on a lady's desk either in her study or bed chamber.
 
It is in very good condition with no loss of gilding, both of the wells are original.
 
Dimensions: 17cm wide x 13cm deep x 4cm high