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 inkwells.
 
This is a heavy-cast, brass inkwell with an itricate design depicting a mask of Neptune and a shell. The front of the piece has a dish shape for placing your dip pen on, it has two hinged lids covering two pottery liners, one for black ink, and one for blue. This elaborate style of inkwell was very popular at the end of the Victorian period and would have been on the desk of a wealthy gentleman.
 
In good condition, the design is still very crisp.
 
Dimensions: 28cm wide x 22cm