Inkwells!

[ajzeller]

Some lovely ink wells on this thread! I love the fancy ones, although I've always enjoyed the more simple glass variety in my home. I don't tend to use them, as the ink dries out without an adequate air-tight seal on them. I just use the ink bottles I buy (Parker Quink, Sheaffer Skrip, Omas, Pelikan) to keep the ink in for practical reasons. I also quite like the bottles if i'm honest.

 

However, on my desk I have my pen tidy! After all, if you have inkwells you need to have somewhere to put them, right?! The ink wells on it are purely decorative, but I keep most of my pen collection in the drawer (felt lined), and one pen in the top try for go-to use (if you're interested it's an unusual Platignum fountain pen (I think 1990s if I remember rightly) with brass barrel and enamel coating.

 

Can I ask what the metal loop is in the middle there? I'm assuming it's a handle (since there's not a second one for holding letters or paper.) Am I correct or is there some purpose for it that I'm oblivious to (which wouldn't be surprising...)

[amberleadavis]

You need to make sure the glass or porcelain inserts are there or you will be getting a collection of inserts off of English Ebay, in hopes they fit, or find a glass blower.

All most all big/medium to large, inkwells, even the flip tops, mostly have and need a glass insert. The small two loads of ink wells don't have or need that.

 

The three real small glass/crystal ones shown with the fancy tops do not have an insert, nor the bigger round one which is designed for lots of ink. Sort of three business days worth, back in the day of one pen, and two inks.

The medium big one on the far left has a small well,being quite thick in glass.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0235.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0232.jpg

 

All the other double or single in a stand inkwells I have have an insert. That was so you could take out the insert and clean it. Also, in that ink evaporates, there is less ink in the pretty well, so one filled it more often.

 

If the large inkwell does not have one, it is not 'normally' complete (after a few, you 'know' which ones should have had one or not). Especially metal inkwells; which all had glass or porcelain inserts.

Ink was very acidic back then.

 

Most of my Ink wells are for daily inks, as they were designed for.

They are not put them in an ink well with out a screw or as I lucked out with a press to seal top.

 

They will work well for 'Ink of the Week' assuming you are using your pens filled with that color often enough.

Yes, could be they will dry out or dry out some in a week. You add water.

 

After a while I started looking for screw on capped or extra tight fitting ones. I haven't got any, because of pens, inks and papers bought.

But when I get back to it, I know what I now, need & want.

 

My I suggest spending some six weeks of 1-2 hours a week looking at inkwells in American, English and German Ebays, before buying. You get an idea of price, and how rare or pretty they actually are. By spending six weeks looking you develop your taste more, are able to spot the modern replica made in India, or Morocco; or spot fake porcelain.

 

As 'Noobie' I almost bought made yesterday fakes, when I was hot to trot.

 

Luckily my wife is a mechanical draftsman (trained with file and such in a real metal shop as apprentice), and told me this and that is fake. Seeing she collects antique demi-cups, steered me away from fake old porcelain, too. She has lots of expensive books with marks....she says the net offers lots of good info now.

 

Look at the mark on the bottom of the porcelain well. Ask for picture of it, if bidding on Ebay.

 

Spend your money wisely, knowledge helps do so.

 

 

Spend a bit of time learning about Jugenstile/Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bauhous and histrusumus of the Germans and perhaps the English also.

All that looks 'Victorian' is not, unfortunately. There are books on the underlined, and god they got great furniture.

You would be so surprised, how much 'modern' furniture is Bauhaus. I went to a Furniture Museum in Frankfurt, and almost died laughing at the very modern '1920' chairs that are 'New designer' on the market.

 

Jugenstile/Art Nouveau, Art Deco is some wonderful furniture.

We have a lot of inherited or bought cheaply from some one living next to one of the now dead relatives from 1895-1910. Nice enough lower middle class 'non-arty' normal good furniture, but had I the money, I'd have Art Nouveau, Art Deco.

 

Good advice! Thank you.

[Anne-Sophie]

I got two gorgeous glass ones from Pendemonium.

 

I saw them at a pen show, loved their unusual shapes and bought them when I found out about their reasonable price.

 

I would check their site first, as a noobie in the inkwell collecting, I don't trust myself with auction sites or antique places.

 

Not affiliated with them, they are just nice people with a lot of pen knowledge and goodies.

[Ashram]

Right now this inkwell is adorning my desk. It may not be the most practical but I think it is a cool piece. I was lucky enough to find it with matching paper knife, blotter, letter holder, and folding book stand. This is one of two ink wells I own and seeing some of the amazing examples on display here makes me want to purchase more.

 

 

 

Open:

 

[amberleadavis]

Right now this inkwell is adorning my desk. It may not be the most practical but I think it is a cool piece. I was lucky enough to find it with matching paper knife, blotter, letter holder, and folding book stand. This is one of two ink wells I own and seeing some of the amazing examples on display here makes me want to purchase more.

 

 

 

Open:

 

 

Hey, as long as it doesn't spit....

[Bo Bo Olson]

:roflmho:

 

See the glass insert?

That is what most ink wells need.

[WOBentley]

Right now this inkwell is adorning my desk. It may not be the most practical but I think it is a cool piece. I was lucky enough to find it with matching paper knife, blotter, letter holder, and folding book stand. This is one of two ink wells I own and seeing some of the amazing examples on display here makes me want to purchase more.

 

 

 

Open:

 

This is fabulous!

[OakIris]

There are some very nice inkwells shown here. I only have two inkwells and both are simple glass ones with pen rests. The single inkwell is on my desk; it has water in it so that if I have a fountain pen that is a hard starter, I can dip the nib/feed in the water to coax the ink to start to flow. That inkwell is a Victorian inkwell from England; the second photo shows the discoloration of the water from the ink, the glass is actually clear. The double inkwell was made in USA by the Frank A. Weeks Mfg. Co.; can't seem to find out much about this company but it was based in New York and was a "stationer and office outfitter" in the early to mid 1900's.

 

 

 

 

 

Holly

[silverfish]

They are tastefull and really nice.

[jbb]

Very nice OakIris!

[ARonk]

I have an Edwardian sterling flip lid inkwell that I've used in the past for my Noodler's ink of the month, given the less than aesthetic nature of the bottles used by Noodler's. I have a rubber O-ring on the lid that seals it quite nicely, if at a cost of ease of opening.

[Gcouch]

My inkwells are the bottles themselves. I just love the look of the Montblanc bottles so I really wouldn't want to transfer the ink to an inkwell. The bottles work just as well for me though an inkwell would be cool to have for some other plain-bottled inks.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Holly,

Some real classy ink wells you have there.

 

Thanks for whetting my appetite.

[OakIris]

Very nice OakIris!

 

 

Holly,

Some real classy ink wells you have there.

 

Thanks for whetting my appetite.

Coming from two people who have such a variety of lovely inkwells themselves, I am honored by your appreciation. :embarrassed_smile: Thank you!

 

Holly

[amberleadavis]

Jugenstile/Art Nouveau 1895-1914

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0085.jpg

 

@1925 French Art Deco birds eye maple veneer.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0079-1.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0081.jpg

 

This one is hard, it is either Art Deco or Bauhaus depending on how you want to define. Bauhaus started @1919-20 Art Deco was first named that in 1925 in Paris. Art Deco ends 1940.Black glass, crystal well, fire gilded band and well rim.

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0084.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0245-1.jpg

 

1930's mahogany and brass wire insert around the stand. Normal folks style, nice but no fancy name. http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0088.jpg

 

1930's I think it Bauhaus though some might call it Art Deco.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0093.jpg

The rest of these I rate as more Bauhaus than Art Deco, there's not enough fancy.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0220.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0223.jpg

I have double well one in white/gray marble too that I don't have a picture of.

 

1890's Histerusmus, (1860-1910) or the style of new middle class 'shabby chic' fake the had it in the family or wish we had. This 'fakes' middle-late 1700's.(As soon as I get around to it, I'll have my restorer make some caps.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0097.jpg

I'd put this in the same era, 'faking' early 1800-1820. Of course I could be totally wrong and this could be 1895 at the start of Art Nouveau. The more I look at it the more I put it as Art Nouveau. The top is a key to that.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/SAM_0599.jpg

Pure histerusmus in iron. @1895.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/0294.jpg

 

This is more the real thing with sand spreader.@ 1840-60 or so.The Europeans stayed with sand spreaders a generation longer than others.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/SAM_0432-2.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/SAM_0434-1.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/SAM_0436.jpg

 

Will hold a dip pen.

 

 

@ late 1920's-1930's when workers first had a vacation, tourist ink well out of the Schwartzwald/Black Forest. Due to Unions it became law to send workers and families off for two weeks a year to get healthy, on the Beach or the Mountains in Union supervised Health Resorts...just like the rich folks...at a much lower level of course.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/SAM_0437.jpg

 

in memory of 15-9-1915 a Socialist day of some sort Inkwell. The man is a foot tall, the inkwell 16 inches.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/KGrHqFHJCsE70JsksQBPCd6Vjf60_12.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/KGrHqZHJCwE7z5ZQ-fBPCd5GNKvg60_12.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/KGrHqVHJCkE7zC5V3IUBPCdwzVCdQ60_12.jpg

 

Regular 1890-1940 type ink wells, some with sterling silver caps, some not.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0227.jpg

 

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0235.jpg

 

Modern?....'20-30-50? Soft ball size, cap press seals, holds 50ml in the insert or 70ml with out it.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0218.jpg

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/BoBoOlson/IMAG0219.jpg

Wait, I've been thinking () about this --- how come they aren't inked?

Edited October 22, 2012 by amberleadavis

[fiberdrunk]

I picked this little one up at a flea market. It has holes to hold 3 quills.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7598234264_db4a81bfa1_c.jpg

[OakIris]

I picked this little one up at a flea market. It has holes to hold 3 quills.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8028/7598234264_db4a81bfa1_c.jpg

That is nice looking, fiberdrunk. Was that the original purpose for this or did you see it and say "That is just the thing for my quills and ink...." ?? It looks as if it could have been made to be a candle/incense holder, but very cool to repurpose it for as an inkwell for your quills instead.

 

Holly

[notbob]

My inkwells are the bottles themselves.

 

I don't quite understand the large MB ink bottles. The groove in J Herbin bottles is pretty obvious, but the tunnel on the underside of MB bottles completely eludes me. Is it to create a separate chamber to more easily access the ink?

[whitedot]

My inkwells are the bottles themselves.

 

I don't quite understand the large MB ink bottles. The groove in J Herbin bottles is pretty obvious, but the tunnel on the underside of MB bottles completely eludes me. Is it to create a separate chamber to more easily access the ink?

 

Yep.

[amberleadavis]

There are some very nice inkwells shown here. I only have two inkwells and both are simple glass ones with pen rests. The single inkwell is on my desk; it has water in it so that if I have a fountain pen that is a hard starter, I can dip the nib/feed in the water to coax the ink to start to flow. That inkwell is a Victorian inkwell from England; the second photo shows the discoloration of the water from the ink, the glass is actually clear. The double inkwell was made in USA by the Frank A. Weeks Mfg. Co.; can't seem to find out much about this company but it was based in New York and was a "stationer and office outfitter" in the early to mid 1900's.

 

 

 

 

 

Holly

 

I saw a similar one for sale this week on ebay (chipped). Even still they are stunning.