brass inkwell Detailed history of how desktop inkwells were used

[RC-1138]

I picked up this Maitland Smith Brass Ink Well. There are three "wells."
I would like a detailed explanation of how these inkwells were used. I am having a difficult time finding anyone who knows for sure without assuming/guessing.

Why are there three wells? 

How were all three intended to be used?

Is there glass containers missing from this model or is the ink supposed to be put right into the brass well?

Here is the product on ebay : https://www.ebay.com/itm/303899003446?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20180105095853%26meid%3Db3b00280c2bc447f9891f7ecb7678b45%26pid%3D100903%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D16%26sd%3D374216600907%26itm%3D303899003446%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2510209&_trksid=p2510209.c100903.m5276

[inkstainedruth]

Without knowing for certain, my guess would be that there would be different colors of ink (for different purposes -- such as using a second color for doing corrections) and possibly one of the "wells" would be used for pounce (the powder used to help to help dry ink on the page or parchment).  And of course more likely to be for dip pens than fountain pens.

That is a very attractive piece, but way beyond my price point for such an object (I don't know if it was a good price for what it is or not).  

I see vintage/antique inkwells in antiques stores every now and then, and while they are often beautiful pieces, I have NO use for them, and they would just be something else on my desk to dust....

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[ajoe]

I know nothing about that type of object, but I would like to welcome you to FPN.

[RC-1138]

@inkstainedruth A woman, whom I was buying a desk from, was trying to clear out her fathers house sold it to me with an antique lamp for $60. I just was looking into the model and found how expensive it was. Quite a find to stumble upon for sure. 
Thank you for your input.

 @ajoe Thank you ! Glad to have found this community.

[ajoe]

Well, at that price you could hardly go wrong.

[PPPR]

There are two inkwells, those on each side. The inkwells would have had inserts or liners, commonly glass. The center cup would have been used for writing accoutrements, such as sealing wax and seals, t-pins, stamps, or whatever. A pounce pot or sander would have been removable to shake pounce or sand on completed sheets.

 

HTH

[kestrel]

If your inkwell is missing the glass or ceramic inserts replacements are available.  Glass  https://www.ebay.com/itm/362966774707?var=632089441709  and ceramic https://www.ebay.com/itm/192285197591?var=492218912631 

 

I have purchased the ceramic inserts from this seller and was very pleased.

 

It's a beautiful piece.  Congratulations.

[crescentfiller]

On 1/25/2023 at 4:18 PM, RC-1138 said:

" I just was looking into the model and found how expensive it was. Quite a find to stumble upon for sure. Thank you for your input."

The ebay link you posted is for an item that is "for sale." It has not sold, as far as I can tell. I did an ebay search for "completed items" and it does not appear. As you know, a seller can ask any price; what it sells for is a different matter entirely. I've collected old inkwells and inkstands for decades and the price you paid is much nearer the mark than the asking price in the ebay listing. Most quality, vintage inkwells have a pottery, porcelain, or glass cup insert that holds the ink. One well was for black ink and the other for red ink, most often (they could, of course, be used to hold blue and black or any colors). The center holder is not likely for ink: it would be for stamps or paperclips or other desk essentials. 
 

 

[Ink Stained Wretch]

On 1/25/2023 at 2:13 PM, RC-1138 said:

There are three "wells."

 

There are probably two wells and another thing. The two wells flanking that larger thing in the middle would be for black and red ink respectively. Those would be the standard business ink colors for an era long past. Sometimes there's even something that indicates which ink well is red and which is black. Some desk sets for fountain pens have/had a little something to indicate which pen is red and which is black. For this kind of desk set, which looks like it was definitely made for dip pens, the pens would reside in that tray in front of the wells.

 

If we could see that thing between the ink wells opened up that might help to identify it further.

 

Congratulations on a great purchase.

[crescentfiller]

My earlier reply got swallowed in the quote!

Here it is without the quote:

 

 

The ebay link you posted is for an item that is "for sale." It has not sold, as far as I can tell. I did an ebay search for "completed items" and it does not appear. As you know, a seller can ask any price; what it sells for is a different matter entirely. I've collected old inkwells and inkstands for decades and the price you paid is much nearer the mark than the asking price in the ebay listing. Most quality, vintage inkwells have a pottery, porcelain, or glass cup insert that holds the ink. One well was for black ink and the other for red ink, most often (they could, of course, be used to hold blue and black or any colors). The center holder is not likely for ink: it would be for stamps or paperclips or other desk essentials. 
 

[nanahcub]

I'm far from an expert on these thing - (translation: I know absolutely nothign) so what I am about to say is pure speculation, just pure guesswork, but it sort of makes sence to me.

 

I agree with the two colours idea, as mentioned above. That makes sense. But the third well? Hmm... if it were being used for two colours (black and red, using dip pens, would it not be possible that the third well would simply contain water, to rinse a nib before changing colours? After all, if you had just written something in black and wanted to change to red, you would need to remove the traces of black ink from the nib before writing with it in red. So a pot of water might be useful to give the pen a quick rinse?

 

I don't know enough about the subject to be able to say with any certainty that that is what it was for, but it sort of makes sense.

 

Any one else have any thoughts on this? Any dip pen users think this is a possibility? Or would they simply use a different pen for the different colours?

[AAAndrew]

Again, hard to say without seeing the inside, but the center could have been used for a pen wipe. These took the form of either a bristle brush, like a stiffer form of a shaving brush, or sometimes rolled up cloth. You would wipe off your pen by sticking it into the rolled up fabric and pulling it out. More likely it was either wafers, used for sealing letters, or spare nibs.