A newly won brass, bronze inkwell

[Bo Bo Olson]

What the Germans call Jugendstil, or Art Nouveau ...just won and I hate telephone and computer bidding....even if I do use the telephone bidding now.

I once could have gotten this for  1/5 or 1/4th what I paid for it.

Brass and bronze. I'll have other pictures when I get it home on Tuesday.

 

I can't date it....but guess....1900.....there are lots of Arts and Crafts to it...Ah Ha...it is English or American....  1900/10):... just looked it back up in the auction site.

 

 

 

It is more shinny than it looks in the picture, someone polished it up real nice before offering it for sale.

 

 

After spinning in circles in my den/library, I did find space for it...only having to move one thing....but from now on out...small inkwells only. It is 8-9 inches...21cm long and half that wide.

[bsenn]

I''m drawn to Art Deco items, and by extension Art Nouveau (and Streamline Moderne). That is really nice, both the lines of the piece and the pattern on the front.

 

Is the top hinged?

[Anne-Sophie]

Oh my goodness! That's a wonderful piece!

 

I can't wait to see more pictures on Tuesday.

[Bo Bo Olson]

It is top hinged.

 

Anne-Sophie....there is an unpatriotic rich Frenchman, who should have been out celebrating the 14th, instead of finding out how expensive on his computer,  a prime, gold overlay 1927 Kaweco is. Grumbled Cubed.

That is in the One that Got AWAY, thread.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Bssen

This could be at the start of Art Deco @ 1910-14. (Art Deco it's self goes to late '30's and early '50's in some cases. Named in Paris in 1925.)The flat black glass bottom is more Art Deco, the ornate inkwell more Art Nouveau.

Art Deco mid twenties to early '30's.

Art Deco 1925, French.

 

This could be Art Deco, but I think it more Bauhaus

This also..looks more Bauhaus. I have five more marble inkwell sets, that I now think of as Bauhaus, but originally thought Art Deco....well...pretty.

 

Late '30's but I don't know what to call these styles.

 got to make a better picture of this...it's closer to the next inkwell. I did toss the camera....

Bought in Sweden.

This is not quite Art Deco, but descended from it.

 

Not Art Deco, but '30's. One of my few sealed shut inkwells. Softball size.

A huge amount of ink in the insert!!! don't remember exactly but 60 ml or so...and a lot more than that for the well with out the insert. Should get a back light for this one.

 

The problem with ink wells, single or double, is one is committed to just one or two inks for quite a while...........and one must on most ink wells (that don't seal), re-hydrate the ink.. Back when one was limited to 2 or three inks for work, that wasn't a problem, to top off.

 

[bsenn]

Wow, I like all of them, but especially the second photo, the black base with square inkwells. I feel like the ones you don't know how to categorize could be Art Nouveau with their curvy natural shapes. A tiny LED light might be neat in the large round inkwell.

 

Although I don't have any Art Deco inkwells, here are a few Art Deco "desk accessories" in my collection.

 

This clock has a rubber date/time stamp on the bottom. Date is set manually, time is set automatically by the clock. 1930s according to a sales brochure.

 

Another clock:

 

 

 A tape measure, patent numbers are from 1930s:

 

I have a few more clocks, and a couple more Art Deco/Streamline tape measures (and some other styles from the  50s - 70s as well). They're small, and something fun to find for a buck or two at a flea market.

[Bo Bo Olson]

My Art Deco clock.

The first humidor is ceder lined burl veneer was my first pen box, , that now only has etuie's in. The second is a walnut humidor that I've never gotten around to buying the felt lined inserts. Has my pens with out space in my two pen boxes.... I do clean out my pen cups once in a green moon.

Inserts are on my long list. Plans to make a three story pen case. I've two other pen cases, a glass topped  plus two drawers Cherry one, and a  three shelf Pelikan box.

The new ink well.

Click to expand, can click 3X.

I'm a terrible speller. Taped on disk holders of my desk....

Mauricio is the superflex expert..........John Sorowka is the English nib grinder who invented the term 'Weak Kneed Wet Noodle'.  The last level of superflex, and is weak kneed compared to a wet noodle.

 

The sign says, 'Liberty, London @ 1900'  not signed, and was in it when brought to the auction house.

And new better pictures of one of my German ' ink wells...I had thought it '30's but now looking at it it's more'20's  Art Nouveau in I'd not 'noticed' the flowers. And it's not so geometric.(both styles co-existed for quite a while....Art Deco started a decade earlier than I had thought @ 1910 and Art Nouveau lasted into the '30s. 

 

When I was on the island of Malta, there is a restaurant, that is pure Italian '30's Air Plane Art Deco.

Italy was really quite well up there in the mid '30's with pretty and fast airplanes; so had a proud Italian Air Style.

I walked in there and said...Dam I didn't win the lottery, so I can't buy it.

[bsenn]

I like your clock. It looks like you spent some time polishing the new inkwell - it looks great!

[Bo Bo Olson]

It came polished, just had to take off some finger prints and a slight touch of darkening, not tarnish.

 

Th other one had to be polished....and or I did a poor job the last time, I obviously left a bit old 'semi-chrome' on it, so had to take the toothbrush to it.

I had forgotten it came apart.

The glass looks much better in these two pictures. My wife's handy/cell phone, is better than the camera I threw out.

[txomsy]

Those are all gorgeous pieces of art. Make me think I should write more and use the one I have.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Most inkwells  do not seal, so one has to made decisions of what ink one wants to use for a while and ....write  much more with that ink....depending on how big the inkwell is.

 

The inks will dry out if you don't have a sealed inkwell (have 4) , if not in constant use, so one needes to add a bit of water.

 

I sort of by golly guess...and my tap water tastes good so is not soft. Some folks would use distilled water. I just fake it.

 

Come fall I'm going to a German tourist Glasshutte...and am sure they don't make glass inserts..in one can not get hold of them...in internet.

The Black Forest glasshute I went to 20 years ago (then more than one) , is I'm sure out of business. That one was a working glasshutte, with some tours....ours was small couldn't have been more than 6 or so people.. With that many people, that much space and energy use....it was more than we could afford....Watching those men, one can understand why their lungs are shot by 45.

 

The trouble is measuring each empty or broke inkwell exactly, and paying $15 for each.

I might have to load up my car and drive to the Czech Republic.

 

I have the cheapest junk measuring devise. It worked for the one-. time, one time use, that didn't need modern ease of measurement.

 

I could get a better one and make real good pictures and buy the English ones and send them back the ones that don't fit perfectly.

Of course I then miss Budwise and Urquil Pills from the tap (which is so, so much better than from the great bottles)...and some find Czech food.

Half or more of the famous Viennese kitchen came from Bohemia.

.

[txomsy]

Ah, the wonders of restoration... hadn't thought of the associated traveling and accompanying joy. Wish you can achieve both goals.

[mana]

On 7/17/2023 at 3:32 PM, Bo Bo Olson said:

Late '30's but I don't know what to call these styles.

 got to make a better picture of this...it's closer to the next inkwell. I did toss the camera....

Bought in Sweden.

 

Those look like they could have been made by Kralik, early 20th century or thereabouts (1930's is way too late, that is modernist/Art Deco territory which these precede). So yes, Jugendstil / Art Nouveau most definitely.

I actually bought a really nice glass and brass (and some copper) inkwell by Kralik made in 1900-1910 and have a line out for a second one with a same shape but different pattern/color, they make for fantastic collector pieces.

[mana]

On 7/18/2023 at 2:58 PM, Bo Bo Olson said:

The new ink well.

I'm a terrible speller. Taped on disk holders of my desk....

Mauricio is the superflex expert..........John Sorowka is the English nib grinder who invented the term 'Weak Kneed Wet Noodle'.  The last level of superflex, and is weak kneed compared to a wet noodle.

 

The sign says, 'Liberty, London @ 1900'  not signed, and was in it when brought to the auction house.

It is quite lovely! Liberty (or Liberty et Co., or as it is nowadays called, Liberty London) is still around, the founder of that institution of interior decoration and lifestyle was very much part of bringing "oriental" styles and Art Nouveau to the UK in the latter part of the 19th century, now even mentioning the work done with Archibald Knox (and well, Arts & Crafts movement artists)... need to have a look at the book I have on Liberty if there is something similar (I am a huge fan of Art Nouveau and Jugendstil, and in part, of the Arts & Crafts movement, esp. the works of William Morris and Charles Rennie Macintosh).

[Bo Bo Olson]

3 hours ago, mana said:

Kralik

Mana you always seem to know what you are talking about...so I'm glad to hear of Kralik, of which I was ignorant. Will look up in a minute.

(The Kralik glassworks, full name Wilhelm Kralik Sohne, was originally founded by Josef Meyr in 1815, in Bohemia. The factory was originally called Adolfshutte.)

 

 

The much more info on Liberty London...was more than I knew...... If I looked i didn't run not run into  your knowledge.

 

I think I bought the ink well by Kralik up in Stockholm....and think this one is from there too.

If you can WOG on this pretty one Mana? I was guessing '30's.

 

[mana]

I would still place it early-1900 (pre-WWI), based on similar items. One thing about the manufacturer, it could also be Loetz (Lötz), they were the other big art glass manufacturer of that era and region. Here is one that is similar to the one you have > https://www.ebay.com/itm/334552724526 (crazy ask on that one though).

Here are some pics of the ones I have (pictures are from the sellers, one is still inbound).

[Bo Bo Olson]

Very Beautiful ones.

 

I don't see many like none of yours floating around.

 

Antique Loetz Bohemian Czech Art Nouveau Iridescent Art Glass Inkwell w/Insert....I just found out it needs an insert...which was logical actually.

 

The wife says she paid lots and lots less than what that professional wants.

 

This was a great find for the price...€35, by a junk shop who then didn't know what he had....since then his prices have climbed. Meissen...was 3rd quality... which is what they sold only to their workers...saw nothing wrong with it.

It has stopped me from bidding on other similiar Meissen inkwells.... I don't want a collection of Meissen inkwells, but will take a nice neat little one like this.

I think these are either in the '30's after Pfeiffer  time 1922-34 (after the Nazis took over), or before Pfeiffer...1910-20. No dot between the sword handles.

My wife kept the small  Vase, and the mustard jar is part of the saucer (not a cup) on the right hand side from the late 1700's is my on the desk pen cup. the rest of the Meissen got sold at a flea market to get us back to even.

There were a couple things from 1700's others from the 19th century.......which was surprisingly low. Porcelain prices are in the basement.

The blue plate was from the '50's. The big vase @ 1900 .Even sold the ashtray.

 

[Bo Bo Olson]

My murderous western heroine, likes Arts and Crafts and Morris... not understanding in Arts and Craft came in before she was born (1881-2 is the books) she was into 'Modern Art, to much of the conservative set she deals with. She even has incomplete pictures she hides away,   impression....'en Plain Air'....fast outside painting, once paint tubes came in. It's a change she goes through...from disliking to liking Impressionist art. A character has to chage, for good or bad or mostly for both.

 

Satinwood Sheridan furniture, gets it's play too. I get to visit many nooks and crannies as a scribbler.

Chippendale is too old fashioned, for her restaurant she will use Thonet Vienna chairs, modern enough to be in use today.

 

My City Slicker Western has more Opera than cow thieves, more high class french buffet free lunch saloons, than sweaty sliced cheese free lunch places dead poor*** cow herders could afford. In the Cities were the real crooks...politicians,, and card cheats and full of Easterners . Who would go into a saloon and order a sherry.

 

***($15 if Black or Mexican,and mostly $20 for whites who were not top hands)

And mostly wore Bowler hats...which were English Horseman's hats, that didn't blow off, until Buffalo Bill''s 1885 Wild West Show, showed Cowboys what hat they were supposed to wear.

[txomsy]

You always amaze me with your breadth of knowledge.

[Bo Bo Olson]

Thanks...if it's nickle knowledge, it's engraved in the stone I use for a mind...if important, it flows out my ears with out being remembered.

 

Learning with out taking a test is fun....pointless knowledge....if one tries to write gets stored and used.

15 hours ago, Bo Bo Olson said:

Satinwood Sheridan furniture

In a time when a woman made 50 cents a 12 hour day, and if a seamstress took work home.

Mary Ann Alford did well. She came from a cooper who became a salt family...white gold.

I wrote a biography, needing the last chapter finished. She has her two day honeymoon in the best hotel in Syracuse, so get to do furniture of that era....I stuff her parents house with great furniture from a great cabinet maker from NY City...Cuban mahogany was the greatest wood for furniture and or guitars... has chatoyancy....a shimmering that moves as you do........

......so got to play around with that. How cherry wood ages, was fun to learn. I love describing furniture I'd love to own....I do have good furniture, but there is a difference between great and nice.

 

In Syracuse NY, Mary Ann married at 14 which was acceptable in her era, to a 29 year old canal boat builder.I get to throw in local, no longer famous people.

You should have seen the sheer Empire dresses that made it across the ocean to the US....whee....not quite as topless as a few Queens, but close.

 

They went to the wilderness of Missouri. Marched to the California gold rush and survived the 40 mile desert that killed some 4,000 in two years.  (I had lucked into 5 of the 11 Oregon Trail books, that I kept just because, until I ran into Mary Ann. So I can be accurate there. Hollywood is wrong....no one but a baby or very ill rode on a milk churn covered wagon. Everyone walked. She had to have run through three pairs of shoes.

 

Her husband got up enough gold rush money for them to march back to Missouri  by the northern route.

She marched again across the plains to the Colorado gold rush.

 

A big scandal, Mary Ann divorced her husband for going off to chase gold again...in Montana, when she had a Boarding Home, for the well to do young bachelors...she had two daughters to marry off well, and she did. 

When Teller opened up the best hotel in the West in Central City, Colorado, the richest square mile in the World, she moved a thousand feet down the mountain, to Idaho hot Springs. 

 

Then to Golden which just missed being the capitol of Colorado and finally to Denver. In Denver for some three years her hotel was biggest and best. Having seen what she did, I found I had to write a biography. 

 

I have her as a very minor character in my saga...after all I use lots of live at the time folks....why invent what is there. That started her biography.

 

The little white building in the mining camp Idaho Springs, was the first Alvord House. The second best hotel in town.

Right corner of this picture. A woman also from Syracuse and she have a decade long battle to which of them has the best hotel......adds a bit of fun to the book. A status war.

 

Then In Golden, this is for the time, a huge hotel. Especially for a divorced woman. She got to keep her married name, so the judge, judged the husband was at fault, not her. Such a Huge Scandal, divorce was back then.

House was used to try and add some class to being a Hotel. discouraging the rif-raf.

Denver......

This was where the Governor of Colorado use to bunk. For three years the biggest and best in Denver.

 

There is a happy end, after @20 years she re-marries her ex-husband. Then they go back to where they mined gold and she ran her first hotel in California to see the sun set together.

 

When one does research, some of it sticks.