waxantiques

Inkstands & Desk Items

Inkstands and Inkwells
The inkstand did not enter into common household use until the 18th century. Earlier 17th century examples exist but are exceedingly rare. The main requirement was a container for ink and another for sand (or pounce) which was used for drying the ink. Also required was a space to put quills. Some inkstands also incorporated a taper stick for melting sealing wax or even a bell.

Desk Accessories, Bells, Pens, Letter Openers, Seals
Desk accessories form a wide and interesting collecting field and they make an excellent gentleman’s gift. It’s thought that the first handwritten letter was written, probably on canvas, by a Persian queen in around 500BC. Letters were vital for basic communication, both personal and formal, and the format was strictly governed by basic rules of etiquette. The equipment required to write a simple letter was quite extensive including paper, envelope, pen, ink, blotter, stamps. Once written the letter or scroll needed to be sealed using a candle wax kit. Letter openers are a useful gift

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Inkstands & Desk Items

Inkstands and Inkwells
The inkstand did not enter into common household use until the 18th century. Earlier 17th century examples exist but are exceedingly rare. The main requirement was a container for ink and another for sand (or pounce) which was used for drying the ink. Also required was a space to put quills. Some inkstands also incorporated a taper stick for melting sealing wax or even a bell.

Desk Accessories, Bells, Pens, Letter Openers, Seals
Desk accessories form a wide and interesting collecting field and they make an excellent gentleman’s gift. It’s thought that the first handwritten letter was written, probably on canvas, by a Persian queen in around 500BC. Letters were vital for basic communication, both personal and formal, and the format was strictly governed by basic rules of etiquette. The equipment required to write a simple letter was quite extensive including paper, envelope, pen, ink, blotter, stamps. Once written the letter or scroll needed to be sealed using a candle wax kit. Letter openers are a useful gift

  • Circa 1720

    Paul de Lamerie

    10174 George II Antique Silver Bell

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    An excellent quality silver hand bell by the sought after Huguenot silversmith Paul de Lamerie. Good plain style with concentric bands around the centre and bottom rim. Heavy cast silver. Weight 226 grams, 7.2 troy ounces. Height 10.2cm. Diameter 6.7cm. London circa 1720. Maker Paul de Lamerie. Britannia Standard silver, 95.8% purity.

  • 1733

    Edward Vincent

    9695 George II Silver Box

    £8,750

    A rare antique silver box of hexagonal form with a folding strapwork catch; the hinged lid having a large drop handle supported by ball finials. Of plain form and heavy gauge silver, this unusual box is extremely heavy. The interior pull out tray has two hinged lids enclosing six compartments. Possibly a spice box, although spice boxes of this period usually had a double centrally hinged lid, could also be used for cash or jewellery. Weight 1268 grams, 40.7 troy ounces. Height 9.5cm. Top measures 17 x 12cm. London 1733. Maker Edward Vincent. Sterling silver.

  • 1741

    Elizabeth Godfrey

    10209 George II Antique Silver Inkstand

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    An exceptional early English silver inkstand of oval form with a cast shell border and raised on four cast scroll feet. Gilt finish. Good gauge silver and heavy weight. To the top are two cylindrical containers for ink and sand and a detachable candlestick mounted on a circular box. Hand engraved to the top with a coat of arms and motto “Pax in Bello” for the Osborne family; the two pots and taperstick all with a matching crest. Weight 1485 grams, 47.7 troy ounces. Height 13.25cm. Length 34.4cm. Width 22.5cm. London 1741. Maker Eliza Godfrey. Sterling silver.

  • 1754

    John Café

    10150 George II Antique Silver Taperstick

    £950

    An attractive antique silver taperstick with hexafoil shell base, rope borders and an intricately shaped stem. Cast silver. Good size and weight. Owner’s initials “W.M” engraved underneath. Weight 180 grams, 5.8 troy ounces. Height 13.3cm. Base diameter 8.7cm. London 1754. Maker John Cafe. Sterling silver.

  • 1782

    William Sumner

    9607 Antique Silver Skewer

    £350

    An attractive antique silver meat skewer with decorative ring handle. Can also be used as a letter opener. Uninscribed. Weight 61 grams, 1 troy ounce. Length 24.5 cm. London 1782. Maker probably William Sumner.

  • Circa 1790

    Guiseppe Caltagirone

    8191 Antique Italian Silver Frames

    £2,250

    A stylish pair of late 18th century Sicilian silver cartaglorias containing the original texts in old fashioned script. The oval bead bordered frames have applied gilt silver swags, leaves and flower motifs, the bases are raised on square supports. The sheet silver frames are pinned onto carved softwood backs. Height 26.7 cm. Width 23 cm. Marked on the bottom left hand corner with “GC” for Guiseppe Caltagirone of Trapani, Sicilia. Circa 1790.

  • Circa 1795

     

    9791 George III Old Sheffield Plate Globe Inkstand

    £1,250

    A rare and collectible conversation piece made in Old Sheffield plate. This elegant novelty inkstand, made to sit on an 18th century Englishman’s desk, is in the form of a globe and by pressing down the top finial the two flaps open to reveal four Bristol blue glass bottles. Two bottles are for ink, one for pounce (a fine powder to dry the ink) and a fourth to keep spare nibs. The centre rim is decorated with swags and lions masks. Height 27cm. Diameter 14cm. Bottle height 5cm. Unmarked. Old Sheffield plate. Circa 1795.

  • 1798

    William Ely

    9597 Antique Silver Skewer

    £350

    A good quality antique silver meat skewer with ring handle. Can also be used as a letter opener. Uninscribed. Weight 133 grams, 4.2 troy ounces. Length 35 cm. London 1798. Maker William Ely II.

  • 1806

    Arthur Murphy

    7098 Antique Irish Silver Skewer

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    A good quality antique Dublin silver meat skewer with ring handle and hand engraved crest to one end. Could be used as a letter opener.. Weight 81 grams, 2.6 troy ounces. Length 31 cm. Dublin 1806. Maker Arthur Murphy.

  • 1807

    James Turner

    9604 Georgian Silver Wax Jack

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    A rare antique sterling silver wax jack, or go to bed, of rectangular form. Good plain style and gadroon borders. The central wax winder supports the remains of a coil of wax, the end of which is held in place in the centre of the sconce. The small conical snuffer is attached to the top by a long silver chain. Weight including wax 163 grams, 5.2 troy ounces. Height 11 cm. Base 9.3 x 7.4 cm. London 1807. Maker probably James Turner.

  • 1810

    Thomas Wells

    8768 Antique George III Silver Inkwell

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    A good George III sterling silver travelling inkwell, of rectangular form, with hinged screw down cover. Lovely plain style. Weight 56 grams, 1.8 troy ounces. Height 2.5 (pot), 5 (top of screw cap) cms. Base 3.9×3.9 cms. London 1810. Maker Thomas Wells.

  • 1829

    Jonathan Hayne

    7273 Antique Silver Skewer

    £275

    A good quality antique silver meat skewer with ring handle and hand engraved crest to one end. Suitable for use as a paper knife. Weight 96 grams, 3 troy ounces. Length 32.5 cms. London 1829. Maker Jonathan Hayne.

  • 1830

    Joseph Angell

    10230 William IV Antique Silver Bell

    £1,675

    An excellent quality antique silver table bell with delightful flower and foliate decoration throughout. Good quality construction and heavy gauge cast silver. Rings beautifully. Weight 232 grams, 7.4 troy oz. Height 13.5cm. Diameter 6.8cm. London 1830. Joseph Angell I. Sterling silver. 19th century.

  • Circa 1840

     

    8806 Antique Gold and Stone Desk Seal

    £695

    An antique seal with white hard stone handle and solid gold mount. The carved intaglio has an armorial, a horse crest over a crown, and the motto “Con Fide”. The stone handle could be white jade or quartz cabouchon. The intaglio is a creamier white colour and may be rock crystal. Length 6.7 cms. Unmarked gold (15 or 18 carat). French. Circa 1840.

  • 1849

    Elkington

    8994 Antique Silver Plated Ink Stand

    £350

    A fine quality antique inkstand with an oval pierced gallery. Silver plated. To the centre the cherub figure is holding a taper stick and can be removed to use the circular box below for pen nibs etc. The two crystal faceted ink bottles have silver plated tops and cut star bases. Length 26cms, width 20cms. The edge of the nib box has silver plate marks for Elkington & Co; date cypher for 1849.

  • Circa 1880

     

    9891 Antique French Gilt Metal Magnifying Glass

    £95

    A decorative antique eye glass or monocle with a decorative handle. Can be worn on a chain. Length 7.7cm. Width 3.8cm. Gold cased (gold on metal probably brass). Unmarked. French. Circa 1880.

  • Circa 1890

     

    9905 Antique Gold and Enamel Pencil

    £225

    A good quality late Victorian small 9 carat gold and enamel telescopic propelling pencil with attached suspension ring, a deep blue coloured guilloche enamel sleeve, and bullet shaped telescopic pencil with reeded barrel. Length 3cm (closed), 6.1cm (open). Maker “E.B”. England. Circa 1890.

  • Circa 1900

     

    8949 Antique Bronze Dog

    £950

    A striking figure of a dog raised on hind legs with one foot supported by an oval specimen of Blue John*. The modelling is very realistic. Raised on a marble resin base. Height 17.5 (total), 12.5 cms (dog) cms. Base 10.5 x 5.8 cms. Unsigned. Probably English. Circa 1900.

  • Circa 1900

     

    9966 Antique Silver Pencil

    £125

    An antique silver propelling pencil, would have originally hung on a lady’s chatelaine or gentleman’s watch chain. Hexagonal shaped body with hand engraved decoration around the outside. The top is inset with a purple coloured stone. The central sliding band extends & retracts the internal pencil mechanism. Length 4.3cm (closed), 5.cm (extended). English circa 1900. The pencil is unmarked. The T-bar has maker’s mark “J.K”, date letter “s” probably for Birmingham 1892. The chain links with the lion mark only. Guaranteed silver, sterling grade or similar.

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