Springtime Desk Accessories!
A faceted square block of crystal, this inkwell has an acid etched front and top panel, enameled with dainty white violets and lily-of-the-valley. The multi-faceted top is hinged with gilt metal. A cylindrical opening in cut in the crystal for the ink, although this piece is almost too pretty to even fathom using!
While inkwells have been around for centuries, they became an essential piece to desk accessories when writing became mainstream for both the aristocracy and everyday folks. Quills and nib pens did not have ink reservoirs, so they needed to be dipped in ink to resume writing. Inkwells could be fashioned from various materials, such as bone, glass, porcelain, and metal. By the late 1800s, as fountain pens with reservoirs became the norm, inkwells faced their demise.
This little piece still makes for a piece of perfect desk décor, no matter the era!