Treenware Barrel Inkwell

1850’s era pocket treenware inkwell made of rosewood features a screw top and a small glass bottle inset into the center of the barrel. The bottle sits on a spring so that when the lid is screwed onto the bottom of the barrel, the glass bottle is pressed tightly into the lid so that it does not leak ink in one’s pocket.

Second example – seller wrote: “This unique inkwell was popular among soldiers during the Civil War era. Made of turned wood and barrel-shaped, it was a convenient and portable way to carry ink while traveling. Its historical significance is tied to the fact that soldiers used it during wartime as they wrote letters, documents, and maps.”