Glass Inkwell with Hunting Scene

This is a clear glass inkwell with a hinged lid that features a hand-painted hunting scene. The inkwell itself is square with beveled edges. The focal point of this piece is the round, hinged lid, which serves as a miniature canvas for a detailed hunting scene. The painting depicts a mounted hunter in a red coat, riding a grey horse as it jumps over a wooden fence. On the other side of the fence, a brown stag with antlers is rearing up, distressed, while a white and brown spotted hunting dog is actively attacking it from the front. The scene is set in a landscape with green grass, foliage, and some trees under a light sky.

Another Hunt Scene

A second inkwell with a hunt scene, almost like the first one, depicts a hunt scene. The hand painted scene features a horse and rider in the midst of a chase. A beagle or foxhound in the foreground leaps across the water. The background is a pastoral, open landscape.

Context and Significance

The inclusion of a detailed hunt scene on an inkwell lid reflects the cultural interests of the time, particularly among the upper classes. Fox hunting was a major social and sporting event, and its imagery was used to decorate a wide range of household items.

The combination of a high-quality hand-painted ceramic lid with a cut-glass base and a silver collar suggests this was a luxury item. Such pieces were often given as gifts or purchased as sophisticated desk accessories, reflecting the owner’s taste and appreciation for both fine art and traditional country pursuits.

The style of the painting and the overall construction strongly suggest a late Victorian or Edwardian origin (roughly late 19th to early 20th century). This period was known for its detailed craftsmanship and sentimental, often narrative, decorative motifs.