Dirk Van Erp Copper Inkwell

This is a classic Arts and Crafts-style inkwell by renowned American coppersmith Dirk Van Erp. The piece is made of patinated copper with a rounded, hammered texture, featuring a dark finish. It holds a square, clear glass inkwell covered with a hinged copper lid.

Dirk Van Erp (1860-1933) was a Dutch immigrant who became a leading figure in the American Arts and Crafts movement, particularly on the West Coast. He established his metalworking shop in San Francisco in 1908 and became famous for his hand-hammered copper and brass pieces.

Van Erp’s work is characterized by its simple, functional forms and the distinctive texture of his hammered metal. He often applied a reddish-brown or “gunmetal” patina to his pieces, which he achieved by fuming the copper with ammonia, a process his daughter, Agatha, perfected. His work stands in stark contrast to the mass-produced goods of the Industrial Revolution, emphasizing craftsmanship, natural materials, and the beauty of handmade objects.

The marks on the bottom of his pieces help in dating his work. The presence of the windmill logo is a hallmark of his earliest and most desirable pieces. Van Erp used the windmill stamp between 1908 and 1911, sometimes alone and sometimes in conjunction with the “DIRK VAN ERP / SAN FRANCISCO” mark. Therefore, this inkwell was made within the first three years of his San Francisco workshop’s operation, placing it at the very beginning of his most celebrated and influential period.