Sterling Silver Inkwell

Sterling Silver Inkwell

This inkwell is made of sterling silver and features a faceted and scalloped design.

• Base: The base is a broad, fluted shape with a scalloped or undulating edge. The facets on the base radiate outward from the center, giving it a floral or star-like appearance when viewed from above.
• Body: The main body of the inkwell rises from the center of the base, tapering inward and then flaring out to form a hinged lid. The body and lid maintain the same faceted and scalloped pattern.
• Lid: The hinged lid is also faceted and echoes the shape of the inkwell body. It opens to reveal the inkwell.
• Hallmarks: The hallmarks are visible on the lower side of the inkwell’s body. They include the maker’s mark, the sterling lion passant, the Birmingham anchor, and the date letter for 1910. The underside of the inkwell is covered in dark leather.

Analysis of the Hallmarks and Style

The hallmarks provide a precise provenance for this piece:

• Maker: C. E. Williams
• Assay Office: Birmingham, England (marked by the anchor)
• Purity: Sterling Silver (marked by the lion passant)
• Date: 1910

The style of this inkwell, with its clean, geometric lines and faceted surface, shows a clear transition from the elaborate ornamentation of the Victorian period towards the streamlined simplicity that would define Art Deco and Modernism in the following decades. While it was made just at the close of the Edwardian era, its design points forward rather than back, emphasizing form and material over applied decoration.