Brass Inkwell with Stylized Motifs and “B.B.” Mark

This brass inkwell is a detailed example of early 20th-century decorative metalwork, blending symbolic motifs with functional design. Though marked “B.B.”, the maker remains unidentified, and no definitive attribution has yet been established.

Design Features

• Material: Cast in brass.
• Base: The square platform is adorned with symmetrical, embossed designs, including stylized birds with outstretched wings, feather-like flourishes, and geometric sunburst patterns.
• Inkwell: At the center sits a clear glass inkwell with a circular lid featuring radial engraving.

Stylistic Analysis: Art Nouveau or Art Deco?

The inkwell’s design straddles the stylistic boundary between late Art Nouveau and early Art Deco, suggesting a production date between 1905 and 1925.

• Art Nouveau Elements:
  • Organic curves and flowing feather motifs
  • Emphasis on nature-inspired symbolism (birds, wings)
  • Decorative unity across the base and lid
• Art Deco Tendencies:
  • Geometric symmetry and radial patterns
  • Stylized abstraction of natural forms
  • Crisp, mechanical precision in layout and engraving