Orientalist Cold-Painted Inkstand

This is a figural single inkstand executed in the Orientalist style of the late 19th or early 20th century.

1. Materials and Finish

• Material: White Metal (Spelter or a similar base metal alloy). This material was ideal for casting intricate, detailed forms cheaply.
• Finish: Cold-Painted. The vibrant colors and decorative patterns (such as on the blanket/rug) were applied directly onto the metal surface after casting, without being fixed by heat.

1. Figural Scene and Design

• Subject: The inkstand depicts a lone Orientalist figure (likely a Bedouin, Arab, or North African traveler) in a detailed vignette.
• The Figure: The man is shown crouching on the ground, leaning forward. He is fully draped in robes and a head covering. In his right hand, he holds a long spear.
• The Inkwell: The functional inkwell is integrated into the scene, located within a large, bundle next to the figure’s left side. This bundle is hinged on the top and opens to reveal the inkwell, with its glass insert.
• Base: The figure and items rest on a simple, low, irregular base that simulates an Oriental rug.
• Detailing: The piece is highly detailed, emphasizing the texture and folds of the fabric, the pattern of the bundle/rug, and the realistic pose of the figure.

III. Style and Context

• Style: Orientalism, popular during the Belle Époque period in Europe. These pieces romanticized scenes and figures from the Middle East and North Africa.
• Origin: Often attributed to workshops in Vienna, Austria, which specialized in these cold-painted white metal figures, though similar items were produced elsewhere in Central Europe.
• Estimated Age: Circa 1880–1910. The style and material place it in this period when the European market had a high demand for such exotic desk accessories.