Carved Wood Lion’s Head Inkwell

Detailed Description

• Form and Material: The piece is a freestanding inkwell carved entirely from wood in the form of a detailed lion’s head.
• Eyes: The lion’s eyes are made of glass.
• Functionality:
  • Hinged Mechanism: The top portion of the head (the mane and crown) is hinged and lifts upwards to access the inkwell.
  • Ink Pot: The ink reservoir is a fitted, removable white ceramic pot.

Wood Identification

• Walnut (Noyer): This is the most likely candidate. Walnut is hard enough to hold fine detail but is not brittle. When stained and finished, it develops a deep, rich brown color, which matches the appearance of this inkwell.

 Age and Origin: The Black Forest Tradition

The style of this lion’s head inkwell is characteristic of the Black Forest Carving (or Schwarzwalder Schnitzerei) tradition.

• Origin: The Black Forest region of Switzerland (Brienz area) and Germany.
• Style: Black Forest carving specialized in naturalistic, often figural pieces, with a heavy emphasis on wildlife (bears, deer, and, notably, lions). These carvings were originally made by local woodcarvers but exploded into a major cottage industry in the mid-19th century, producing everything from furniture to small, functional souvenirs like this inkwell.

Age Estimate: circa 1880 – 1910 (Late Victorian / Edwardian Era)

This period represents the peak of Black Forest souvenir production, where highly detailed and functional pieces were made for a global market of wealthy tourists and collectors.

See also this Inkipedia item: Carved Lion’s Head Inkwell – The Society of Inkwell Collectors (SOIC)