Sterling Silver Inkstand

This is a late-Victorian sterling silver inkstand (sometimes called an ink tray) featuring a fitted cut-glass inkwell.

• The Stand (Tray): The base is an elegant, boat-shaped (navette) oval tray crafted from solid silver. It features a clean, unadorned surface with a raised rim, typical of the late Victorian movement toward smoother, more reflective designs.
  • Central Aperture: The center of the tray has a large cutout or receiving ring. This is designed to hold the glass inkwell securely in place, preventing it from sliding or tipping over.
  • Feet: The entire tray rests on four small silver feet.
• The Inkwell: The ink bottle itself is made of heavy cut glass with vertical faceted panels.
  • Mounts: It is topped with a solid silver collar and a hinged lid. The lid features a domed shape topped with a distinct finial (knob), making it easy to open.
  • Fit: The glass body is shaped (stemmed) to nest perfectly into the central hole of the silver stand.

Hallmarks and Identification

• Maker’s Mark (“HM”): This stands for Henry Matthews, a well-known and prolific Birmingham silversmith who specialized in small silver goods (“smallwork”) like brushes, frames, and desk accessories.
• Lion Passant: Indicates Sterling Silver (.925 standard).
• Anchor: The town mark for Birmingham.
• Date Letter (“z”): The lowercase “z” in this specific font style corresponds to the year 1899.

This piece is a fine example of Henry Matthews’ output, combining the practical durability of the cut glass with the elegance of polished silver suitable for a gentleman’s or lady’s writing desk at the turn of the 20th century.