French “Roaring Lion” Spelter Inkstand

Description

• The Figure: The centerpiece is a high-relief sculpture of a roaring lion’s head. The modeling is expressive, capturing the ferocity of the animal with a wrinkled snout, bared teeth, and a flowing, textured mane.
• The Base & Pen Rest: The lion emerges from a scrolling, Rococo-style base. The front of the stand extends outward to form a functional pen rest (or pen tray). The central decorative element on this front apron is a female mask (masqueron)—a woman’s face framed by stylized drapery or scrolls. This mixture of a fierce animal with a serene human face is a classic motif in late 19th-century decorative arts.
• Mechanism: The top of the lion’s head (the cranial area and upper mane) is hinged at the neck. It flips backward to reveal a removable glass inkwell insert.
• Material: The piece is made of spelter (a zinc alloy), which was a popular, affordable alternative to bronze in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. It has been finished with a bronzed patina to mimic the look of more expensive cast bronze.

Origin and Date

• Place of Manufacture: France
  • Style: The “Animalier” style (romanticized animal sculpture) was a specialty of French foundries in the late 19th century.
  • The Mask: The female face on the front has a distinct “Art Nouveau” influence, which flourished in Paris.
• Date: Circa 1890–1910. The combination of the Rococo scrolls with the slightly more organic Art Nouveau elements places it at the turn of the 20th century.