Art Deco “Capstan” Style Inkwell

This 1930s Art Deco “Capstan” style inkwell uses a “roll-top” or “shutter” mechanism for its lid. The bold yellow enamel against the chrome is quintessential for the period.

Description

The inkwell features a circular, stepped base with a vibrant yellow guilloché-style enamel inlay. The four knurled, acorn-shaped studs serve as a pen holders, allowing a dip pen to rest securely across the base without rolling off.

The lid is the most mechanically interesting part. It is sometimes referred to as a “Revolving” or “Rolling Dome” lid. Instead of a hinge, the lid consists of two or more concentric sections that slide into one another.

Manufacturer Identification

Based on the “English Make” stamp and the specific design of the rolling dome and the acorn-shaped pen rests, this inkwell was almost certainly manufactured by The Metal & Hardware Products Ltd. (often associated with the brand “MHP”) or Wolverhampton-based firms that specialized in chrome and enamel office ware during the interwar period.

However, the most famous maker of this specific rolling-dome mechanism in the UK was Henry Howell & Co. Ltd. (who marketed them under the brand name “YZ”) and The Parker Pen Company, who often collaborated with English silversmiths to create these “automatic” or “shutter” wells for their desk sets.

The Insert: In the 1930s, the plastic used would likely be Bakelite or Galalith (casein plastic).

Age Estimation

Given the materials (chrome and enamel) and the “English Make” marking (which became standard after the Merchandise Marks Act of 1926), this piece dates to circa 1930–1938.

The use of chrome plating became commercially popular in the late 1920s, and the bright, “Sunburst” yellow enamel was a favorite color choice in the mid-1930s to coordinate with contemporary office interiors.

Key Features Summary