Fairy Tale Inkstand with Gnomes

Description

• The Frieze (Gallery): The backplate consists of a pierced brass silhouette gallery. It is rendered in a “shadow play” style, featuring a procession of figures in profile. The metal is die-cut from sheet brass and hand-finished, characterized by its sharp edges and the way the figures are linked at the “ground” line.
• Pen Rack: The gallery serves a dual purpose; it is not just decorative but also functions as a pen rack. Note the three horizontal brass pegs (or “tines”) on each side. These are designed to hold several dip pens horizontally.
• Inkwells: The set includes two heavy block-glass inkwells. They feature brass collars and hinged domed lids.
• The Base: The base is constructed of solid Oak identified by the prominent, coarse, “open-pore” grain structure.

The Central Vessel: Form and Function

The small glass vessel in the center, with its decorative star-cut base, was most likely used as a stamp damper or a pen rinse.

1. Stamp Damper: In this era, a small natural sponge was often placed inside this vessel and moistened with water. A clerk would touch their finger or a postage stamp to the wet sponge before sealing envelopes.
2. Pen Rinse: Alternatively, it was used to hold a small amount of water to rinse ink from steel nibs after writing, preventing the ink from drying and corroding the metal.

The “Fairy Tale” Connection

The silhouette depicts a classic Germanic folklore scene. While it is difficult to be  certain of the specific story, the figures suggest a few possibilities from the Brothers Grimm:

• “The Three Little Men in the Wood” (Die drei Männlein im Walde): This story features a woman (the evil stepmother) who sends her stepdaughter into the woods, where she meets gnomes. The “woman with a hooked nose” in this silhouette captures the “wicked stepmother/witch” archetype. While there are more than three gnomes here (at least 4 are visible), Victorian brassware often added or subtracted figures to fit the width of the plate.
• “Snow White” (Schneewittchen): The woman would be the Evil Queen in her disguise as the “Old Peddler Woman” (who famously has a hooked nose and a headscarf). In this interpretation, the gnomes are the Seven Dwarfs. It was very common in the late 19th century to represent a shortened “procession” of the dwarfs as a motif for desk accessories.
• “The Gnomes’ Procession”: In many German “Märchen” (fairy tales), gnomes (Wichtel) are shown in a line or procession, often led by or following a “Hexe” (witch) or a village crone.

Summary

“Victorian Oak & Pierced Brass Silhouette Inkstand, c. 1890. Features a whimsical ‘Fairy Tale’ procession of gnomes led by a crone/witch. Includes two block-glass inkwells, a central star-cut glass stamp damper, and an integrated brass pen rack. Solid Oak base.”