WMF Owl Inkstand

This is a classic Jugendstil (German Art Nouveau) inkstand produced by the renowned manufacturer WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik) around 1905.

Description

The inkstand features a highly stylized, relief-cast owl at the rear, whose large, sweeping wings flow forward to form the boundaries of a dual pen tray. The owl is detailed with glass eyes and textured feathers. The inkwell itself is located in the foreground and features a hinged, domed lid that opens to reveal the inkwell (missing its insert).

The Marks

The marks visible on the bottom confirm the piece’s origin and original finish:

• Ostrich in a Diamond: This is the WMF trademark. The image of a running ostrich (a pun on founder Daniel Straub’s name, as Strauss means ostrich in German) inside a diamond, which is then housed in a rectangle, was used specifically between 1903 and 1910.
• G: Located beneath the rectangle, this stands for Geislingen, the town in Germany where WMF was founded and based.
• I/O: This fractional mark indicates the “normal” thickness of silver plating applied to the base metal.
• as: This stands for “Antik-Silber” (Antique Silver finish). It signifies that the silver plating was chemically darkened or oxidized to produce the nearly black, matte appearance.

Material and Style

• Material: The piece is made of silver-plated Britannia metal (a white metal alloy of tin, antimony, and copper) or brass, which was then given its characteristic “as” (antique silver) finish.
• Style: It is a prime example of the Jugendstil movement. This is evidenced by the organic, flowing lines of the wings and the stylized, slightly mysterious depiction of the owl, a common motif in Art Nouveau design.

Manufacturer History: WMF

• Founding: The company was founded in 1853 in Geislingen an der Steige by Daniel Straub and the Schweizer brothers.
• Growth: In 1880, it merged with Ritter & Co. to become Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik (WMF). By the turn of the 20th century, it was the world’s leading producer and exporter of decorative household metalware.
• The Golden Era: Under the artistic direction of sculptor Albert Mayer (1884–1914), WMF became synonymous with high-quality Jugendstil designs. The company was famous for its “Galvano” division, which used electroforming to create complex, artistic pieces that were distributed globally.
• Modern Day: WMF survived the wars by pivoting to industrial and civilian goods. Today, it remains a major name in high-end cookware and professional coffee machines.