Buyer Be Aware! Metal Horse Double Inkstand

While many online sellers list this exact model as an “antique Victorian” or “early 1900s” piece, it is documented within the antiquities market as a late 20th-century vintage reproduction or modern production made in Italy.

Production & Style Origins

• The Manufacturer: Pieces sharing this exact casting mold were manufactured in Italy. They were produced primarily during the mid-to-late 1900s by Italian brass foundries specializing in decorative “historical revival” wares for export. The sticker “Made in Italy” is usually missing for pieces sold in the secondary market.

Indications of Modern Production

• The Underside: Turn the inkstand over. Modern Italian reproductions usually have completely hollow castings with rough, bright yellow-gold brass surfaces on the inside that haven’t aged, contrasted sharply with a chemically darkened exterior.
• The Hardware: True antiques typically feature hand-cut, irregular iron screws or square nuts. Modern reproductions almost exclusively use standard, modern machine-threaded hexagonal nuts or Phillips-head screws to hold the horse and the backplate to the base.
• The Material: While often marketed as bronze, these modern versions are almost exclusively cast in solid brass or a zinc-based alloy (spelter) treated with an artificial chemical patina to make them look dark and weathered. The heft and “feel” of an antique just aren’t there.
• The Inserts: The ink inserts for modern production are always made of metal.
• Ubiquitous, Not Rare: These pieces are always for sale on the internet or at auctions. Sadly, they are marketed as 19^th century bronzes.  And they command good prices. Just be aware of what you’re buying.