French Gilded Brass Inkstand

This late 19th-century French inkstand features two heavy cut crystal inkwells set within an ornate gilded brass (ormolu) stand.

Stand & Frame

• Base Tray: Rectangular base fitted with a mirrored plateau, enclosed by a pierced, scalloped brass gallery.
• Handles & Feet: Curved side handles with turned baluster detailing, elevated on outstretched splay feet.
• Pen Rest & Medallion: Integrated curved pen rests extending at the front and back, with a central ornate brass medallion mounted between the two inkwell wells.
• Understructure: Secure metal tabs hold the mirrored bottom board in place.

Crystal Inkwells

• Form & Facets: Twin square-body, heavy clear crystal inkwells featuring cut-beveled corners and large, round double-faceted glass lids.
• Hinged Collars: Nickel-plated brass collars with five-bar barrel hinges.

Age

• Date of Manufacture: Circa 1880–1900 (late Napoleon III to Belle Époque era).
• Style: French Eclectic / Neoclassical Revival, typical of period French desk accessories produced in Paris for export and high-end domestic use.