Silverplated Inkstand – Crown-over-W Maker’s Mark

This silverplated inkstand features a heavy, clear-molded glass inkwell fitted with an ornate, hinged silverplated mount, collar, and domed lid.

Description

• The Stand and Tray: The base consists of a flared, stepped silverplated tray with an integrated pen rest. The surface is decorated with embossed neoclassical-inspired or Jugendstil/Art Nouveau motifs, incorporating geometric Greek key (meander) patterns framing delicate trailing leaf-and-vine garlands.
• The Inkwell: A heavy, thick-walled square molded glass inkwell sits firmly within the silvered base.
• The Lid and Collar: The hinged cap features a domed, weighted profile decorated with matching leaf reliefs and a continuous Greek key band around the top.

Where, Who, and When Was It Made?

• When (Date): Stylistically, the combination of geometric Greek key borders with organic floral leaf garlands points to the transition from late Art Nouveau into early Art Deco, placing its manufacture roughly around c. 1900–1920.
• Where & Who (Origin/Maker): The distinctive maker’s mark stamped on the front shield mount features a stylized crown above the letter “W”. While a crown hallmark on silverplate was frequently used by European (particularly German) and American manufacturers as a quality or trademark rather than an official sterling assay, this specific crown-over-W hallmark is characteristic of late-19th to early-20th-century metalware manufacturing traditions specializing in high-quality silverplated desk accessories.