Inkipedia
1839 Paris Médaille D’Argent Pump Inkstand
| Categories | Mechanical - Pump / Siphon |
| Material | Brass, Porcelain, Wood |
| Markings | See narrative |
| Manufacturer | Boquet |
| Origin | France |
| Date or Era | circa 1840 |
| Measuring | 9 ½” x 5” x 5 ¾” high |
Louis Honoré Boquet was an innovator with pump style inkwells, perfecting a system in which a plunger, when a knob is turned, makes the ink flow into the exterior font. “Médaille D’Argent 1839”, which is stamped into the turning knob, touts an award from the “Societé d’encouragement pour l’Industrie” (Association for encouragement of industry).
This inkstand with an ebonized wood base has a central pump inkwell, flanked by two regular inkwells (missing lids in this example). In the rear is a pen rack which holds three pens.
To see how a pump inkwell works, check out this video:
Sold for $115 in October 2023
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