A Pastoral Vignette with a Woman, Boy, and Dog

This is a whimsical and narrative French porcelain inkstand from the 19th century, depicting a charming scene.

• The Central Woman: She stands before a wall-like structure, holding an apron filled with apples.
• The Wall with Pen Holes: The structure behind the woman serves as a pen holder, with multiple openings to organize quills or pens.
• The Left-Side Stump (Inkwell): The hollowed-out stump on the left houses the ink reservoir. The small basket of fruit is the lid for this inkwell.
• The Basket in Front (Paraphernalia Holder): The small, handled basket situated in front of the main scene is designed to hold writing paraphernalia, such as spare nibs, sealing wax, or other small desk accessories.
• The Boy Sprawled on the Floor: The boy lies prone on the base. His position is ambiguous. Is he searching for something that’s fallen to the ground?
• The High Tree Stump with Dog and Pen Wiper: The tall stump features a perched dog. Attached to the dog is a long metal rod, at the end of which is a mechanism holding absorbent pads. This functions as a pen wiper.