Brass Ink Standish

This classic brass ink standish (or stand) was designed to hold essential writing implements and materials.

• Material and Base: The entire piece is made from brass and features an oval, rimmed base. The base is supported by four small ball feet.
• Canisters: The stand holds three cylindrical canisters, each having its own fitted lid, topped with a turned finial.
  • Inkwell with Pen Holes: One of the canisters functions as the inkwell. Its collar has small holes, designed to hold quill or dip pens.
  • Sealing Wafer/Nibs Canister: A second canister serves as a storage container for small items, such as sealing wafers (used for sealing letters before envelopes became common) or replacement pen nibs.
  • Sander (Pounce Pot): The third canister is a sander, also known as a pounce pot. Before blotting paper was widely used, sanders contained fine sand or pounce (a powder made from ground cuttlefish bone or other materials) that was sprinkled over freshly written ink to dry it quickly and prevent smudging.