Brass Inkstand with Winged Dragons

This brass inkstand, designed in the Chinoiserie or Orientalist style, dates to between 1880 and 1910.

Description & Figures

The piece is crafted from cast brass. It features a central inkwell flanked by two large mythological creatures on a stepped rectangular base with a curved pen tray.

• The Winged Dragons (or Wyverns): Flanking the central inkpot are two highly detailed, scaly dragons. Unlike traditional Chinese dragons, these feature membranous, bat-like wings, which was a common Western interpretation of “oriental” motifs during the late 19th century. Their tails are serpentine and curled, and they appear to be in a crouching or crawling stance, facing outwards.
• The Central Inkwell: The square inkpot features a grotesque mask on the front—a fierce, open-mouthed creature (possibly a dragon or lion hybrid). The hinged lid is topped with an elaborate, tiered finial. Its insert is missing.
• The Pedestal Base: The inkwell does not sit directly on the tray; instead, it is elevated by a three-footed pedestal ending in large bird-like claw feet.
• Decorative Motifs: The base and pen tray are adorned with embossed scrolling foliage, floral tendrils, and a central cartouche (an oval shield shape) in the middle of the tray. The tray itself has a gadrooned (ribbed) edge.

Origin and Age

• Date: This piece likely dates to the 1890s. The use of square nuts and bolts visible on the underside is a hallmark of manufacturing from the mid-to-late 19th century through the very early 1900s.