Buyer Be Aware – Bronze Cat-and-Mouse “Inkwell”

Evaluation of the Bronze Cat-and-Mouse “Inkwell”

Auctioned September 25, 2025 | eBay | Sold for $745.88 Claimed Origin: 19th Century | Likely Origin: Modern Decorative Casting

Summary of Findings

Despite being marketed as a rare 19th-century figural inkwell, this object exhibits multiple indicators of modern production, questionable functionality, and casting inconsistencies that challenge its authenticity as a true antique writing instrument.

Functional Design Flaws

• Ink Storage Impossibility: The object’s base is a thin sheet of brass, hinged to the upper bronze cat’s head. When opened, the head tilts backward, revealing a flat metal surface with no recessed cavity or seal.
  • A visible gap remains even when closed, making it impossible to contain ink without leakage.
  • There is no evidence of a reservoir, cup, or containment system—essential features of any functional inkwell.
• Claim of Missing Glass Font: The seller states that “the original glass font is missing.” However, there is no structural accommodation for such a font:
  • No retaining lip, bracket, or recess to hold a glass insert.
  • No wear or residue suggesting a previously fitted component. This suggests the claim may be speculative or intended to justify the absence of functional ink storage.

Material and Casting Analysis

• Surface Condition: The bronze appears uniformly clean and unworn, with no patina, oxidation, or handling marks typical of genuine 19th-century desk objects.
  • The finish lacks the nuanced aging seen in antique bronze, suggesting recent manufacture.
• Casting Quality: The sculpture’s surface is rough and uneven, especially around the cat’s fur and the mouse’s tail.
  • 19th-century figural bronzes, particularly from European foundries, were known for refined detail and crisp casting.
  • The mouse’s tail appears thick, stylized, and modern, lacking the anatomical realism typical of antique work.
• Mold Imperfections: One of the mouse’s feet is missing or malformed, likely due to a casting flaw rather than damage.
  • This suggests low-quality mold work, inconsistent with the standards of 19th-century bronze artisanship.

Comparative Research

• The only confirmed sale of this design is the eBay auction on September 25, 2025, listed as a “RARE Antique 19thC Bronze Cat w/ Mouse in Mouth Figural Desktop Inkwell.”
• No cataloged 19th-century inkwell designs feature this form or mechanism, further suggesting it is not part of any known historical production line.

Conclusion

This object is not a functional inkwell, nor does it convincingly represent 19th-century craftsmanship. Instead, it appears to be a modern decorative casting, possibly produced as a novelty or fantasy piece and later misrepresented as antique.

Key Indicators of Modern Origin:

• Non-functional ink storage design
• Absence of reservoir or mounting system
• Lack of wear or patina
• Rough casting and mold flaws
• Stylized, non-period anatomical features