Buyer Be Aware – Mod Brevet Inkwell

This inkwell is all over the internet. It’s listed as an antique, usually dated to turn of the century, and of French origin. But is this correct?

Its ubiquitous presence concerns me. The hinge is clunky. It does have a nonmetal insert that is porcelain coated. I’ve seen one example with a sticker affixed showing “Made in Italy”. The maker’s mark – “MOD. BREVET.” – is large with the letters askew. This is not the style of an antique mark. All of this points to a more modern manufacture.

Here is a post from Collector’s Weekly which shows how misleading information online leads to the perpetuation of incorrect information:

“I purchased this at a thrift shop for $7. At the price I figured it was just some made in China (or India) reproduction, but upon closer inspection it had a real genuine feel to it. It didn’t really matter because at the sticker price I was going to buy it anyway, and I was most impressed to discover it was a genuine 1900 antique once I researched it later online – based on the “Mod Brevet” stamp on the underside. This is one of the few items I’ve actually been able to find an exact match for online; that felt like a small victory!”