Buyer Be Aware – “Silverplate” Double Inkstand with Cherub

This inkstand is a modern reproduction/import masquerading as an antique, commonly found on platforms like eBay, Etsy, and antique-mismatched secondary markets, often imported in bulk from manufacturers in regions like India or East Asia.

“Red Flags” of Modern Production

• Cast-in Model Numbers: Looking at the underside, you see a large, raised, perfectly uniform mold number (2888) stamped or cast directly into the base and even repeated on the bottom of the inkwell inserts. Genuine antique inkstands made by reputable silversmiths or foundries utilized stamped maker’s marks, registry/patent numbers, or traditional pattern numbers—they did not mass-cast arbitrary inventory or factory batch numbers into the structural metal of the raw mold.
• Modern Assembly and Fasteners: The base shows modern screw heads and threaded posts holding the components together. Traditional antique inkstands of the 19th century were typically cast as a single unified piece (or securely soldered/riveted by hand), rather than utilizing modern mass-production machine screws.
• Surface Finish and “Artificial Aging”: The metal displays an uneven, overly shiny plated luster underneath dark, splotchy black paint or artificial antiquing chemical washes meant to simulate age. True silver-plated or Britannia metal antiques develop a natural, soft, multi-layered patina over decades of handling and cleaning, rather than a factory-applied dark contrast paint coating.
• Crude Casting and Mushy Details: The cast ornamentation—such as the cherub/mask motif on the back gallery and the scrollwork—lacks the crisp, hand-chased definition of quality period pieces. The details are “mushy” and soft, a hallmark of low-cost sand-casting or modern die-casting techniques using cheap base white metal alloys.
• Internal Construction: The interior of the inkwells reveals a coarse, striated machine-turned or raw cast texture without glass or ceramic inserts standard in quality antique double-inkstands.

This piece is a classic example of modern decorative export ware designed to appeal to casual buyers looking for an “antique look” rather than a bona fide antique writing instrument.

A.A. Importing Company, Inc. (founded in 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri) is one of the primary wholesale distributors known for importing and supplying these exact styles of mass-produced decorative antique reproductions, including tabletop accessories and desk items like double inkwells.

While specific secondary-market listings occasionally connect pieces of this exact lineage or batch marking to them, the structural characteristics match their known catalog profile:

• The Business Model: A.A. Importing transitioned heavily into specializing in global wholesale antique reproductions—sourcing decorative metalwork, brass-finished items, and tabletop items directly from overseas manufacturers (including India and China) to supply gift shops, interior decorators, and furniture retailers.
• Product Line Consistency: Their current and historical wholesale catalogs routinely feature items categorized as “Antique Brass Inkwell”, “Antique Silver Inkwell”, and dual inkstands made of heavy base metals with applied finishes, cast-in identification numbers, and utilitarian assembly screws—precisely matching the physical traits seen on this piece.