Carved White Marble Double Inkstand

This is a fine hand-carved white marble double inkstand, featuring classic Indian architectural motifs and traditional lapidary craftsmanship.

Description

• Lid / Top Cover: The removable lid features a central carved lotus bud finial/knob surrounded by carved petal motifs. Flanking the finial are two raised, shallow shell-shaped trays.
• Interior Basin: Beneath the lid, the interior deck contains two large circular wells to accommodate inserts, flanked by six carved quill/pen holes (three on each side).
• Body & Architecture: The rectangular body is designed in tiers, drawing heavily from traditional Mughal and South Asian architectural moldings:
  • Upper Band: Features a deeply relief-carved egg-and-dart or rounded lotus-pod motif band.
  • Lower Base: Set upon a flared, molded plinth with a row of stylized lotus petal / heart-shaped scrollwork relief.

Material:

White marble – this piece displays the characteristic subtle grey-and-white veining (graining) and crystalline, non-porous structure typical of natural white marble (such as Indian Makrana marble).

Origin, Date, and Artisan

• Where was it made? India (most likely Agra or Rajasthan). The lotus bud finial, architectural petal moldings, and white marble carving techniques are hallmarks of Northern Indian stone artisans (often associated with the lapidary traditions of Agra and Jaipur).
• When was it made? Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century (c. 1890s–1920s), during the Anglo-Indian / British Colonial period, when decorative desk accessories in white marble were carved in India for local administrators and export markets.
• Who made it? It was created by an unnamed South Asian master stonecarver (artisan). These marble desk pieces were handcrafted in regional workshops without maker’s marks or signatures.