Conta & Boehme Couple Courting

This is a nice example of a 19th-century “secret” figural inkstand by Conta & Boehme. These pieces were popular in the Victorian era for their blend of playful storytelling and practical utility. Two examples are pictured.

The Figural Scene: A Pastoral Courting

The porcelain group depicts a classic 18th-century “Gallant and Lady” scene, likely a moment of courtship in a pastoral setting.

• The Young Man: He is seated on a rocky, mottled brown and green outcrop. He is elegantly dressed in a light-green frock coat with vibrant vermilion red cuffs, a white ruffled shirt with pink-striped accents, and deep purple breeches featuring vertical gold and pink stripes. He has dark, wavy hair and holds a small, unidentifiable object in his right hand—perhaps a small gift or a flower.
• The Young Woman: She leans affectionately toward him, wearing a rich cobalt blue bodice with gold scrolling highlights and a voluminous white skirt decorated with hand-painted pink and purple floral sprays. Her look is completed with a white “pinner” cap or bonnet trimmed in gold.
• Details of the Setting: A black book lies on the ground between them, suggesting they may have been reading together before the gentleman’s attention turned to the lady. To the man’s left is a large, pinkish-beige textured hat resting on the ground. A large green leaf or shrub rises behind the woman, providing a “backstop” for the figural group.

Hidden Structural Components

The figural group serves as a decorative lid. When lifted, it reveals a white porcelain base designed to hold two essential writing tools:

• The Holders: The recesses are fitted with two cylindrical holders featuring embossed mustachioed faces. This “stern man” or “Bacchus” mask is a hallmark of Conta & Boehme. These faces often appear on their inkstands and spill vases, acting as a secondary “signature” of the factory.
• Inkwell & Sander: The Inkwell (Left): A removable porcelain cup that shows slight blue staining inside from historical use.
  • The Pounce Pot / Sander (Right): A removable pot with a perforated top and a gilded rim. Before blotting paper was common, this was filled with “pounce” (fine sand or powdered cuttlebone) to dry the wet ink on a page.
• The Marking: The incised Roman Numeral II on the underside is a factory matching mark. Because these pieces were hand-fitted, workers used these numbers to ensure the lid and the base remained as a coordinated pair through the firing and glazing process.

Age and Background: Conta & Boehme

Based on the high-quality modeling, the style of the “mask” holders, and the color palette, this inkstand dates to the late 19th century (circa 1870–1890).

Conta & Boehme was located in Pössneck, Thuringia, Germany.

• Founded: The firm originated around 1790 (with the partnership of Carl Christoph Conta and Johann Samuel Boehme forming in 1804).
• Reputation: They were masters of “fairings”—small porcelain groups sold at fairs—and functional porcelain. They were known for using a high-quality, smooth white porcelain body and meticulous hand-painting.

Summary Table