Copper Ink Filler

This piece is a simple, yet practical, vessel used for safely transferring ink from a large storage bottle (a reserve) into a smaller desk inkwell.

• Material: The body and spout are constructed of copper.
• Form: It is composed of a small, cylindrical or slightly conical main body/reservoir and a long, slender spout.
• Function: The long, narrow spout is the key feature. It allows the user to easily reach inside the small, constricted opening of a desk inkwell without spilling ink, which was often a messy and frustrating task.
• Handle/Grip: The loop handle provided a grip for better control while pouring.

Historical Information and Context

Copper ink fillers were born out of necessity in the age of quills and later dip pens, where ink consumption was high and inkwells were small and prone to spillage.

Purpose and Era

• Necessity: Desk inkwells were generally designed to be aesthetically pleasing but had narrow openings and were easy to tip over. To prevent mess and waste, it was customary to keep the main supply of ink in a large, sealed bottle or jug and use a small filler like this to replenish the desk well.
• Dating: These devices were primarily in use from the late 18th century through the mid-to-late 19th century, before the widespread adoption of fountain pens (post-1900), which contained their own reservoirs and were filled differently.

Manufacture and Materials

• Production: These fillers were predominantly manufactured, but their method of production varied. Due to their simple construction, they would have been made by coppersmiths or tinsmiths.
  • Early Pieces (Late 18th/Early 19th Century): Could be mostly hand-formed and seamed from copper sheets.
  • Later Pieces (Mid-to-Late 19th Century): Were often mass-manufactured using machine-stamping or casting techniques to meet high demand. The clean, uniform shape of this example suggests late 19th-century workshop or factory production.
• Material Choice (Copper): Copper and its alloys (like brass and pewter) were popular for writing accessories because they were durable, relatively inexpensive, and easily worked into complex shapes like the long spout. Copper also ages beautifully with its characteristic dark patina.