Disciplinarian Teacher and Students

This porcelain inkstand is composed of two main parts: a decorative base and a removable top figurine. Two examples are pictured.

• Figurine Top: The top piece is a porcelain figurine depicting a scene with a teacher and two students. The teacher, an older man, is shown standing between two seated students. With one hand, he appears to be disciplining one student by cuffing his ear. This student is upset, with his eyes closed and a hand covering his ear. The other student is focused on his work, holding a small slate or chalkboard and a piece of chalk. The entire scene is set on a rounded base.
• Base and Function: The figurine top lifts off to reveal the functional part of the inkstand. The base is a white porcelain tray with a decorative, ornate design featuring sculpted leaves and some gold detailing. The top surface of the base has two openings. One is a round well, which would have held the ink bottle. The other is a perforated section, which served as a sander or pounce pot. In the days of quill pens and liquid ink, sand or a fine powder (pounce) was sprinkled over the writing to quickly dry the ink and prevent smudging. The base also features small handles on the sides.