Dutch Maid in a Boat

Three examples of this inkstand are pictured.  The first eleven pictures (white background) are for an unmarked version with gilding. The next three pictures (black background)  show a version specifically designed as a souvenir for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (P.P.I.E.) held in San Francisco. The third version is unmarked and has a bronze finish.

Description

• Scene and Subject: The inkstand features a Dutch woman (often referred to as a “Dutch Maid” in period catalogs) navigating a small boat or skiff. She is dressed in traditional Dutch attire, including a winged bonnet, a laced bodice, and clogs (wooden shoes). She is captured in a dynamic pose, leaning forward as she pulls on a long oar to paddle through the water.
• The Inkwell (The Hay Load): The “load of hay” at the stern of the boat serves as the inkwell itself. The top section of the hay is a hinged lid that opens to reveal the ink reservoir. The hinges for the hinged lid are breakage prone.
• The Pen Tray: The entire scene sits atop a base modeled after a stream of water. The rippling waves in front of the boat are strategically recessed to form a pen tray for holding dip pens.
• Material and Finish: The piece is cast from white metal (also known as spelter), a common material for figural desk sets of this era because it allowed for high levels of detail. Two of the inkstands pictured are finished with a gold-tone gilding. The third example has a bronze finish.

Manufacturing and Historical Information

• Manufacturer: This inkstand was manufactured by Kronheim & Oldenbusch (K & O Co.) of Brooklyn, New York.
  • The Mark: The number 1162 inside a circle on the back is a classic K&O catalog/mold number. This circular numeric mark is a known hallmark of the Kronheim & Oldenbusch company.
• Date of Manufacture: It was produced in 1915. The version marked “P.P.I.E San Francisco CAL 1915” was part of the official souvenir merchandise sold at the exposition. The unmarked version would have been sold through general retailers or catalogs during the same period, as the “Dutch” motif was highly popular in American home decor at the time.
• Location: The Panama-Pacific International Exposition (P.P.I.E.) was a world’s fair held in San Francisco to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but also to showcase the city’s recovery from the 1906 earthquake. This inkstand likely related to the Netherlands Pavilion, which was a prominent international exhibit at the fair.

Summary Table