Early Days of Motoring

This inkstand captures the spirit of the early days of motoring. The inkstand’s base is made of bronze and features an oval-shaped pen tray. The inkwell itself has a hinged lid, which is embossed with an image of a vintage motor car, complete with spoked wheels and an open top. The inkstand is marked “Austria”.

On one side of the base are two figures — a male and female — dressed in period-appropriate motoring apparel. The man wears goggles and a cap, while the woman wears a cloche hat and a long coat, both indicative of early 20th-century fashion. These figures are made of spelter, a zinc alloy that was less expensive than bronze and easier to cast into intricate shapes. The inkstand is a celebratory tribute to the new world of transportation.