Figural Inkstand: Hand Holding an Apple

This gilded brass inkstand features a realistically modeled hand, delicately holding a spherical apple, which conceals the inkwell within.

Design & Materials

• Form: The hand is rendered with lifelike detail—visible fingernails, knuckles, and curvature—mounted on a circular base.
• Apple: The apple has a hinged lid, and is topped with metallic leaves and a stem.
• Material: Cast in gilded brass, the base is weighted with a plaster-like compound, a common technique used to stabilize figural desk items without adding visual bulk.
• Functionality: The apple opens to reveal a porcelain inkwell.

Age & Origin

Based on stylistic and construction cues:

• Era: Most likely circa 1890–1920, aligning with the Art Nouveau movement, which favored organic forms, allegorical motifs, and expressive metalwork.
• Origin: Possibly French or Austrian. The figural style and use of gilded brass are consistent with decorative objects produced by foundries such as Kunst-Erzgiesserei Wien or Parisian ateliers.