Figural Orange Traveling Inkwell & Pen Wipe

This late 19th-century novelty traveling inkwell and pen-wiper combination is a rare Victorian desktop accessory fashioned in the likeness of a ripe orange.

Physical & Structural Description

• Exterior: Constructed with a gilded brass internal casing covered in fine orange-dyed leather, textured to mimic citrus peel and finished with stitched segment lines. The top is fitted with a star-shaped leather calyx simulating the stem attachment point.
• Interior Deck: Opening the hinged top reveals a gilded brass deck containing two distinct fittings:

1. Pen Nib Brush (Pen Wiper): A recessed circular well holding a plush red bristle brush used to clean ink and paper debris from dip pen nibs.
2. Ink Vessel: A central well housing a clear cylindrical glass ink bottle sealed by an inner hinged brass cap with an integrated sprung leather stopper.

Date of Manufacture

• Period: Late 1800s (c. 1880–1890s).
• Context: The late Victorian era saw an explosion of novelty travel accessories driven by expanding railway travel and personal correspondence. Figural leather-covered brass items—shaped like fruits, trunks, violins, horseshoe cases, or footballs—were prized as both functional travel items and conversational desk novelties.

Functional Operation

1. Opening the Main Case: A flush-mounted catch mechanism is concealed along the rim seam. Depressing the push-button releases the internal tension catch, causing the spring-hinged upper half of the orange to snap open.
2. Opening the Ink Chamber: The smaller brass cap over the central glass reservoir features a spring-loaded hinge. Opening this cap lifts the internal sprung leather stopper off the rim of the glass bottle. When the cap is closed, the spring applies down-force on the leather pad, forming a watertight seal that prevents ink leakage during transit.

Origin & Manufacturer

• Country of Origin: England (London) or France (Paris).
• Manufacturer Attribution: Unmarked on the metal or leather, which is standard for leather-wrapped novelty brassware of this period. Production of leather-clad brass novelty inkstands with spring-loaded seals was concentrated among high-end London stationers (such as Edwards & Jones or Thomas De La Rue & Co.) and Parisian articles de Paris novelty workshops, who supplied retailers across Europe and North America.