Folding Letter Rack / Inkstand Combination

This nickel-plated brass inkstand typifies the Jugendstil of the Art Nouveau era. The design features a series of vertical slots for holding letters or papers, each adorned with intricate floral motifs. The front divider has pegs that serve to hold a pen. The front section has a hinged lid where the inkwell is housed, and it also showcases a matching floral design. There is a spring-loaded mechanism underneath, allowing the piece to be folded and compacted for travel.

The inkstand is marked on the bottom: D.R.G.M. 237670 GES GESCH. The abbreviation “Ges. Gesch.” stands for “Gesetzlich Geschützt,” which translates to “Legally Protected” in English. This marking indicates that the design or trademark is legally protected under German law.

D.R.G.M. stands for Deutsches Reichsgebrauchsmuster in German, which translates to German Reich utility model in English. It was a way for inventors to register a product’s design or function in all states within Germany. It was used from 1891 to 1952, and products manufactured in Germany might have been stamped with this D.R.G.M. designation, if the manufacturer opted not to pay the outrageous patent fees that Germany was charging, but instead chose to copyright their product’s intended way of use, or design. It is not a German patent, but rather a way of protecting intellectual property without the cost and complexity of a patent.

Pictures for a similar brass folder letter rack / inkwell added in February 2025. This piece is unmarked.