Folk Art Wooden Inkstand

This is a charming wooden inkstand with a folk-art aesthetic, featuring vibrant hand-painted decorations. The inkstand is constructed with a rectangular base that has a pen channel running along the front edge. The inkwell is in the middle. Its lid is painted with colorful flowers (including red roses, yellow and orange blossoms, and dark blue and white flowers) and a whimsical stylized bird. The bird is depicted in profile, perched amongst the floral elements.

The sides of the inkwell box also feature painted floral motifs. The base of the inkstand is painted in a light, creamy yellow color and is also decorated with hand-painted flowers that complement those on the inkwell lid. The edges of the base are further adorned with a decorative border of painted circles in blue, green, and red.

On the back of the inkstand is a sticker that reads: “Schwarzwälder Hauskunst – Marie Lang – Freiberg i. B. – Münsterplatz 12”.

• Schwarzwälder Hauskunst: This translates from German to “Black Forest House Art.” The Black Forest region in southwestern Germany is well-known for its traditional folk art, wood carvings, and painted woodenware.

• Marie Lang: This is the name of the artist who made the inkstand.
• Freiberg i. B.: This indicates the location as Freiberg im Breisgau, a town in the Black Forest region of Germany. The “i. B.” is an abbreviation for “im Breisgau.”
• Münsterplatz 12: This is the street address in Freiberg where Marie Lang’s workshop or shop was located.