Fox Double Inkstand

Description

This double inkstand features a figural centerpiece of a standing fox, rendered in highly detailed silverplated metal with a dark patina. The fox is depicted in an alert posture, standing on a raised oval plinth beside a gnarled tree stump which provides structural support for the figure.

• The Base: The rectangular base is ornamented in the Victorian Neo-Classical revival style. The sloping sides feature a crisp relief of floral garlands and swags punctuated by small five-pointed stars.
• Pen Rests: In front of the central plinth are two V-shaped pen holders (or rests), integrated into the base’s design to hold a dip pen horizontally.
• Inkwells: Two round-set recesses hold clear glass inkwells. These are topped with silverplated hinged lids featuring a stepped design and a small decorative finial.
• The Feet: The stand is supported by four ornate feet. Each foot features a “North Wind” grotesque mask atop a scrolled acanthus leaf base.

Maker and Identification

The stamp on the underside identifies the maker:

JAMES DEAKIN & SONS SHEFFIELD  9 3 9 4

Dating the Piece

James Deakin & Sons was a prominent Sheffield firm founded by James Deakin in 1866.

• The “Ltd” Factor: The firm officially became a limited liability company—James Deakin & Sons Ltd—in 1897.
• The Partnership: They began using the name “James Deakin & Sons” around 1886 when James’s sons, John and Albert, joined the partnership.
• Conclusion: Since this piece is marked “James Deakin & Sons” without the “Ltd” suffix, it can be confidently dated to the window between 1886 and 1897.

The heavy, ornate style and the use of the fox (a popular motif for “sporting” or “hunting” themed desk accessories) place it firmly in the late 1880s or early 1890s, the height of the Victorian era.