French Champlevé Inkstand

This French inkstand features a polished onyx base with an enameled bronze inkwell.

• Materials: The base is made of a dark, polished onyx. The inkwell itself is crafted from bronze, decorated with the champlevé enameling technique.
• Champlevé Enameling: Champlevé involves carving or stamping small troughs into the bronze. These depressions are then filled with colored enamel paste, fired at high temperatures, and polished to create a smooth, glassy surface. The visible bronze lines on this piece are raised areas left between the carved troughs, which is characteristic of this technique.
• Inkwell: The central inkwell is urn-shaped, with a tapered bottom and a wider, rounded body. The top lid is hinged and opens to reveal the ink reservoir. The inkwell is intricately enameled with colorful floral motifs in shades of blue, red, green, and white.