French D’oré Bronze and Hand Painted Porcelain Double Inkstand

This double inkstand combines intricate metalwork with fine porcelain. The porcelain inset is hand-painted with sprays of colorful flowers and fruit, held within an open-work d’oré bronze (ormolu) frame. This open-work design features delicate scrolls and flourishes characteristic of the French Rococo Revival style.

The inkwells are covered with hinged, domed lids that are also made of the same intricate, reticulated (or open-work) ormolu bronze. The lids have a lace-like quality that complements the delicate floral painting on the base.

Estimated Age and Origin

The combination of ormolu and finely painted porcelain is a hallmark of French decorative arts. The delicate, curvilinear open-work and floral motifs place this inkstand within the Rococo Revival movement of the 19th century, particularly during the reign of Napoleon III (mid-1850s to 1870s). The style pays homage to the lightness and elegance of 18th-century Rococo while using materials and techniques popular in luxury goods of the later period.