French “Sèvres Style” Porcelain Inkwell

This is a French “Sèvres Style” porcelain inkwell, likely dating from the late 19th to early 20th century (circa 1880–1910).

Material & Construction

• Porcelain: This dark blue porcelain has a classic cobalt glaze (often called Bleu de Roi in French styles).
• Hand-Painted: The gold floral decoration is hand-painted with raised gilding (or heavy enamel), which was a high-end decorative technique used to give the floral pattern a three-dimensional feel.
• Motif: The design features flowering branches that reflect the Japonisme movement (Japanese influence) popular in France during the Belle Époque.
• Lid: The lid is an ornate gilt brass with a decorative floral relief and a functional hinge.

Origin & Maker

• Identify the Maker: While there is no formal factory logo, the handwritten blue numbers “395” and “8” on the bottom are characteristic of Parisian (Vieux Paris) decorators.
• Pattern Number: “395” is the pattern or shape number used by the factory or decorating studio to track the design. Many high-quality “Sèvres style” pieces were produced by independent French studios to meet the high demand for royal-style desk accessories.