French Triple Inkstand with Hunting Dog Motif

This inkstand combines three separate ink reservoirs.

Description

• Base: The stand features a spelter metal base (a zinc-lead alloy) cast into an intricate overlapping leaf motif.
• Backboard: A decorative metal spray at the rear depicts a running dog (likely a hound or setter) framed by stylized branches.
• Central Inkwell: The primary reservoir is a white porcelain cylinder with a gilded band and a brass pump-action mechanism.
• Side Pots: Flanking the central well are two conventional porcelain ink pots with unattached, decorative metal lift-off lids.

Operation of the Pump Mechanism

This central well operates through hydrostatic displacement, a 19th-century innovation designed to prevent ink from drying out or becoming thick with sediment.

1. Lowering the Plunger: By turning the brass knob clockwise, an internal screw forces a heavy porcelain plunger (the piston) downward into the main ink supply.
2. Displacing the Ink: As the plunger enters the reservoir, it displaces the ink, forcing it through a small internal channel and up into the small external dipping font at the front.
3. Recession for Preservation: Once the writing session is complete, rotating the knob counter-clockwise lifts the plunger. This creates a vacuum that draws the ink back into the main airtight porcelain cylinder, protecting it from air exposure and evaporation.

Origin and Age

• Manufacturer: While this specific piece is unmarked, the high-quality combination of porcelain and ornate cast metal is characteristic of French “Palais Royal” workshops. The mechanical design is based on the famous patents of Louis-Honoré Boquet or Morier, who dominated the market for luxury pump inkwells in Paris.
• Date: This inkstand likely dates to the 1860s or 1870s. The use of spelter metal and the naturalistic “hunt” theme were hallmark styles of the mid-to-late Victorian period.