French Triple Inkstand

This French triple inkstand, dating to approximately 1860, combines fine porcelain with elaborate gilt-bronze metalwork.

Description

• The Center Well: The primary reservoir is a cylindrical porcelain “pump” inkwell decorated in a vibrant cobalt blue “pebble” pattern with gilded accents. It features a white porcelain dipping font at the front and an ornate, foliate-chased bronze cap.
• Side Reservoirs: Flanking the center are two matching cobalt blue porcelain ink pots. These are topped with unattached (lift-off) bronze lids featuring high-relief cast floral motifs.
• Base and Tray: The entire set is mounted on a heavy bronze base. The front of the base is cast in the form of a large scalloped nautilus shell, which serves as a tray for stamps, nibs, or sealing wax.
• Pen Rack: Integrated into the rear of the bronze base is an elaborate foliate pen rack. Its scrolling, vine-like arms are notched to hold multiple dip pens horizontally.

How the Displacement Mechanism Operates

While called a “pump,” this operates on a screw-driven displacement principle.

1. Lowering the Piston: Turning the brass knob clockwise rotates a central threaded rod inside the reservoir. This action forces a solid porcelain cylinder (the plunger) downward into the ink supply.
2. Raising the Ink: Because the ink has nowhere else to go, the physical presence of the descending porcelain plunger displaces the liquid, forcing it up through a hidden internal channel and into the small front dipping font.
3. Preservation (Reverse): Turning the knob counter-clockwise lifts the plunger, creating a slight vacuum that draws the ink out of the font and back into the main airtight reservoir. This “clean” cycle prevented the ink from evaporating or turning into a thick sludge when not in use.

Origin and Attribution

While this piece is unmarked, its specific combination of high-relief bronze casting and decorative cobalt porcelain is characteristic of the Boquet or Morier workshops in Paris. These manufacturers specialized in patented mechanical inkwells that were sold through luxury Parisian boutiques.