George IV Sterling Silver Traveling Inkwell

1. Hallmark Verification

• Maker: Archibald Douglas. The mark “A.D” was registered to Archibald Douglas, a silversmith located in London. While he is often associated with John Douglas, this specific mark is Archibald’s own registration (entered around 1816).
• Date: 1821. The lowercase “f” inside the shield is the London date letter for 1821.
• City: London. The Leopard’s Head (uncrowned) indicates London. (Note: 1821 was the specific year the Leopard lost its crown in the hallmark cycle, confirming the date further).
• Standard: The Lion Passant confirms it is Sterling Silver (.925).
• Duty Mark: The profile head of King George IV, indicating the tax on silver was paid.

2. The Screw-Top Mechanism (How it Works)

This is a specialized “Campaign” or “Traveling” Inkwell. Unlike a desk inkwell, this was designed to be carried in a pocket, saddlebag, or carriage without leaking.

• The Mechanism: It uses a pressure-seal system. Inside the silver lid, there is a cork or leather washer.
• The Lock: When you close the lid, the butterfly-nut (the handle on top) does not just sit there. As you turn it, it engages a threaded rod that pushes the lid down tightly against the glass rim while simultaneously pulling up against the front hinge/catch.
• The Result: This creates a hermetic seal, preventing the ink from spilling even if the bottle is turned upside down during travel. The loose hinge is intentional; it allows the lid to “float” slightly so the screw can clamp it down evenly.

3. The “Family Crest” (Heraldry)

• The Symbols:

1. Left: A Boar Passant (walking). This is a very old heraldic symbol often associated with families like Vere, Bacon, or Gordon.
2. Right: A Demi-Lion Rampant holding a Ducal Coronet between its paws. This is associated with families such as Robison or Dundas.

• Significance of Two Crests: In British heraldry, a person typically has only one crest. Displaying two crests side-by-side usually signifies the joining of two distinguished families, typically through marriage to an “Heraldic Heiress” (a woman with no brothers to inherit her father’s arms).

• • The male bearer of these arms would display his own family crest (likely the Boar) alongside his wife’s family crest (the Lion), or he inherited both from his mother’s line.
  • It indicates a lineage of significant pedigree, as the owner claimed representation of two noble houses.

Summary: This is a luxury utilitarian object from the Georgian era (1821), made by a specialist London silversmith (Archibald Douglas), likely for a gentleman of dual lineage to use while traveling or on military campaign.