German Porcelain Inkwell

This is a single inkwell made of porcelain with brass hardware. The piece is characterized by its vibrant, hand-painted floral decoration and its classic design.

• Materials and Finish: The inkwell’s body and lid are made of fine porcelain with a glossy glaze. The lid is connected to the body with a brass hinge, and the entire piece is finished with delicate gold gilt accents along the rims and on the small finial on the lid.
• Decoration: The inkwell is decorated with a hand-painted floral design featuring rich purple and red blossoms with green leaves. This style of naturalistic, colorful painting was very popular on decorative porcelain.
• Design: The body of the inkwell is a rounded shape, sitting on a slightly flared base. The hinged lid is domed.

Approximate Age

The mark “Made in Germany” is the most significant clue for dating this piece. This type of national origin marking was widely implemented after the McKinley Tariff Act of 1890 in the United States, which required all imported goods to be clearly marked with their country of origin.

Given the style of the floral painting and the presence of the “Made in Germany” mark, this inkwell likely dates to the late 19th or early 20th century, specifically between 1890 and 1910. It is a fine example of the high-quality porcelain exported from Germany during that period.