Glasglow School – Celtic Knotwork

This is a brass Arts & Crafts inkstand in the Glasgow School style, featuring characteristic repoussé Celtic decoration. The surface of the base is adorned with repoussé Celtic knotwork designs. Repoussé is a metalworking technique where the design is hammered from the reverse side to create a raised relief on the front. These Celtic knots are intricate, interlacing patterns with no beginning or end, a hallmark of Celtic art. The designs are placed at the corners and in the front of the tray.

Rising from the base is a square inkwell, which also features the repoussé Celtic knotwork decoration on its visible sides, echoing the motifs on the base. The inkwell has a hinged lid.  In the center of the base, there is a long, shallow trough designed to hold pens.

Glasgow School Influence:

The design elements strongly align with the Glasgow School style, a significant branch of the broader Arts & Crafts movement that flourished in Scotland, particularly around Glasgow, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Key characteristics of the Glasgow School evident in this inkstand include:

• Emphasis on linear design: The bold, clear lines of the Celtic knotwork are characteristic.
• Stylized ornamentation: The Celtic knots are not overly naturalistic but are presented in a strong, stylized manner.
• Geometric abstraction: While rooted in ancient Celtic art, the Glasgow School often incorporated a more geometric and simplified approach to these traditional motifs.
• Use of honest materials: Brass was a favored material in the Arts & Crafts movement for its inherent beauty and workability.
• Integration of form and function: The inkstand is both a practical object and a decorative piece, with the ornamentation enhancing its form.