Goat Pulling a Cart

Description

This figural inkstand features a cast goat in mid-stride, harnessed to a rustic cart fashioned from simulated gnarled branches or “twig” work.

• The Goat & Pen Wipe: The goat is modeled with expressive detail, from its curved horns to its textured coat. A notable functional feature is the recessed well in the goat’s back, which houses a natural bristle pen wipe. In the 19th century, these bristles were essential for cleaning excess ink and paper fibers from steel nibs to prevent corrosion and clogging.
• The Cart & Inkwell: The cart, designed to look like hand-lashed wood, carries a square-profile, heavy cut-glass inkwell. The inkwell is topped with a faceted glass lid set into a metal collar with a simple hinge. The cart is supported by two large, yellow-painted spoked wheels that lend a bright contrast to the earthy tones of the rest of the piece.
• Material & Finish: The set is cast in spelter (a zinc-based alloy often used as a more affordable alternative to bronze) and finished with cold painting. Cold painting involves applying various layers of enamel or lacquer pigments to the cast metal without firing, allowing for the lifelike, multi-colored palette seen in the green “mossy” branches and the brown tones of the goat.

Origin and Date of Manufacture

Probable Origin: Austria (Vienna) This style is highly characteristic of “Vienna Cold-Painted Metals.” While the most famous examples (like those by Franz Bergman) were cast in bronze, many high-quality spelter versions were produced in Vienna and Germany to meet the high demand for “Black Forest” and Alpine-themed desk curios during the Victorian era. The whimsical subject matter—combining animals with utilitarian objects—was a hallmark of Austrian foundries like Coronet or the various workshops in the Geislingen region.

Estimated Date: c. 1890 – 1910 The “rustic” or “twig” aesthetic of the cart was immensely popular during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods (roughly 1890 to the start of WWI). The use of cold painting on spelter peaked during this window. Additionally, the style of the faceted glass inkwell and the inclusion of a built-in pen wipe are consistent with desk sets produced at the turn of the century, just before fountain pens rendered separate inkwells and nib wipes less common.