Griffins Flanking the Inkwell

This cast brass inkstand is an example of Renaissance Revival desk-ware from the late 19th century. It is characterized by its heavy, symmetrical composition and the use of classical mythological motifs.

Description

• The “Griffins”: The central inkwell is flanked by two winged griffins (mythical creatures with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle). In classical art, griffins were often depicted as guardians of treasure and knowledge, making them a fitting motif for a scholar’s desk.
• The Central Inkwell: The square base inkwell is decorated with bas-relief garlands, ribbons, and classical figures on its side panels. The hinged lid features a domed acanthus leaf finial and is bordered by a repeating “egg-and-dart” pattern.
• The Pen Tray: The integrated, wide tray is heavily adorned with floral arabesques, scrolls, and a central mascaron (a decorative face) within a geometric frame. This tray was designed to hold several dip pens horizontally.
• Construction: The underside reveals that the piece is hollow-cast in several sections and joined with threaded bolts and nuts, a hallmark of industrial-era metal casting.

Age

• How old is it? It dates to the late Victorian period, approximately 1875–1895. This era saw a peak in the popularity of “revival” styles, where 19th-century craftsmen meticulously recreated the aesthetics of the 15th and 16th centuries.