Horse Head Pen Wipe

Description

The piece depicts a horse’s head in a classical, high-stepping posture. It is crafted from gilded bronze, characterized by the warm, gold-leaf finish. The casting is quite fine, showing intricate details on the bridle, the bit, and the rosettes.

The Mane: What is the “Wipe” made of?

The mane in consists of many individual twisted fiber cords, often referred to as bullion fringe or gimp.

• The Material: In high-quality pieces like this, these cords were typically made of twisted silk or cotton.
• The Function: To use it, a writer would dip their steel pen into the ink and, after writing, thrust the nib into the dense bundle of cords to wipe away excess ink and prevent the nib from rusting or clogging.

Origin and Age

• Where was it made? Based on the style and the quality of the gilding, this is likely of French (Parisian) or Austrian (Vienna) origin. France was the world leader in “Gilt Bronze” (ormolu) desk sets during this era, while Vienna was famous for detailed, figural bronzes.
• How old is it? It dates to the late 19th century (c. 1870–1895).