Hunting Trophy Inkstand

Description

This is a late 19th-century novelty hunting-trophy inkstand.

• The Inkwell: It features a heavy, square, block-cut crystal inkwell with a faceted underside. The neck is fitted with a brass collar leading to a smooth, domed hinged lid.
• The Figural Finial: Atop the lid stands a detailed, small cast-metal figure of a wild boar with a textured, bristled coat.
• The Frame: A brass wireframe cage cradles the crystal inkwell and extends upward into a decorative arch capped with a textured four-leaf clover or shamrock motif.

The Material:

This inkstand is anchored with an authentic wild boar’s tusk. Hunting trophies of this era frequently integrated natural elements like tusks, hooves, and antlers into functional writing desk accessories.

• The large, curved tusk is secured right through its center by a fitted metal sleeve.
• This sleeve anchors the tusk to the main framework, while a brass loop extending out the back forms a tripod base to keep the heavy crystal inkwell perfectly balanced and upright on a desk surface.
• The capped metal end on the tip of the tusk protects the natural material from splitting or chipping.

The Pen Holder

The piece has a built-in pen rest integrated seamlessly into the upper brass bracket. The two small spheres extending forward from the frame act as the front supports, allowing a dip pen or fountain pen to sit horizontally directly above the curve of the tusk.

Origin, Maker, and Date

• When was it made? Circa 1880–1910 During this period, “Black Forest” and hunting-lodge aesthetics were fashionable for gentlemen’s libraries and studies.
• Where was it made? Most likely Germany, Austria-Hungary, or France. Wild boar hunting was an elite sport in the dense forests of Central and Western Europe, and regional metal workshops routinely produced these desk novelties. The prominent four-leaf clover design on the handle was a highly popular late-19th-century symbol for good luck (Glück) often utilized by Austrian and German metal foundries.