Inkstand with a Pair of Pheasants

This is an example of an American-made Jennings Brothers double inkstand, produced in Bridgeport, Connecticut, roughly between 1910 and 1920.

Description

• Manufacturer: Jennings Brothers Manufacturing Co. (Bridgeport, CT). Attributed to Jennings Brothers, though the inkstand is unmarked.
• Material: Cast spelter (white metal), which has been finished with a gold-tone lacquer often referred to in trade catalogs as “Antique Gold” or “Ormolu Finish.”
• Central Figures: The focal point is a pair of pheasants—a male with a more prominent comb and longer tail, and a female—standing together in a realistic pose.
• Base Design: The base features an integrated pen tray (the curved trough at the front). The entire surface is heavily textured with an embossed “grassy field” or “wildland” motif, intended to evoke the birds’ natural habitat.
• Inkwell Stations: There are two square inkwell housings with hinged lids. The lids feature a cast-in-relief floral or vine design on the corners. There is a small “tab” to lift the lid.
• Inserts: The milk glass inserts are original. Jennings Brothers and their competitors (like Benedict or Bradley & Hubbard) used these opaque white glass liners for their high-end metal inkstands. During the 1910s, Jennings Brothers transitioned from using clear glass bottles to these opaque “Milk Glass” liners. They were considered more “sanitary” and modern at the time because they hid the unsightly stains of old ink better than clear glass.

Why Attribute to Jennings Brothers? The specific “grassy” texture of the base and the casting style of the pheasant feet are hallmarks of the Jennings Brothers foundry. They were famous for their high-quality metalwork that mimicked the look of expensive French gilded bronze but was made accessible to the American middle class through the use of spelter.

This specific “Pheasant” desk set by Jennings Brothers was one of their most popular naturalist-themed series. Because these were high-quality cast pieces, they were often sold individually at fine stationery shops and department stores, allowing customers to build a set over time.

The Complete “Pheasant” Desk Set

A standard executive desk set from the 1910–1920 period would typically consist of 4 to 6 pieces. Based on the “grassy” textured base and casting style of this inkstand, here are the matching components:

• Rocker Blotter (Model #666): This is the most common companion piece. It features a single, smaller pheasant as the handle, perched atop a curved metal plate that matches the textured pattern of your inkstand’s base. It is frequently stamped “JB 666” on the underside of the metal frame.
• Letter Rack / Stationery Holder: Usually a two- or three-tiered rack with dividers. The front panel often features a bas-relief scene of a pheasant in flight or walking through the same tall grass seen on this inkwell base.
• Stamp Box: A small, rectangular hinged box. The lid typically features a single pheasant (often the male with the long tail) in profile. The interior usually has slanted compartments for different denominations of stamps.
• Letter Opener: A cast metal blade with a handle shaped like a pheasant’s head or a small standing pheasant.

Catalog & Market Context

In 1915, Jennings Brothers marketed these finishes as “Antique Gold” or “French Gilt.” While this piece is made of spelter, the fine detailing was designed to rival the much more expensive solid bronze sets by companies like Tiffany Studios.