Irish Pewter Inkstand

This rectangular pewter inkstand has a simple, functional design with a hinged, double-flap lid. The inkstand is elevated by four small, semi-spherical feet.

• Structure: The stand’s body is rectangular with a prominent hinged lid that folds open from the center. When closed, the lid covers the entire top of the inkstand, providing a clean, flat surface.
• Interior Compartments: The interior is divided into several sections. One side is a single, long compartment designed to hold quill pens or other writing instruments. The other side is partitioned into three sections including a square opening that contains a sander, a container used to sprinkle sand over fresh ink to blot it. The inkwell is missing.
• Provenance: The inkstand has a hand-written label, which provides a detailed, if somewhat difficult to read, history of its ownership. The label identifies it as an Irish piece from circa 1775. It notes that the inkstand is believed to have belonged to “the late Burt Harris, father of Edmund Burt Harris (Harris’s Free Library).” It also mentions an inscription on the metal with the “Earliest date noted on the metal: Feby 1812. W.W. Waudls.”

The object’s provenance, documented by the family labels, gives it historical value.