Jennings Brothers #206 Lion Inkstand

Description

• Form & Motif: This combination inkstand and pen tray features a dramatic, highly sculptural figural lion. The powerful head and upper torso of a male lion emerge majestically from the scrollwork, resting its paw atop a globular, heavily embossed lidded inkwell.
• Design & Style: The piece is styled in the opulent, flowing aesthetic of the Art Nouveau transition period. The asymmetrical pen tray basin is deeply scalloped, accented with pronounced acanthus leaves, rococo C-scrolls, and fluted trailing shell motifs.
• The Inkwell & Insert: The hinged lid of the inkwell is decorated with matching raised symmetrical scrolls that seamlessly match the body. Inside, it retains its original glass insert.
• Underside & Markings: The underside shows typical casting texture, displaying the stamped “JB” maker’s mark inside a pointed foot and the distinct pattern/catalog number “206” stamped near the opposing footed corner.
• Finishes: Jennings Brothers items were famously produced in a variety of specialty finishes. While this piece is shown in a bright silverplated finish, these molds were also commonly finished in their proprietary “Nouveau Bronze” (a dark, warm bronze patina), “J.B. Ormolu” (a bright gold-gilt finish), or oxidized gunmetal.

Time Period Estimation Based on Pattern Number “206”

Based on the catalog numbering system of the Jennings Brothers Manufacturing Co. (which operated from 1890 to 1953), a low pattern number like 206 points firmly to the earlier years of production:

• Turn-of-the-Century Dating (c. 1895–1905): Jennings Brothers began operations in 1890. Their initial catalogs focused heavily on ornate, high-relief cast metal luxury desktop items, clocks, and inkstands that bridged late Victorian exuberance and early Art Nouveau styling.
• Low 3-digit numbers (such as #206) represent their foundational, earliest core product lines designed and registered around the late 1890s through approximately 1905. By the 1910s and 1920s, their catalog numbers scaled significantly higher into the thousands as production expanded into bookends, trophies, and Art Deco novelties.

Thus, this lion inkstand can be confidently dated to the turn of the 20th century (circa 1895–1905).