Koi Fish Syphon Inkwell

This syphon inkwell is designed in the form of a koi fish. This “open-mouth” syphon inkwell operates using atmospheric pressure. When the pen nib is inserted into the opening, air enters the main reservoir through the fish’s open mouth. This balances the pressure inside and outside the reservoir, allowing ink to flow into the pen without spilling or overflowing. While attractive to look at, this type of inkwell was not successful because they were messy to fill.

Perry & Co. was an English firm renowned for producing writing equipment in the 19th century. They were known for their innovative designs in pens and accessories like inkwells. The Brighton Fish Registration Diamond on this inkwell dates it to 1884.