Metal Inkstand with Clover Motif

Description

• The Body: This inkstand is cast from a white metal alloy (likely spelter or pewter) and treated with a dark, architectural bronze finish. It features a distinctive half-moon or crescent-shaped tray with integrated side wings designed to hold pens.
• The Lid: The square, central inkwell housing is fitted with a hinged, stepped lid. The top of the lid is decorated with two cast panels featuring a stylized four-petal flower or “clover” motif, which is repeated in a low-relief gallery along the flared edges of the pen tray.
• The Glass Insert: The set retains its original clear glass insert.

Estimated Age

• Circa 1910–1925.
• This period marks the transition from the flowing lines of Art Nouveau to the more structured, geometric forms of early Art Deco. The use of a bronze-finished white metal was a common way for manufacturers of this era to provide the look of high-end cast bronze at a more accessible price point.