Oak & Cast Brass Eagle Double Inkstand

This double inkstand features a rustic sporting/wildlife motif mounted on a solid wood plinth.

Design & Components

• Base: Solid oak plinth with a beveled perimeter edge. The bottom shows natural wood grain and age-appropriate surface scuffs.
• Sculptural Backplate: Cast brass with a dark, aged patina. It depicts a rustic split-rail/post fence intertwined with gnarled branches and oak foliage.
• Inkwells: A matching pair of clear cut glass cube inkwells fitted with square stepped-brass hinged lids. They sit secured within ornate square cast brass collar brackets fastened to the oak base with period flathead screws.

Bird Identification

• Type: It is an eagle (modeled in the classic Victorian raptorial style, though closely resembling a bird of prey such as a hawk or falcon).
• Key Features: The sharply curved, predatory hooked beak, open screaming posture, heavy talons gripping the branch, and dramatic high-spread wings are standard hallmarks of 19th-century eagle castings.

Period & Origin

• Date: Circa 1885–1910.
• Origin: Most likely Great Britain or the United States. The pairing of solid oak, cast rustic brass wildlife scenes, and heavy square-cut glass wells with stepped brass collars was a hallmark of late 19th-century English desk sets, though American brass and iron foundries produced similar rustic lodge and sporting designs during the same period.