Inkipedia
Onyx and Champlevé Inkstand
| Categories | Enameled Metal |
| Material | Enameled Brass/Bronze/Metal |
| Markings | Unmarked |
| Manufacturer | Undetermined |
| Origin | France |
| Date or Era | circa 1880 |
| Measuring | 9” x 6” x 3 ⅜” high |
- Base Material: The foundation is carved from green-veined onyx, a stone prized for its translucence and natural marbling.
- Metalwork: The frame and fittings are cast in bronze, adorned with champlevé enamel—a technique where cells are carved into the metal and filled with colored enamel, then fired and polished. The palette includes deep blues, whites, and reds, arranged in scrolling floral and vine motifs that evoke late 19th-century French design.
- Handles: On either side, the inkstand features lion head ornaments, sculpted in high relief. These serve as both decorative flourishes and symbolic guardians—lions often representing strength and vigilance.
- Inkwell: At the center sits a square bronze inkwell, fitted with a glass insert to hold ink. Its hinged lid is topped with a pineapple finial, a classical symbol of hospitality and refinement.
Sold for $200 in August 2025
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