Ornate French Dish-Based Pump Inkwell

This French dish-based pump inkwell, dating to approximately 1860, is a sophisticated example of the “hydraulic” desk accessories that were the height of luxury during the Second French Empire. It combines the delicate artistry of hand-painted porcelain with a precise mechanical system designed to keep ink fresh and fluid.

Description

• The Base: The inkwell sits on a wide white porcelain saucer dish decorated with hand-painted garlands of pink roses and purple wildflowers. The outer edge is finished with a thin gilded rim.
• The Reservoir: The central mechanism is housed in a porcelain light blue cylinder embellished with delicate gilded scrolling patterns.
• Hardware: The top features an ornate cast-brass cap with deeply chased foliage motifs. A matching fluted brass turning knob sits at the very top.
• Quill Holders: Three small, upright white porcelain cylinders are integrated into the dish base to act as stable rests for dip pens or quills.

How the Displacement Mechanism Operates

While called a “pump,” this operates on a screw-driven displacement principle.

1. Lowering the Piston: Turning the brass knob clockwise rotates a central threaded rod inside the reservoir. This action forces a solid porcelain cylinder (the plunger) downward into the ink supply.
2. Raising the Ink: Because the ink has nowhere else to go, the physical presence of the descending porcelain plunger displaces the liquid, forcing it up through a hidden internal channel and into the small front dipping font.
3. Preservation (Reverse): Turning the knob counter-clockwise lifts the plunger, creating a slight vacuum that draws the ink out of the font and back into the main airtight reservoir. This “clean” cycle prevented the ink from evaporating or turning into a thick sludge when not in use.

Maker and Dimensions

• Maker: The mark “Encrier à Pompe” is the French term for “Pump Inkwell”. While this specific marking is generic, the high quality of the gilt brass and porcelain strongly suggests a Parisian Palais Royal workshop. Workshops like Boquet and Morier often produced these for luxury boutiques, sometimes leaving off their own names in favor of the functional title or the retailer’s mark.