Owl’s Head Inkwell

This figural owl’s head inkwell is a nice example of late 19th-century European novelty porcelain.

Physical Description

• Form: The inkwell is realistically modeled as an owl’s head with stylized, scroll-like feathers framing the face.
• Material: It is crafted from porcelain bisque (unglazed porcelain), which gives the piece a soft, matte texture.
• Decoration: The piece features delicate hand-painted accents in pale blue and peach tones, highlighted by gold gilt dots and scrollwork along the brow and “ears”.
• Features: The most prominent feature is the set of yellow-amber glass eyes with black pupils.
• Construction: The top of the owl’s head serves as a removable lid, revealing a hollow interior designed to hold a small ceramic liner for ink.

Origin and Manufacturer

While unmarked by a specific factory name, this style is highly characteristic of German porcelain production from the Thuringia region.

• Likely Maker: The design and quality are very similar to novelty items produced by a firm such as Royal Rudolstadt (Beyer & Bock), known for their high-quality bisque animal figures and desk accessories.
• The Mark: The small blue hand-painted number “22” visible on the interior base is a factory production or decorator’s mark used to track pieces through the firing process.

Approximate Age

• Circa 1890–1910.
• The combination of “Rococo” inspired scrollwork and the naturalistic “animalier” theme was a hallmark of German export wares during this era.