Pen Wipe and Pen Holder

This antique desk accessory is an elegant combination of a pen wipe and a pen holder, designed to keep a dip pen clean and resting upright on a writing desk.

Design & Construction

• The Brush & Holder: The piece features a domed brush of tightly packed, dark natural bristles used to wipe excess ink from steel nibs. Nested perfectly at the apex of the dome is a small, upright silver cylindrical tube meant to support the barrel of a pen.
• The Base: The brush is mounted inside a stepped, circular sterling silver base with a polished, weighted rim.
• The Underside: The bottom is finished with a dark, textured leather backing to protect desktop surfaces from scratches and prevent sliding.

Hallmarks & Identification

The official British hallmarks are stamped along the edge of the silver rim:

• Maker’s Mark (S.M&Co / LD over a shaped shield): This mark belongs to Sampson Mordan & Co. Ltd., one of the most celebrated English manufacturers of high-quality novelty silver, pencils, and desk top engineering.
• Lion Passant: The walking lion symbol certifies that the base is standard British sterling silver (.925 purity).
• Town Mark (Three Wheat Sheaves and a Dagger): This distinct crest confirms that the piece was assayed at the Chester Assay Office.
• Date Letter: The stylized lowercase letter inside the circular punch perfectly matches the year 1904. There is also a small production or catalog number (18) stamped to the far left of the maker’s mark.