Porcelain and Bronze French Inkstand with Enameled Flowers

This French inkstand blends decorative enamel work with metal casting.

Description

• The Saucer Base: The inkstand consists of a wide porcelain saucer integrated into a heavy, decorative bronze rim. The rim features a chased repeating “bead and reel” pattern.
• Raised Enamel Decoration: The porcelain is densely decorated with small, raised enamel flowers in shades of blue, pink, and red, interspersed with green leaves and gilded accents. This technique, often called émail en relief, gives the flowers a distinct textured feel.
• The Inkwell Body: The central inkwell is a globular porcelain vessel supported by a fluted bronze pedestal. It features a hinged bronze lid with a decorative porcelain medallion on top. The porcelain insert is missing.
• The Finial: The lid is crowned with a tiered, ribbed bronze finial.

Age and Manufacturer

• Estimated Age: Circa 1860–1870. The style of raised enamel flowers and the specific Rococo-influenced bronze mounts are characteristic of the French Second Empire.
• Manufacturer: While the piece is unmarked, the high-quality émail en relief is a hallmark of Parisian porcelain workshops like those of Samson or Jacob Petit. These makers specialized in revivals of earlier 18th-century styles, creating luxury items for boutiques in the Palais Royal district of Paris.