Portuguese Pewter Inkstand

This is a Portuguese Pewter Inkstand (or tinware), likely dating from the late 19th to early 20th century.

Inkstand Description

This is a rectangular, single-well desk stand featuring a central inkwell, a sander, and storage, constructed entirely of pewter.

• Material: Pewter, a tin alloy (indicated by the “95%” mark).
• Inkwell: Central, large, and fitted with a glass insert. It has a hinged lid that is raised via a thumbpiece.
• Sander (Pounce Pot): A small, detachable, perforated pot used to sprinkle pounce (a fine powder like sand or cuttlefish bone) over freshly written ink to absorb excess moisture and speed drying. The square-shaped sander is housed next to the inkwell.
• Storage/Drawer: A small, shallow, pull-out drawer is located in the base, intended for storing nibs, seals, or small items like stamps.

Marks and Identification

The marks provide information about the material and origin.

Dating and Historical Context

Based on the style, function, and materials, the inkstand is estimated to be from the late 19th to early 20th century.

• Period of Popularity (Late 19th Century): The combined inkwell and sander design was most common during the period when quills and dip pens were still in widespread use (before the mass adoption of the fountain pen). The sander became largely obsolete after the 1870s/1880s but remained a traditional feature on inkstands well into the 1900s.
• Continental European: We’ve seen the same pewter inkstand (stove-shaped, thumbpiece lid, square sander, pull-out drawer) marked on the bottom “”Les Etains de Paris” (“The Pewter of Paris).”
• Pewter Revivals (1890s-1920s): Pewter experienced several revivals in Europe, including an Art Nouveau period, but this piece’s simple design places it generally within the late Victorian/Edwardian era.
• Conclusion on Age: The combination of the pewter material, the 95% tin content (high quality), and the traditional components (sander, inkwell, drawer) suggest a date between 1880 and 1920.