Presentation Inkstand – Great Barrington Estate

This sterling silver inkstand is a presentation piece featuring a gadrooned border and two heavy, diamond-cut crystal inkwells.

Description

• The Tray: A rectangular sterling silver tray with rounded corners and a decorative gadrooned (rope-like) edge. It rests on four small silver ball feet.
• The Inkwells: Two matching globular inkwells made of deeply cut crystal. Each well has a hinged sterling silver lid.
• The Pen Holder: A tall, openwork silver rack positioned at the back of the tray, designed to hold several dip pens horizontally.

The Hallmarks

This specific combination of marks identifies the piece as sterling silver, assayed in London in 1922:

• Maker’s Mark (S.J.L): This is the mark of S. J. Levi & Co. (Samuel Jacob Levi), a prominent silversmithing firm active in Birmingham and London during the early 20th century.
• Lion Passant: Indicates .925 sterling silver purity.
• Leopard’s Head: The city mark for the London Assay Office.
• Date Letter “g”: The specific lowercase letter used for the year 1922.

Great Barrington Estate and Captain Bayard Douglas

The Great Barrington Estate refers to a significant historic landholding in Gloucestershire, England, centered on Barrington Park, a Grade I listed Palladian mansion built in the 1730s.

• Ownership: In 1922, the estate was the seat of the Wingfield-Digby family, who were prominent landowners in the Cotswolds.
• The Presentation: The engraving, “Presented to Capt. Bayard Douglas by the tenants of the Great Barrington Estate 1922,” follows a long-standing British tradition. Presentation silver of this quality was typically gifted by the “tenantry” (the farmers and residents who leased estate land) to a member of the landowning family or a high-ranking estate officer.
• Capt. Bayard Douglas: Captain Douglas was likely a military officer associated with the Wingfield-Digby household or the estate’s management. Historical records from this era mention a Captain Bayard Douglas of the Royal Navy; such high-quality sterling silver and cut crystal sets were popular gifts for returning officers or to mark major milestones like a marriage or retirement from estate duties.

This inkstand is a particularly fine specimen, as the S. J. Levi & Co. firm was known for producing high-end “art silver” and luxury desk accessories that were often retailed by prestigious shops like The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company.