Pump Inkstand Set on a Pen Rack

This pump inkwell dates to the 1860s or 1870s. It features a finely decorated porcelain reservoir integrated into a cast metal frame designed to hold multiple dip pens.

Description

• Base and Rack: The inkwell sits in a bronze-finished metal base featuring Rococo-style scrolls and floral motifs. Rising from the base is a matching rack with four notches on each side to hold pens horizontally.
• Porcelain Reservoir: The central cylinder is made of white porcelain, featuring a hand-painted floral spray of roses and forget-me-nots on the front. The back of the cylinder displays a gilded crest within a laurel wreath.
• Hardware: The top is fitted with an ornate bronze cap and a tiered, fluted plunger knob. A small dipping font at the front is protected by a hinged brass lid attached by a fine chain.
• The Tassel: While common on luxury “Palais Royal” desk sets to add a touch of opulence, the green silk tassel may be a later addition or a replacement.

The Pump Mechanism

This piece uses a screw-driven hydrostatic displacement system, a hallmark of 19th-century French mechanical inkwells.

1. Lowering the Plunger: Turning the brass knob rotates a threaded internal rod. This forces a heavy solid porcelain block (the plunger) downward into the ink supply.
2. Displacing the Ink: As the plunger enters the main reservoir, it physically displaces the ink, forcing it through a small internal channel and up into the front porcelain font for easy dipping.
3. Vacuum Recession: Rotating the knob in reverse lifts the plunger, creating a slight vacuum that draws the ink back into the main airtight cylinder. This process kept the ink from evaporating or thickening when not in use.

Origin and Artistry

• Hand-Painted Detail: The floral sprays are hand-painted, evidenced by the slight variations in brushwork and the “raised” texture of the enamel paint and gilding.
• Manufacturer: While unmarked, the quality of the porcelain and the ornate casting of the bronze-finished frame are characteristic of the Palais Royal workshops in Paris. These workshops specialized in “Articles de Paris”—luxury mechanical goods for the wealthy European market.
• Age: Circa 1865. The specific combination of naturalistic hand-painting and Rococo Revival metalwork was most popular during the middle of the Second French Empire.