Quill & Book Double Inkstand

This brass-plated double inkstand is rich in literary symbolism.

Description & Design

The inkstand is crafted from cast spelter (a zinc-based white metal alloy) and finished with a high-quality brass plating. Its design is centered around a literary or “Author’s” theme:

• Inkwells: It features two square, hinged inkwells. The lids are embossed with a distinctive relief of a quill pen resting on an open book.
• Base: The front of the flared base is decorated with two large, crossed quill feathers tied at the center with a decorative ribbon bow.
• Functionality: Between the two inkwells is a recessed central area that serves as a pen tray.
• Inserts: The inkstand has its original clear glass inkwell inserts.

Manufacturer & Origin

This piece was likely manufactured by the Jennings Brothers Manufacturing Company.

• Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.
• Background: Founded in 1890, Jennings Brothers was renowned for producing high-quality art metalwork, including clocks, bookends, and desk sets. They employed a staff of talented artists and sculptors to create their designs, which were then sand-cast in white metal and plated to look like solid bronze or brass.

Age

Based on the style and the manufacturer’s history, this inkstand dates to the late 19th or early 20th century, specifically circa 1895–1910. This period saw a peak in the popularity of highly decorative, symbolic desk accessories before the rise of more streamlined Art Deco styles.