Romantic Porcelain Inkstand

This inkstand has an asymmetrical, lobed shape with a rococo-style design. It features a pale pink-to-white gradient in the center, surrounded by white porcelain. The entire piece is heavily decorated with hand-painted gold detailing, including floral motifs and intricate scrollwork along the scalloped edges.

A central cartouche contains the main painted scene: a man and a woman in 18th-century clothing in a pastoral setting. The man is standing and playing a stringed instrument, possibly a guitar or lute, for the woman who is seated on the ground with a fan. The scene evokes a romantic, pastoral theme common in Rococo art.

A covered inkwell is integrated into the design. It’s a small, bulbous pot with a decorative lid. The lid has a small finial and is also painted with delicate floral patterns and gold accents. The inkwell itself has a separate liner that fits inside the opening.

Identifying the Mark and Origin

The piece is marked but the blue symbol is too blurry to make out. The bottom is impressed number with “518.”