Silver Inkstand with “Roll Back” Dome Lid Mechanism

This 1913 Birmingham sterling silver inkstand is an example of late-Edwardian “mechanical” silver, a genre that combined traditional luxury with the era’s fascination for clever engineering.

Mechanism: The “Roll-Back” Dome Cover

The most distinctive feature of this piece is the spring-loaded, roll-back mechanism.

• Operation: Unlike traditional hinged lids that swing upward, these dome covers are designed to recede into the body of the inkwell. When the user pushes a small tab, the silver dome glides on an internal track, tucking itself into the rear of the well’s housing to reveal the glass reservoir.
• Function: This design was marketed as both “dust-proof” and space-saving, as it prevented the lids from obstructing the writer’s hand or the pen tray.

The Maker: John Grinsell & Sons

Based on the specific “roll-back” design and the Birmingham 1913 hallmark, the maker is John Grinsell & Sons.

• The Mark: The inkwell is marked with the initials “J.G & S” within a shield-shaped cartouche.
• The Firm: Founded in Birmingham with a major showroom in London (Ludgate Hill), Grinsell & Sons specialized in “Novelties in Silver and Glass”. They were world-renowned for their “Patent” mechanisms, including the roll-back inkwell and the “Tantalus” spirit stand.
• The Hallmarks: The presence of the Anchor (Birmingham), the Lion Passant (Sterling), and the date letter “o” (1913) confirms the production date just before the outbreak of World War I.

Physical Description

• The Stand: This inkstand features a circular base with four orbs designed to rest pens on the rim.

• The Mechanical Lid: The standout feature remains the receding silver dome. When the small silver tab is pushed, the dome slides smoothly along a curved internal track, “rolling” into the back of the silver collar to reveal the ink.

Historical Significance

By 1913, the fountain pen was beginning to replace the dip pen, but luxury mechanical inkstands like this remained essential status symbols for the Edwardian library. John Grinsell & Sons were masters of this niche, creating “automatic” desk accessories that appealed to the modern, tech-focused gentleman of the pre-war era.