Silverplated Inkstand with Candle Holder

Description

• The Containers: The set features two faceted glass vessels with “stepped” or stemmed bases that fit securely into circular cutouts in the tray. One is an inkwell (open top for dipping), and the other is a sander or pounce pot (featuring a perforated metal lid used to sprinkle sand or pounce powder onto wet ink to dry it). The metal collars show a warm, coppery patina where the silver plating has worn over time.
• The Pen Rack & Candle Holder: The most striking feature is the central metalwork, which functions as a pen rack. It is fashioned from cast vines and acanthus-style leaves that form a clear heart shape. Nestled in the center of the heart is a bunch of grapes. A single, tulip-shaped candle holder (chamberstick) sits at the apex.
• The Base & Feet: The oval base is tiered and supported by four distinct figural feet in the form of grotesque masks.
• Construction: The underside shows the structural nuts and bolts used to secure the heavy cast heart-shaped rack to the base, typical of 19th-century manufacturing.

Origin and Age

Based on the style and construction, this piece likely dates between 1870 and 1890.

• Style: This is a prime example of the Naturalistic or Neo-Rococo influence within the Victorian era. The use of vines, grapes, and the symbolic heart shape was very much in vogue during the mid-to-late 19th century.
• Provenance: While there are no visible maker’s marks, this style of “white metal” silver plating (often on a Britannia metal or nickel silver base) was produced extensively in Sheffield, England, and by American manufacturers like Meriden B. Company or Reed & Barton.
• The “Grotesque” Feet: The use of mythological faces on the feet strongly suggests a British or European influence, often associated with the Aesthetic Movement’s love for eclectic, historical details.