Silverplated Stag Inkstand – Presentation Piece

This is a silver-plated double inkstand, produced by James Deakin & Sons of Sheffield, and presented as a religious school award in 1904. It features a fully modeled stag standing proudly in a vigilant pose. The inkstand features two removable glass inkwells with silver-plated hinged lids, which are set into a naturalistic base. The base is a rectangular shape with truncated corners decorated with flowing acanthus leaves and rococo-style scrolls. These details are consistently repeated around the entire edge of the base. Curving arms that rise from the base are designed to hold a pen.

Marks and Engraving

Based on the marks on the bottom of the stand and the inscription, here is the information:

• Manufacturer: James Deakin & Sons, a well-known silversmith and electroplate manufacturer from Sheffield, England. The firm operated from the mid-19th century until it was absorbed by other companies in the mid-20th century.
• Production Markings: The mark “P2240” is likely the company’s pattern or model number for this specific inkstand design. This type of numbering was common for manufacturers to track their products.
• Engraving: The inscription on the base, “Presented to Miss Besset / By the scholars in the Sabbath School / United Free Church / Innellan / 10th Nov 1904”, provides historical context. Innellan is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The engraving identifies the piece as a presentation award given to a Miss Besset by her students at a Sunday school, dating it to November 10, 1904. The United Free Church was a major Presbyterian denomination in Scotland at the time.

To see a similar version of this inkstand, see this Inkipedia listing: Silverplated Standish with Stag – The Society of Inkwell Collectors (SOIC)