Silverplated Standish with Chinese-style Dragon Finials

This silver-plated inkstand is an example of Late Victorian Chinoiserie, a style that celebrated exotic Far Eastern motifs in British decorative arts. Manufactured by the firm Frederick Green & Sons of Sheffield, England, this piece was produced between 1896 and 1910.

The Maker: Frederick Green & Sons

The firm operated out of the London Works on Eyre Lane in Sheffield, a city world-renowned for its excellence in metalworking and silver-plating. The maker’s mark “FG” was officially registered by the company in 1896, marking the beginning of their most creative period. Frederick Green & Sons specialized in “fancy goods” for the library and study, often utilizing high-quality EPNS (Electro-plated Nickel Silver) to create intricate, sculptural designs that were as durable as they were decorative.

Description

The stand’s design is dominated by the Chinoiserie aesthetic, featuring two dramatic hinged lids topped with Chinese-style dragons (specifically the Long or “Sea Dragon”), which symbolize wisdom and power. These cast figures were high-fashion elements intended to provide an air of worldly sophistication to a gentleman’s or lady’s writing desk.

Centrally located between the two inkwells is a taper holder and snuffer, a functional necessity in a time when letters were still hand-sealed with wax:

• The Taper Holder: This held a thin, coiled candle used to melt sticks of colored sealing wax.
• The Snuffer: The small, conical cap—original to the set—was used to extinguish the candle flame quickly and cleanly, preventing soot or hot wax from splashing onto the silver-plated surface or the desktop.

Historical Context

This inkstand represents the height of the British Empire’s fascination with international design. As a silver-plated object by a premier Sheffield maker, it was designed as a “statement piece” that offered the luxurious look and heavy feel of solid silver while remaining practical for daily use on a busy correspondence desk.