Standing Rabbit

This figural inkwell is cast in the form of a standing rabbit (or hare) posed upright on its hind legs.

Description

• Body & Form: The inkwell is molded from clear, heavy glass with a stylized silhouette. The lower half forms the main ink reservoir (the rabbit’s body and weighted base), while the upper half forms the head and long ears, which acts as the hinged lid.
• Details: The face features expressive molded eyes, a delicate snout, and detailed ears. The base is thick and rounded to stabilize the upright posture, showing a molded tail and paws.
• Hardware: The two sections are joined by a precision-fitted metal collar and a sturdy barrel hinge with a thumb-lever release. When opened at the neck, the hinged head lifts completely away to expose the ink reservoir.

Origin and Manufacturing Period

• Where it was made: Figural glass inkwells utilizing cut or pressed glass bodies paired with specialized metal mounts and hinged collars were predominantly produced in Europe (with major centers in France, England, and Bohemia) during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• When it was made: This piece dates to the late Victorian to Edwardian era, specifically circa 1880–1910. Novelty desk accessories depicting animals—particularly hares, dogs, and birds—were popular during this period.

Additional Context

Figural and novelty inkwells from this era were produced as functional works of art. Animal motifs like rabbits and hares frequently appeared in Victorian and Art Nouveau desk accessories, symbolizing cleverness, agility, and the natural world. Because they were cast in limited runs using two-part molds combined with custom-fit metalwork, individual surviving examples like this upright crystal rabbit remain scarce.