Sterling Silver Inkwell with Tortoiseshell Lid

This is a refined sterling silver capstan inkwell, featuring a traditional nautical-inspired sloping base and a decorative piqué-work lid.

Hallmark Analysis

The hallmarks on the side of the base confirm its British origin and date of manufacture:

• Maker’s Mark (“L&S”): This represents the well-known firm Levi & Salaman, a prolific Birmingham silversmithing company active during this period.
• The Anchor: The assay office mark for Birmingham, England.
• The Lion Passant: The certification of Sterling Silver (.925 purity).
• Date Letter (“n”): This specific lowercase “n” in a shield represents the year 1913.

The Silver Piqué Process

The lid features a genuine tortoiseshell medallion decorated with piqué work. The design depicts a neoclassical floral wreath tied with four distinct ribbon bows.

The process of piqué involved several meticulous steps:

• Softening: The organic tortoiseshell was heated in boiling water or oil until it became soft and pliable.
• Inlaying: While the shell was soft, an artisan would press pre-cut pieces of silver sheet or wire into the surface.
• Locking: As the tortoiseshell cooled, it naturally contracted and hardened, permanently “locking” the silver design into the material without the use of glue or fasteners.
• Condition Note: You can see the authenticity of the material in the characteristic reddish-brown mottling and a natural stress crack visible on the underside of the lid.

Additional Physical Features

• The Base: The sloping circular base is finished with a pierced scroll and foliate border.
• Engraving: The front of the base is professionally engraved with the initials “J.H.P.” and the date “31-3-57”, likely indicating it was given as a commemorative gift.
• Construction: The underside is weighted and finished with a leatherette pad to provide stability on a writing desk. The interior is missing its glass insert.

Levi & Salaman Historyu

Levi & Salaman was a prominent and highly successful firm of manufacturing silversmiths based in Birmingham, England, specifically known for their high-quality “small-work” and luxury novelties.

Founding and Early Growth

The company was established in 1870 by Phineas Harris Levi and Joseph Wolff Salaman.

• Early Production: The firm initially focused on manufacturing gilt costume jewelry but quickly transitioned into more expensive silver jewelry and luxury goods.
• Acquisition of Potosi Silver: In 1878, the partners expanded their business by purchasing the Potosi Silver Co., a small specialist in silver-plated flatware (spoons and forks).
• The Potosi Works: By 1885, demand for their work necessitated a move to larger premises on Newhall Street, which they named the “Potosi Works”.

Evolution of the Firm

The partnership lasted for forty years until a major reorganization in the early 20th century:

• Conversion to “Ltd”: Following the death of Phineas Harris Levi in 1910, the business was converted into a limited liability company, Levi & Salaman Ltd.
• Leadership: The new board consisted of the surviving founder, Joseph Salaman, alongside Clive Joseph Levi (the son of Phineas) and Lewis Henry Salaman.
• Amalgamation: In 1921, the company and its subsidiary, Potosi Silver, were merged with another famous Birmingham firm, Barker Brothers (Silversmiths) Ltd.

Specialties and Artistic Style

Levi & Salaman was particularly renowned for their skill in producing detailed, imaginative, and collectible “small silver” items.

• Novelty Items: They are famous for their novelty pin cushions, which were often modeled in the shapes of animals (such as pigs, rhinoceroses, and camels), shoes, or motor cars.
• Souvenir Ware: The firm produced a vast array of souvenir spoons and novelty pieces for the tourist market during the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.
• Dressing Table Sets: They were specialists in luxury desk and vanity accessories, frequently combining sterling silver with enamel or piqué-work tortoiseshell.

Tortoiseshell Piqué Work

This inkwell is an excellent example of a style they were specifically known for during the Edwardian era (1901–1910) and the following years.

• Process: Piqué work involved heating genuine tortoiseshell until it was malleable and then pressing silver (or gold) wire or sheet into the surface.
• Refined Design: Levi & Salaman often utilized classical Neoclassical motifs for their piqué designs, such as the floral wreaths and ribbon bows seen here, to create a sophisticated and tactile luxury product.