Sterling Silver Mounted Glass Shamrock Inkwell

This inkwell is modeled in the form of a three-leaf clover or shamrock. Composed of heavy, thick-walled clear glass and premium English sterling silver, it balances late 19th-century elegance with playful novelty design.

Design & Construction

• The Glass Body: Crafted from thick, clear glass, the body is molded into the multi-lobed shape of a shamrock, complete with a defined, stylized stem projecting from the base. The underside of the central ink well features a sharply cut, multi-point starburst motif.
• The Silver Mounts: The neck is wrapped in a sterling silver collar that secures a hinged lid. The lid itself is shaped as a shamrock, complete with a curved stem that serves as a practical thumbpiece to open the inkwell.
• Decoration: The top surface of the hinged lid features an elegant, unengraved central cartouche framed by an intricate, hand-chased border of scrolling foliate and floral repoussé work.

Hallmarks & Provenance

• Makers Mark: Stamped S&A on the side of the collar for the silversmiths Stokes & Ireland Ltd (Thomas Stokes & William Ireland).
• Assay Office: Bears the anchor mark for Birmingham.
• Date Letter: Stamped with the lowercase letter “y” in a shield, dating the piece precisely to 1898.
• Purity Mark: Stamped with the Lion Passant, guaranteeing .925 sterling silver purity.
• Retailer Engraving: The top rim of the silver collar is finely engraved with the premier period retailer: “A. Webster, 60 Piccadilly.”