Sterling Silver Travel Inkwell

This sterling silver travel inkwell, crafted by the William B. Durgin Co., is a beautiful example of fine silverwork from the late 19th to early 20th century. The inkwell features a spherical shape adorned with intricate scrollwork and floral patterns.

The William B. Durgin Company was a prominent American sterling silver manufacturer based in Concord, New Hampshire. Founded in 1853 by William Butler Durgin, the company quickly became one of the largest producers of flatware and hollowware in the United States. William Butler Durgin (1833-1905) apprenticed with Boston silversmith Newell Harding before establishing his own company. The company was known for its high-quality sterling silver items. After the deaths of William B. Durgin and his son George F. Durgin in 1905, the company was acquired by Gorham Manufacturing Company. The official purchase was completed in 1924, and production was moved to Providence, Rhode Island, in 1931.