Tiffany & Co. E.P. Heavy Cut Glass Inkwell

This is a heavy, cut lead-crystal inkwell featuring electroplated silver fittings stamped TIFFANY & CO. E.P.

Description

• Glass Body: The inkwell features a substantial, squat form constructed from heavy clear crystal. It has broad, rounded multi-faceted sides with wide, deep vertical fluting running along the perimeter. The top shoulder drops in a subtle concavity toward the central neck, and the corners are softly chamfered.
• Base: The bottom reveals a recessed, frosted/ground stability ring surrounding a polished starburst or rosette-cut base.
• Reservoir & Mount: Inside sits a clear, suspended bulbous glass well. The top features a fitted silver collar securing a hinged, smooth-domed lid.
• Markings: The outer edge of the silver-plated collar ring is stamped TIFFANY & CO. E.P., indicating manufacture or retail distribution by Tiffany & Co., with E.P. designating electroplate (silver-plated over a base metal, rather than solid sterling silver).

Estimated Date of Manufacture

Circa 1890s–1910s

• Electroplate Marking: Tiffany & Co. occasionally offered high-end electroplated (E.P.) desk accessories and tableware alongside their sterling silver goods during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Stylistic Period: The heavy, prismatic cut glass combined with the minimalist, smooth domed silver collar aligns directly with desk suite components produced between the 1890s and the early 1900s.