Tiffany Inkwell (Square) Grapevine Patterns #844, #845, #852

These inkwells were designed around 1902 and remained in production until the 1920s. The Grapevine pattern remains one of Tiffany’s most iconic designs and is very much in keeping with Louis Tiffany’s motto that “Mother Nature is the best designer.” The flattened aesthetic of Tiffany’s trellis, fruit, and curling vine decoration is most evocative of Japanese stencil designs, all the rage at the turn of the twentieth century. The Far Eastern appearance of the set is further heightened by the texture of the etched bronze that encapsulates and protects the emerald-colored striated glass.

Most of the Grapevine objects utilized bronze with etching that completely penetrated the surface to allow the gem-like glass to show through.  Certain pieces, such as the inkwell lid, were only partially etched to create a sense of texture without the filigree appearance seen throughout the etched metal and glass collection. The bead-chain ornamentation that wraps the edges of the box and ink roller lends these pieces an additional luxuriance. However, this element was stripped from later iterations of the Grapevine pattern, most likely to reduce cost. Model #845 pictured has the bead-chain ornamentation, while model #844 does not.

Grapevine and Pine Needle pieces share the same design and are numbered the same, differing only in the bronze casing. Both patterns come in a variety of finishes, the most common are bronze with a dark patina and green glass or a gold finish with caramel-colored glass. The inkwells rest on four ball feet.

Tiffany made this pattern not just with inkwells, but also with pen wipes, stamp boxes, calendars, paper clips, seals, blotters, letter racks, letter openers, scales, playing card cases, on and on – over eighty pieces.

Pictured here are three varieties of inkwells, square in form, with Tiffany’s grapevine pattern. Grapevine inkwells with a round form are under a separate entry.

Pattern #844 measures 4” x 4” x 3”

Pattern #845 measures 3” x 3” x 3”

Pattern #852 measures 6” x 3” x 3”