Top Hat Pen Wipe

Pen wipes like this were useful tools during the era of dip pens and early fountain pens, used to clear excess ink and paper fibers from the nib to ensure a smooth flow of writing.

Description

This cast brass pen nib wipe is designed in the form of a classic top hat, a quintessential symbol of Victorian gentlemanly fashion. The whimsical touch is provided by a small, detailed mouse figure perched curiously on the rim, peering into the hat’s interior.

The brass exhibits a rich, aged patina with darker oxidation in the recessed areas, highlighting the casting’s texture. Inside the hollow of the hat sits the original bristle brush insert. These brushes were typically made from stiff animal hair (often boar or hog bristle) and were designed to be durable enough to scrub dried ink without damaging the delicate metal of a pen nib.

Origin & Age

• Where was it made? While unmarked, novelty brassware of this type was predominantly manufactured in England, particularly in the metalworking hubs of Birmingham. English makers were famous for “fancy goods”—functional desk items with a playful, figural twist.
• How old is it? This piece dates to the late 19th century (circa 1880–1900). During the mid-to-late Victorian period, there was a massive trend for “figural” desk accessories, ranging from pigs and dogs to boots and hats.

• The Brush: The brush itself is probably boar’s hair, which was favored for its stiffness and ability to withstand the acidic nature of 19th-century iron gall inks.

Condition Note

The fact that it retains the original bristle insert is significant. Many of these surviving holders are found empty or have been repurposed as pin cushions or match holders over the decades. The brush shows signs of use (darkening of the bristles), which adds to its authenticity as a functional piece of 19th-century stationery history.