Two Baseball-Themed Inkstands

Pictured is a pair of baseball-themed inkstands. The level of detail in the early uniforms and the thematic consistency of the baseball-and-bat lids add to their charm.

Inkstand A: The “Batter’s Duel” (Two Players)

This inkstand features a symmetrical design with two cast-metal ballplayers flanking a central inkwell. Each player is depicted in a classic “waiting at the plate” stance, holding a period-style baseball bat.

• Figural Details: The players wear early uniforms, including rounded caps with short brims and buttoned jerseys. The casting captures a high degree of movement, from the grip on the bat to the stance of the legs.
• Inkwell: The central inkwell is a block-style glass inkwell. The metal lid is specifically designed for this motif, featuring a cross-shaped design with a baseball and bat that serves as the handle.
• Base & Ornamentation: The heavy metal base is set upon a finished wood plinth. The inkwell is secured by ornate, scrolling metal brackets that add a sophisticated flourish to the athletic theme.
• Material: Cast white metal with a rich, dark bronze-toned patina.

Inkstand B: The “Solo Slugger” (Single Player)

This more compact version focuses on a single ballplayer positioned to the right of the inkwell. The piece is characterized by its exceptionally ornate “Aesthetic Movement” metalwork.

• Manufacturer: Marked “Simpson Hall Miller & Co. Quadruple Plate” on the underside. This indicates a high-quality silver-plating process over a white metal base.
• Design Details: The base features elaborate, pierced scrollwork and floral rosettes. The feet are delicately turned in a classic late-Victorian style.
• Thematic Lid: Like its counterpart, the glass inkwell is topped with a specialized lid featuring a miniature baseball and bat.
• Historical Significance: Given the “Quadruple Plate” mark and the Samuel Simpson lineage in Wallingford, CT, this piece represents a high point in American decorative metalwork.

Estimated Date of Manufacture: Circa 1880s–1890s

While Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. operated until they became a founding member of the International Silver Co. in 1898, the specific aesthetic of these pieces points to the Golden Age of the “National Pastime” in the 1880s.

• The Uniforms: The style of the caps (resembling the “pillbox” or “Brooklyn” style) and the heavy bats are consistent with the equipment used in the National League and the American Association during that decade.
• The Scrollwork: The highly decorative, almost “gingerbread” style of the metal casting on the single-player base was at the height of its popularity in the mid-to-late 1880s.

Quick Facts for Placards