“Victoria” Double Inkstand – Rose and Ribbon Motif

Description of the Inkstand

This porcelain double inkstand features a classic “Rose and Ribbon” motif. The set is composed of five distinct pieces: the main stand, two square inkwells, and two circular lids.

• Design & Ornamentation: The white glazed porcelain is decorated with transfer-printed (and likely hand-touched) clusters of pink roses and green leaves. A delicate pale green ribbon and bow design wraps around the front of the tray and the sides of the inkwells. Thin gold gilt accents are visible along the scalloped edges of the pen tray.
• Form: The rectangular base includes a deep, curved pen rest at the front. The top surface has two recessed square compartments to hold the ink pots. Flanking these are two smaller, fixed circular porcelain medallions decorated with roses, which serve as decorative balancing points for the design.
• Inkwells: The ink pots are cuboid with rounded shoulders. The lids are simple discs with a slight lip to sit securely on the pots. The underside of the base features two circular holes, a common manufacturing technique in porcelain to prevent the piece from exploding in the kiln due to trapped air.

The Manufacturer: Victoria Schmidt & Co.

The crown mark with “Victoria” and “Austria” identifies this piece as a product of the Victoria Schmidt & Co. porcelain factory (also known as Victoria Porzellan AG).

• Origin: The factory was located in Altrohlau, Bohemia. At the time of production, this was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (hence “Austria”). Today, the town is known as Stará Role in the Czech Republic.
• History: Founded in 1883 by Lazarus and Bernhard Bloch, the company quickly became one of the most prolific and successful porcelain exporters in the region. They were known for high-quality “white ware” that was often decorated in-house with popular Victorian floral patterns to appeal to the British and American markets.
• Legacy: The company was renamed Victoria Porzellan AG in 1918 following the end of WWI and continued production under various names throughout the 20th century.

How Old is This Inkstand?

This specific mark—the crown with “Victoria” above and “Austria” below—provides a very reliable dating window:

Circa 1891 – 1918

• Why this range? Before 1891, pieces were rarely marked with the country of origin. In 1918, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the formation of Czechoslovakia, the “Austria” in the mark was replaced with “Czechoslovakia.” Stylistic Clues: The “Rose and Ribbon” pattern and the specific silhouette of the inkstand are quintessential Late Victorian or Edwardian (roughly 1895–1910), which aligns perfectly with the historical mark.