WMF Art Nouveau Inkwell

This Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) inkwell features a bulbous, gourd-like silhouette with an attached hinged dome cover. The piece is ornamented with flowing organic linework, whiplash curves, and etched floral motifs (such as poppies or water lilies) highlighted against a dark, patinated background. The front body highlights an elegant, ornate period owner’s monogram hand-engraved within a cartouche. Opening the lid reveals the interior neck and its original removable metal insert.

Maker, Origin, and Dating

• Maker: WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik), the renowned German metalware manufacturer famous for their exceptional Jugendstil and Art Nouveau metal designs.
• Where was it made: Geislingen an der Steige, Germany.
• When was it made: Circa 1900–1910, during the height of the international Art Nouveau period.

Markings on the Underside

The crisp, punch-stamped manufacturer’s marks visible inside the recessed base include the classic WMF hallmark (an ostrich enclosed inside a geometric shape or rhombus, used by the company during the early 20th century) alongside supporting alloy and finish stamps indicating metal composition (such as B for Britannia metal, a tin-antimony alloy).