Irish Writing Set

This is a portable writing set housed in a fitted, lined carrying box. The set’s shamrock motif suggest a possible Irish connection. The interior is custom-fitted to hold each of the instruments securely.

The Instruments (Silver-Finished with Shamrock Motif): All the pieces have a matching design with a bright, silver-like finish and feature a recurring decorative pattern of shamrocks.

• 1. The Inkwell: This is a small, portable, hinged inkwell. The lid is adorned with a raised shamrock design. It is designed to be tightly closed to prevent ink from spilling while traveling.
• 2. The Dip Pen: This is a holder for a dip pen nib. The shaft is decorated with a series of finely detailed, embossed shamrocks. The end of the pen is a ferrule, which would hold the replaceable nib.
• 3. The Wax Seal: This instrument has a handle that matches the other pieces and a small, flat end with an engraved design. This is a traditional wax seal stamp, used to impress a personal emblem or initial into molten sealing wax to close a letter or document.
• 4. The Letter Opener: Its design is similar to the dip pen and wax seal, with a decorated handle and a long, flat blade. The blade is not a sharp knife but has a tapered, smooth edge designed for slitting envelopes without tearing the contents. The shamrock motif is visible on the handle.
• 5. The Ink Eraser / Blotter Blade: In the era of dip pens and ink, mistakes were corrected by physically scraping away the top layer of paper where the ink had soaked in. The tool’s blade-like shape is perfect for this task. It would be used to gently scrape away the ink without tearing the paper. This was a common accessory in writing sets of the period.

Summary and Identification: The set includes:

• A portable inkwell
• A wax seal
• A letter opener
• A dip pen holder
• An ink eraser

This is a complete, well-preserved, and themed antique writing set, likely from the late 19th century. The shamrock motif strongly suggests an origin in, or an homage to, Ireland.