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| Inkwells |
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This 19th-century Italian inkstand featuring a Scottie dog figurine is unusual because of its pierced gallery and handles.
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Collectors and dealers often interchange the words
inkwell and inkstand, but there is a distinction. An inkwell is a
refillable permanent ink container. Cut-glass inkwells with hinged lids of
brass, silver, or glass are of interest to collectors fascinated by the way
the sharply patterned glass sparkles in the light. Single inkwells also
tend to be relatively
affordable and widely available, making them easy
to collect.
Inkstands (referred to as standishes before the 18th century)
combine the inkwell with one or more additional
features, such as
another well, a pen rest, or a blotter. The tray may be supported by feet
and have slots or inserts on which to rest pens. And the ink bottle, often
of more interest to glass collectors, is a bottle in which ink was sold. "Antique inkwells have always been something
people can relate
to," says Jim Adams, co-owner of Jacqueline
Adams Antiques in Atlanta. But there's also a sense of nostalgia that
makes them appealing even to novice collectors. The further the decline of
the handwritten and printed word, the more valuable antique writing
accoutrements become. "People hardly use pens anymore," says
Hal Ainsworth, who carries inkwells in his Atlanta showroom,
Ainsworth-Noah. "But a decorative inkwell adds a nice finishing touch
to a wonderful antique desk."
| JUST THE FACTS |
What to look for: Make sure all components are
original and in keeping with the entire design. Avoid buying incomplete
pieces; the missing parts are not easy to find and detract from the value.
Signed pieces offer proof that the inkwell was made by a certain firm or
artisan. Worth: "It's difficult to find someone to
appraise inkwells because the field is so highly specialized," says
Mary McAtee of the Society of Inkwell Collectors. According to William Word
Antiques, individual cut-crystal or glass inkwells begin at $250 but can go
for as much as $1,200. Silver George II inkstands or Napoléon III
bronze doré and ormolu examples can fetch from $4,000 to $7,000. Where to find them: Visit antiques stores that
specialize
in the period or style you are looking for. Auction houses,
such as Christie's and Sotheby's, offer
rarer yet pricier
examples. |
RESOURCES: Society of Inkwell Collectors,
309/579-3040, soic.com; Ainsworth-Noah (T); Jacqueline Adams, 404/355-8123,
jacquelineadams antiques.com; William Word Antiques, 404/233-6890,
williamwordantiques.com.
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