Empire Period Bronze and Marble Desk Top Inkstand by Lefebvre of Belgium, Circa 1820

This magnificent large scale empire period desk top inkstand has a true country house presence about it. The significance of its proportion and the quality of the workmanship is outstanding. This inkstand is cut from a large single block of polished figured dark green marble and has a recess on each side for pens. It is raised onto bronze lion’s paw feet with foliate brackets. Above cast with very fine detail and hand chased for sharpness are a pair of lidded urns, one at each end. These originally would have had glass liners and were used for storing the ink. In the centre, there is a larger urn with a removable pierced cover which would have been used for storing sealing wax. Supporting it on each side there is a winged cherub each holding a garland of flowers. Between their wings, there is a sconce used to hold a small candle for melting the sealing wax on a letter. It is In good condition, Belgium, Circa 1820.

This rare inkstand is made by the highly esteemed Belgium manufacturer, Lefebvre. Manufactory of Tournai. A maker of fine objects for the king and important households. The design for the inkstand is in the collection of the Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Design in the USA.

This piece has been fully researched and authenticated by Christopher Coles Research https://www.bada.org/dealer/christopher-coles-research-and-cataloguing). And is backed up by his research notes and photographs of its design and similarly noted inkstands.

Height 20cm x width 37cm x depth 24cm

Robert Belcher Antiques was established in 1984 and is a high-quality retailer of interesting, rare antiques and decorative objects. After forty years of shop keeping and maintaining beautiful showrooms, which have been regularly open six days a week, Robert and Wendy have now taken a slightly different approach to their business. Having sold their retail premises, the antique business is now fully online. The picture framing service has ceased to operate because of moving online.

You can contact Robert and Wendy by email or telephone to discuss items from their extensive catalogue of attractive pieces and make purchases. Customers can rest assured that the long-established dealership is continuing to run in an exceedingly professional way, selling genuine and high-quality items which are guaranteed to please the most discerning collector, decorator or homeowner.

All items will be personally hand packaged to a high standard. Small items are extensively wrapped using the best materials and are often double boxed. Items are then shipped with DHL or Royal Mail fully insured and often with next day delivery. Larger items would be personally delivered or sent with a specialist antique delivery firm, or for outside the U.K, a professional shipping company.

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