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sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA1203716
FOR SALE
£225
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19th Century Bronze Hidden Devil Bird Inkwell
Harrington Antiques
for sale €263     $286
£225
Harrington Antiques

Harrington Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2021
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Id #SA1203716
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19th Century Bronze Hidden Devil Bird Inkwell

19th century
Description

An intriguing late 19th century bronze devil inkwell.

The devil is perched upon the back the bronze pen rest, with its hollow ears functioning as pen holders. The devil is concealed from above by a bird mask lid which reveals the devil beneath when lifted. Although the devil will be apparent to whomever opens the lid, he is then cleverly disguised as a bird when viewed from the back, with the devil's hind legs becoming the bird's feet and its ears the wings. The whole is sat upon four thick bronze paw feet.

There is a good patina throughout commensurate with age and the lid hinge remain sound. A great looking piece.

Dimensions:-

Width: 23.25cm

Depth: 14.5cm

Height: 10cm

Weight: 1.4 kilograms

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Physical Dimensions
Height
10cm (3.94")
Width
23.2cm (9.13")
Depth
14.5cm (5.71")
Declaration

Harrington Antiques has dated this Victorian Bronze Devil Inkwell to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1203716
Dealers Internal Reference
7370
Dealers Notes

PAYMENT

We accept payment via debit card, credit card, Paypal, bank transfer or cheque. We also offer a 'Pay In 3' payment service through our website.

RETURNS

We are sure that you will be delighted with your purchase. Nonetheless, to ensure you have complete peace of mind, we offer a 14 day money back guarantee.

The purchased item may be returned, in its original condition, within 14 days from receipt. Return carriage costs are the responsibility of the buyer. For larger pieces requiring a specialist courier service, we will arrange your return for you with the cost being deducted from the refund (this cost will never exceed the original charge paid).

We ask that a trackable signature method of shipping is used for the return of smaller items as we cannot be held responsible for items lost in transit.

Should you have any queries at all, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Description
An intriguing late 19th century bronze devil inkwell.
“
The devil is perched upon the back the bronze pen rest, with its hollow ears functioning as pen holders.
Harrington Antiques

The devil is concealed from above by a bird mask lid which reveals the devil beneath when lifted. Although the devil will be apparent to whomever opens the lid, he is then cleverly disguised as a bird when viewed from the back, with the devil's hind legs becoming the bird's feet and its ears the wings. The whole is sat upon four thick bronze paw feet.

fig 1. A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet.
fig 1. 19th Century Bronze Hidden Devil Bird Inkwell

There is a good patina throughout commensurate with age and the lid hinge remain sound. A great looking piece.

Dimensions:-

Width: 23.25cm

Depth: 14.5cm

Height: 10cm

Weight: 1.4 kilograms

DELIVERY

UK Mainland: FREE

International Delivery: Please contact us for a shipping quote.

Height
10cm (3.94")
Width
23.2cm (9.13")
Depth
14.5cm (5.71")
Date of Manufacture

Harrington Antiques has dated this Victorian Bronze Devil Inkwell to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1203716
Dealers Internal Ref
7370
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Mar 2021

Antiques & decorative interior pieces.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Harrington Antiques Profile Page

Relevant Links
PDF SHARE
SAVE
A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet.
1 / 13
Archive I A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet.

19th Century Bronze Hidden Devil Bird Inkwell

Archive II A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View II
Archive III A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View III
Archive IV A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View IV
Archive V A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View V
Archive VI A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View VI
Archive VII A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View VII
Archive VIII A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View VIII
Archive IX A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View IX
Archive X A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View X
Archive XI A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View XI
Archive XII A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View XII
Archive XIII A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet. View XIII
Enlarged Archival View
Harrington Antiques

Harrington Antiques
Telephone 07552 767190
Location
Devon
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/harringtonantiques
Verified Since Mar 2021
Items For Sale 87
Items Sold 801
Harrington Antiques
Harrington Antiques
Verified Since Mar 2021
View Dealer Info
Location: Devon, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/harringtonantiques
Verified
Mar 2021
For Sale
87
Sold
801
A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet.
19th Century Bronze Hidden Devil Bird Inkwell
Ref: SA1203716
A 19th-century patinated bronze inkstand featuring a central sculpted grotesque face above a fluted pen tray raised on small paw feet.
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Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

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Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

FAQs

During the 19th century, desk accessories like bronze inkwells served as functional status symbols in Victorian studies, often incorporating mythological, grotesque, or naturalistic motifs cast in heavy metalwork.

Most antique bronze inkstands were produced using lost-wax or sand casting techniques, followed by manual hand-chasing to sharpen sculptural details before applying a chemical patina to seal and colour the metal.

Authentic period pieces display natural wear to contact points on the base, accumulated patina within chased crevices, crisp hand-finished detail, and occasionally maker marks or registration numbers on the underside.

A dark bronze inkstand functions as a tactile accent when arranged on a modern executive desk, console table, or within a curated bookcase alongside leather-bound volumes.

Dust the bronze gently with a soft dry brush or microfiber cloth, avoiding liquid chemicals or abrasive polishes that strip the original patina; microcrystalline wax may be applied sparingly to protect the finish.
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