Double Inkwell Tray
A double inkwell tray provides a grand desk accessory for holding two ink pots alongside pens.
Double Inkwell Tray
A double inkwell tray stands as a substantial desk accessory designed to hold two ink reservoirs alongside pens and stationery. When you search for a double inkwell tray, you encounter practical items meant for writing correspondence in past centuries.
The pieces appearing here span periods from the eighteenth century through the twentieth century, with Victorian brass examples and silver plated stands appearing most frequently. Makers housed these ink pots within fitted wooden, marble, or metal bases alongside pen rests.
Desk sets and inkstands range from plain wooden trays to ornate cast brass models and solid silver pieces. Each object served a functional role in studies and offices before the widespread adoption of fountain pens.
Judging quality
Quality reveals itself in the weight of the metal and the crispness of the casting or carving. Heavy cast brass, substantial silver, and finely carved wood indicate higher production standards.
The presence of matching cut glass inkwells with their original lids distinguishes superior sets from those with replaced components. Elaborate ornamentation and signed maker pieces represent the upper tier of these desk accessories.
Listings feature desk accessories spanning the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods, utilising brass, silver plate, mahogany, and carved wood.
Walker And Hall·James Cartland & Sons·Daniel Holy·A. Marionnet·Maurice Dufrene
The Double Inkwell Tray Glossary
- Inkstand
- A fitted tray or stand holding one or more inkwells, pen rests, and sometimes sanders or wafer boxes. These accessories formed the central writing equipment on a desk.
- Standish
- An alternative term for an inkstand or desk set, often used for seventeenth or eighteenth century examples. These portable writing trays were carried from room to room.
- Sheffield plate
- A material made by fusing a thin sheet of silver to a thicker copper base before rolling and forming into objects. This technique preceded modern electroplating.
- Ormolu
- Gilt bronze ornamentation applied to furniture, clocks, and desk accessories during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The technique involves coating bronze with a gold amalgam.
- Boulle work
- A form of marquetry incorporating tortoiseshell and brass inlay developed in France. This decorative technique appears on French desk stands from the nineteenth century.
Double Inkwell Tray: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a double inkwell tray used for?
A double inkwell tray held two distinct types or colours of ink for writing and signing documents with dip pens. The base kept the ink pots secure while providing a rest for the pens.
These trays sat permanently on library desks, partners desks, and writing tables. They allowed writers to keep black and red ink ready for correspondence and record keeping.
How do I date a brass inkstand?
Dating brass inkstands involves examining the casting style, screw types, and overall design motifs. Victorian pieces often display heavy ornamentation, while Georgian stands tend toward simpler lines.
Makers marks and registration numbers stamped on the metal provide more precise dates. Stylistic shifts from Rococo Revival to Art Nouveau also help determine the period of manufacture.
Are the glass inkwells original?
Original glass inkwells fit snugly into the dedicated apertures of the tray and match the age of the metal base. Look for matching wear patterns and glass consistency.
Replacements are common because glass pots suffered frequent breakage or loss. Collectors prefer sets that retain their original matched glass inserts.