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QA-2026-066
Art Nouveau brass inkwell
A brass inkwell on a rounded square tray, with a round reservoir and hinged lid at the centre. Four stylised roses with pierced leaves mark the corners. The glass ink liner is missing.
- Every mark photographed and transcribed below
- Condition stated in full, including what is wrong with it
- Posted insured and tracked from the Netherlands
- Return within 14 days if it is not as described
About this piece
The tray is a rounded square. Each corner carries a stylised rose with pierced leaves. This is the clearest sign of its Art Nouveau character.
The arrangement is restrained and symmetrical. It feels more geometric than the flowing examples of Art Nouveau.
A cylindrical ink reservoir with a hinged circular lid stands at the centre. The brass housing would probably have held a removable glass or ceramic insert. That insert is now missing.
I have not found an exact match. The date of circa 1900–1920 is provisional and rests on the design alone.
Condition
- Ink liner appears to be absent
- Scratches across the surface
- Scattered discolouration and small greenish corrosion spots
- Fine crackled surface
- Blue and copper-corrosion patches inside the lid
- Small pale spots on the tray floor
Details
| Object | Inkwell on tray |
|---|---|
| Material | Brass |
| Period | Circa 1900–1920 (provisional, based on design) |
| Style | Art Nouveau |
| Condition | Sings of use |
| Attribution | Dated on style only; no maker or country attributed |
About the design
The roses and pierced leaves give the tray its Art Nouveau character. The layout is symmetrical and restrained, with a geometric feel. It is less flowing than many Art Nouveau pieces. Without marks or a matching example, I date it by design alone.
How I read a mark strip