Set Of Two Neoclassical-style Inkwells, Italy, 1890–1910

An elegant and monumental double desk set resting on a rectangular base of black Portoro marble. In the 19th century, this variety of marble was particularly prized in Western Europe for the creation of high-end interior furnishings. This marble features a deep, compact black background, intensely accented by undulating veins in shades of gold, bronze, and pale yellow. The marble top rests on a finely chiseled frame of patinated bronze, adorned with a classical border featuring leaf motifs and supported by four stylized legs. The top is adorned with two identical, solid inkwells made of thick, transparent glass. The inkwells are set in bronze frames and closed by domed, hinged lids made of patinated bronze. Behind the inkwells is a subtly integrated bronze pen holder.

This type of ink set, often referred to as a “writing set,” was, at the turn of the century, the quintessential symbol of social status on the desks of the European elite. The design draws heavily on the neoclassical formal language, which was experiencing a resurgence of interest at the time. The symmetrical composition of two inkwells was strictly separated in terms of function: one inkwell for black or blue ink and the second for red ink or liquid sand.