Chinese-style Desk Inkwell Made Of Lacquered Wood And Gilded Bronze – Napoleon III Period

A 19th-century Chinese-style desk inkstone, made during the Napoleon III period. It consists of a black lacquered wooden tray, richly decorated with Asian-inspired scenes and landscapes accented with gilded motifs, in the Japanese and Chinese style that was very fashionable at the time.

The ensemble is framed by a sumptuous, finely chiseled and gilded bronze mount with flowing, Rocaille-inspired lines. Three inkwells made of black porcelain or earthenware with gilded decoration are arranged on the tray, each topped with an openwork gilded bronze lid adorned with an elegant floral bouquet.

This beautiful object perfectly illustrates the European fascination with the Far East in the 19th century, blending the refinement of French decorative arts with the aesthetics of Japonism and Chinoiserie. Both functional and decorative, it is a prime piece for a study, a library, or a collection of Napoleon III art objects.

Period: 19th century (Napoleon III, circa 1860–1880)
Materials: Lacquered wood, gilded bronze, and porcelain (or earthenware) inkwells with gilded decoration.
Style: Chinoiserie / Japonism – Napoleon III.