British Inkstands
James Perry & Co.
Perryian Inkstand
Perry & Co. Double Patent “Perryian” Filter-Inkstand.
The cistern is decorated with polychrome floral sprays in gilt-bordered cartouches on a dark blue background.
Perryian Inkstand
The Ink was filtered as it was pumped from the cistern into the covered conical dipping well.
The pump action raising and lowering the ink into the dipping well by raising and lowering the lid..
Circa 1840. 100mm or 4 inches in height.
Perryian Inkstand
The Ink was filtered as it was pumped from the cistern into the covered conical dipping well. The pump action occurs by raising and lowering the lid. Circa 1840. 100mm or 4 inches in height.
Perryian Inkstand
The base contains a few markings that may lead to specific artists or other identification possibilities.
Perryian Patent Pneumatic Inkstand
James Perry was an active inventor with patent awards in Britain and France.
The Perryian Patent Pneumatic Inkstand was produced circa 1839. An extreme rarity, the model was an interim design between the all porcelain patent inkstands and the Perryian Double Patent Filter Inkstand.
Perryian Patent Pneumatic Inkstand
This model may have been the first edition of the “Pneumatic” inkstand produced. Michael Findlay exhibits ,in his book “Western Writing Implements”, the same model with the exception that the Finlay inkstand is fitted with a button plunger to press and apply pressure to fill the dipping well.
This model may have utilized the cork to apply pressure , a function similar to the prior porcelain models.
Perryian Patent Pneumatic Inkstand
The bottom of the inkstand contains no marks .
The shape and size of the porcelain section and top are
Circa 1839.
Perryian Patent Inkstand Evolution
Perry began manufacture of a dipping reservoir atop an inkstand earlier in the 1830s. Exhibited is a robin egg blue inkstand that functions in a simple mechanism whereby a cork in the open hole is pressed downward, applying air compression to force ink into the dipping well.
Perryian Patent Inkstand Evolution
Perry & Companies began manufacture of a dipping reservoir atop an inkstand earlier in the 1830s. Exhibited
Perry & Cos Patent Inkstand was sold in London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Frankfort, and New York.
Perryian Patent Inkstand Evolution
Perry began manufacture of a dipping reservoir atop an inkstand earlier in the 1830s. Exhibited is a robin egg blue inkstand that functions in a simple mechanism whereby a cork in the open hole is pressed downward, applying air compression to force ink into the dipping well.
Thomas De La Rue & Co.
Isobath Patent Reservoir Inkstand
Manufactured by Doulton Lambeth, The Isobath Patent Reservoir Inkstand was produced primarily in the late 1880s into the early 1890s.
The inkwell was manufactured for DeLaRue & Co., however the Doulton factory produced these inkstands in very small quantities.
The dipping well is relatively small in comparison the size of this inkwell. Despite the size, it can accommodate even the largest nibs.
Upon removing the lid, one finds the ingenious hemispherical shaped rubber mechanism used to maintain a constant ink level. Designed by William Thomas Shaw for which he was awarded a Patent on the 15th December 1888.
Doulton items usually have factory marks, but they are often signed by the talented artists who hand-decorated them. The inkwell is marked “Manufactured for” and “Patented Reservoir Inkstand, London. THE ISOBATH, THOS. DELARUE” and marked “DOULTON LAMBETH”.
The incised monogram 'EP' on the base, indicates that this inkstand was decorated by artist Emily Partington. Sisters Hannah and Florence Barlow and Eliza Simmance were other artists whose signatures are found on these rarities. The original design was created by John Huskinson, a designer at the Lambeth factory.
Dipping Well
The dipping well is relatively small in comparison the size of this inkwell. Despite the size, it can accommodate even the largest nibs.
Manufactured by Doulton Lambeth
Upon removing the lid, one finds the ingenious hemispherical shaped rubber mechanism used to maintain a constant ink level. Designed by William Thomas Shaw for which he was awarded a Patent on the 15th December 1888.
Manufactured by Doulton Lambeth
Upon removing the lid, one finds the ingenious hemispherical shaped rubber mechanism used to maintain a constant ink level.
Designed by William Thomas Shaw for which he was awarded a Patent on the 15th December 1888.
Doulton Lambeth Artist Emily Partington
The incised monogram 'EP' on the base, indicates that this inkstand was decorated by artist Emily Partington. Sisters Hannah and Florence Barlow and Eliza Simmance were other artists whose signatures are found on these rarities. The original design was created by John Huskinson, a designer at the Lambeth factory.
Doulton items usually have factory marks, but they are often signed by the talented artists who hand-decorated them. The inkwell is marked “Manufactured for” and “Patented Reservoir Inkstand, London. THE ISOBATH, THOS. DELARUE” and marked “DOULTON LAMBETH”.
American Inkstands
The Davis Automatic Inkstand
Developed in New York and patented by Emry Davis on October 22, 1889, patent no. 413,390 launched the Davis Inkstand business.
Subsequent patents for improvements on 14 February 1893, Letters Patent number 491,640, and other follow-on patents continued to refine the inkstand product.
Exhibited is a beautiful Art Nouveau design consisting of dore bronze with cut and copper wheel engraved crystal. The theme includes butterflies among foliage.
This example is a rare early dual inkwell version. Later examples are typically single inkwells associated with later patents awards in 1899, 1902, and 1907.
Example of the top of later Davis inkwell with patent dates (from the collection).
Davis 1889 Patent Drawing
The 1889 patent drawing.
Davis 1893 Patent Drawing
Davis continued improvements in his 1893 inkwell / inkstand patent.
Davis 1893 Patent Drawing
The entire automatic inkwell system, with the exception of the glass ink storage facility, is fabricated of Goodyear patent vulcanized hard rubber.
Dual colors enabled a writer to quickly distinguish ink color choices. Earliest patent date on this inkstand is 1889.
Patent Dates 1889 & 1893
Exhibited is the left side of the top of the Davis inkwell with patent dates.
Patent Dates 1899, 1902, 1905, & 1907
Example of the top of later Davis inkwell with patent dates (from the collection)..
Davis 1889 & 1893 Patent Dates
Exhibited is the right side of the top of the depicted Davis inkwell with patent dates.