French Victorian Brass Double Inkstand

French Victorian Brass Double Inkstand

Before the ballpoint pen erased the ritual of writing, the desk inkstand was a statement of taste. This ornate French brass encrier — likely late 19th century — makes that point beautifully. A pierced gallery of scrolls, winged figures, and a central bearded mask rises along the back, flanking two domed lidded inkwells set into an intricately engraved tray. A pen rest sits at the front, ready for a quill that's been resting for 130 years.

The warm brass patina has developed naturally over decades, giving it the kind of depth no reproduction can fake. Displayed on a desk, a bookshelf, or a bar cart, it reads as both serious antique and serious style.

Origin: France

Era: Late Victorian / Napoleon III, circa 1870–1900

Material: Brass / spelter with engraved and repoussé detail

Features: Double lidded inkwells, pen tray, pierced decorative gallery

Condition: Vintage patina; structurally sound