Inkstand
The inkstand was an indispensable object for the letter writer and could be made of many materials. Those of gilt bronze would complement beautifully the mounts of the writing table it was placed on. It contained an inkpot and a container with a perforated lid for fine sand or pounce, used for blotting the excess ink, on a tray that would also hold the quills, a knife and the sealing wax. A bell to notify the servant that a letter was ready for delivery is found in the middle.
Artwork Details
- Title: Inkstand
- Date: ca. 1730
- Culture: French
- Medium: Gilt bronze
- Dimensions: 16 3/4 × 11 in. (42.5 × 27.9 cm)
- Classification: Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
- Credit Line: Gift of the Duchesse de Richelieu, 1961
- Object Number: 61.153a–e
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
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French
ca. 1785
French
ca. 1790
French, Paris
ca. 1787–88
André Charles Boulle
ca. 1710–20
Gilles Joubert
1759
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