Inkwell with Pen-Stand

The cast bronze inkwell comprises two cylindrical compartments of which the main lotus shaped one is the ‘tank’ and the inter-connected smaller one is for dipping the pen for writing. The top covering element of the main well, in the form of a lotus-mandala, has four holes through which strings were tied to hang the object on the wall, after use, to prevent accidental spilling of the ink.
Available evidence suggests that the early Indian manuscripts were written on palm-leaves by incising letters on the surface. Writing with ink on paper seems to have appeared by the 12th century AD and is conjectured to have come from China.