Inkstand

During the late nineteenth century, ink and fountain pens were the primary elements of writing. Although they could be highly decorative, inkstands were a functional part of desk furniture.

The pierced, scrolling base, sinuous curves, and shells on this inkstand are typical features of the Rococo style, illustrating the popularity of the Rococo Revival during the Gilded Age. The male figure represents a popular Greco-Roman type of river god, usually posed reclining and supporting himself on one elbow. In this example, the figure leans toward the inkwell with a hinged shell-form lid.