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Inkstand

1848-1849 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The combination of historicising styles found on this inkwell is characteristic of nineteenth-century fashions. The curving form of the piece, and the slightly asymmetrical appearance of the (blank) shields on the front and back of the stand, recall the so-called rococo style of ornament associated with the French court which was particularly fashionable across Europe from the late 1720s to the 1750s-1760s. Other aspects of the ornament on the stand are slightly earlier. The standing, winged cherubs on the sides and the arrangement of the curved 'c' scrolls and foliage around them, which is not markedly asymmetrical, recall designs from the period 1670-1700. In fact, the inkwell bears the marks for the year 1848 and was made by an established London firm of silversmiths, C. T. & G. Fox, much of whose work emulated historical forms of various types. The company sold many of their goods through the firm of Lambert & Rawlings (later Lambert & Co.) in Coventry Street, Leicester Square, a shop located close to John Jones' residence in Piccadilly. Jones, a collector who was particularly interested in eighteenth-century French furniture and porcelain, probably purchased this piece in part because of its French feel.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Inkstand
  • Inkwell
Materials and techniques
Silver, pierced, gilded, chased, matted and cast; velvet; painted watercolour portrait on card; glass.
Brief description
Silver, pierced and partly gilded, with red velvet and a watercolour miniature on card of Louis XV on the lid.
Physical description
Rectangular silver and gilded silver inkstand on a wooden core, the underside lined with red velvet, the sides pierced and backed with red velvet. The inkwell is glass with a gilded silver rim. A watercolour miniature portrait of Louis XV is set onto the lid.
Dimensions
  • Base to top of lid at front of inkstand; maximum height height: 6.9cm
  • Across feet, across the underside of the stand; maximum width width: 15.7cm
  • Across feet, front to back, across underside of stand; maximum depth depth: 14cm
Marks and inscriptions
London assay office marks on three areas of the inkstand and inkwell: Lid (frame around miniature): maker's mark 'C.T.F.' Lid (underside): maker's mark 'CTF' over 'GF' in a shield-shaped punch; lion passant (sterling mark); Queen's head (duty mark) The pierced body of the stand apparently unmarked. Inkwell: full set of marks on the rim: 'G.T.F.' (maker's mark); lion passant (sterling mark); uncrowned leopard's head (London assay office mark); 'N' (gothic script, date letter for assay year 1848-49); Queen's head (duty mark).
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Summary
The combination of historicising styles found on this inkwell is characteristic of nineteenth-century fashions. The curving form of the piece, and the slightly asymmetrical appearance of the (blank) shields on the front and back of the stand, recall the so-called rococo style of ornament associated with the French court which was particularly fashionable across Europe from the late 1720s to the 1750s-1760s. Other aspects of the ornament on the stand are slightly earlier. The standing, winged cherubs on the sides and the arrangement of the curved 'c' scrolls and foliage around them, which is not markedly asymmetrical, recall designs from the period 1670-1700. In fact, the inkwell bears the marks for the year 1848 and was made by an established London firm of silversmiths, C. T. & G. Fox, much of whose work emulated historical forms of various types. The company sold many of their goods through the firm of Lambert & Rawlings (later Lambert & Co.) in Coventry Street, Leicester Square, a shop located close to John Jones' residence in Piccadilly. Jones, a collector who was particularly interested in eighteenth-century French furniture and porcelain, probably purchased this piece in part because of its French feel.
Bibliographic references
  • Catalogue of the Jones Collection, Part II: Ceramics, Ormolu, Goldsmiths' Work, Enamels, Sculpture, Tapestry, Books, and Prints. London: Printed under the authority of the Board of Education, 1924
  • Inventory of the Collection of Pictures, Miniatures, Decorative Furniture, Porcelain, Objects of Art, Books, &c. [compiled by] Messrs Foster, 54 Pall Mall. London: Dryden Press 1882
  • Culme, John. The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths, Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914 from the London Assay Office Registers. 2 vols. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 1987. ISBN: 0907462464
  • Fallon, John P. Marks of London Goldsmiths and Silversmiths 1837-1914. London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1992. ISBN 0712654062
  • Long, Basil S. Catalogue of the Jones collection. Part III, Paintings and miniatures. London: Printed under the authority of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1923.
Collection
Accession number
846:1-1882

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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