Pen rack for five pens, two verticals set into a base, turned linking spindle, square recess in base for an ink well, grey agate with brown markings

A pen rack and ink well, fashioned in grey agate with brown markings.
The rack has space for five pens, with two verticals set into a base (one is loose) which are linked at the top via a turned, lobed spindle which has been damaged at both ends. The base is rectangular with a central protrusion that has a square recess carved into the upper face for locating the ink well, and it is set on six attached round feet. It has been fashioned in grey agate with brown markings and the edges have been carved in relief with vertical ribbing and there are two rows of engraved lines around the edge on the upper face and around the square recess. Through the top of each vertical, a hole has been drilled through which have been set metal pins that support a central turned, lobed spindle that has some damage at either end.
The ink well is square with a low profile and there is a deep circular well in the centre. It has been fashioned in grey agate with occasional fine, brown banding.

This ink well and stand were formerly in the Indian Museum in London and were then transferred to the South Kensington Museum (later renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum) in 1879.

This ink well and stand were produced in Ahmedabad in Gujarat State, India in the mid- to late 19th century. The city has long been associated with the production of decorative and/or utilitarian wares from local quartz hardstones and to this day it continues to be a major gem cutting and trade centre.

08184(IS) to 08184A/(IS)