Sterling silver desk inkwell in the late Victorian style with Gothic influences.
The central, elliptical inkwell basin is enlivened by a refined repoussé depicting the scene of Saint George and the Dragon, a symbol of victory and protection. A pierced silver dome with its hinged lid encloses and protects the original glass ink reservoir, secured at the bottom by a through pin. The rim is finely worked with openwork, featuring volutes and floral decorations.
The inkwell was made in London in 1896 by silversmiths Heaton Bros, whose hallmarks are present along with the Lion Passant (Sterling), the Leopard's Head (London), and the date letter "a" (year 1896).
The object was donated in 1902 to the Reverend George Herbert West, distinguished architectural historian and vicar of Selsey, by Wilfrid (Wilfrid Scawen Blunt, a famous English poet, diplomat, and traveler, contemporary and acquaintance?) as evidenced by the dedication engraved on the back.
It is worth noting that Saint George is the patron saint of England, and 1902 was the year of the coronation of Edward VII, a moment of strong patriotic fervor. The subject represents the triumph of good over evil, a theme dear to a man of the cloth.
London; 1896.
Sterling Silver
Net weight: 213 gr
Dimensions: 14.5 x 18 x 4 cm
