An exceptional and grand 19th century figural inkstand.
It is crafted in heavy golden brass with two weighty cut glass inkwells either side, there is a pen rest to the front and a wonderful wyvern to the back whose tail becomes the candle sconce on the piece so you could write by candlelight.
A wyvern is often confused with a griffin but it is quite a different beast, they have dragon wings and a dragons head, with two legs a serpent body and an arrow tail.
They have a long history in mythology spanning back to the medieval period.
The Victorian's believed the wyvern to be a protective symbol, one that protected against evil.
The wyvern has one red glass eye but is missing one on the other side.
Heavy and well made this is a good piece of Victorian craftsmanship and highlights the fascination of the era with all creatures great and small including the mythical ones.
Condition:
Good used condition overall, some light surface wear commensurate with age and use, one inkwell with a chip to the base, wyvern missing one glass eye.
Approx measurements:
8.5" width
10.25" length
5.5" height
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declaration
AppleMan Antiques has clarified that the Antique Brass Wyvern Inkstand, Inkwells (LA545820) is genuinely of the period declared with the date/period of manufacture being C1880s