Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Gallery Inkstand / Desk Standish

This is an exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian English sterling silver fox inkstand; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection This exceptional, fine and impressive antique Victorian silver inkstand / desk standish, has a rectangular form. This inkstand is fitted with a gallery, embellished with impressive pierced and applied scrolling foliate ornamentation. The shaped, incurved rims of the body and anterior rim of the sterling silver inkstand are ornamented with a paralleling applied gadroon decorated border. The surface of the fox silver inkstand incorporates a concave oval pen receiver. The body of the inkstand incorporates two ink bottle receivers flanking a rectangular stamp box. The impressive hallmarked ink bottles each have a tapering cylindrical form and are embellished with further pierced scrolling foliate ornamentation; these ink bottles secure to the stand with a screw fitment to the underside. Each ink bottle is fitted with a plain domed hinged cover and opens to allow access to the original glass liner. The central sterling silver stamp box is ornamented with an exceptional and realistically modelled cast silver fox, acting as a finial to the otherwise plain and unembellished hinged cover. This antique hallmarked silver inkstand is supported by four impressive bracket style feet embellished with scrolling leaf decoration. Maker: John Grinsell & Sons Date: 1898 Origin: London, England