828-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 8, 2003
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THE ANTIQUE
DETECTIVE
Anne Gilbert
Old Inkwells Can Be Weird
Or Wonderful
Since they were first made
several hundred years ago, ink
wells have taken many forms
and were made of a variety of
materials.
Some are so beautiful they
could be classified as works of
art. Among them were those
made of hand-painted German
and French porcelain. Others
took fanciful forms such as one
pottery inkwell modeled as a
phrenology head. Another
shown in the Miller’s Interna
tional Antiques Professional
Handbook was heart-shaped,
painted with strawberries.
Long before computer e-mail,
letter writing was an art. Good
penmanship was considered the
mark of a lady or gentleman.
Every desk in the home of the
18th centur> gentry had an ele
gant inkwell and stand. They
could be of sterling silver or por
celain.
One hundred years later,
around the end of the 19th cen
tury, the wealthy in America
and Europe displayed complete
Some American 19th century sandwich glass ink
wells can be classified as works of art. Photo credit
Skinner Auctions, Boston, Mass.
TWIN SALE BILL
10 A.M. SAT., MARCH 15, 2003
RIDGE FIRE COMPANY
ALONG RT. 23, BETWEEN
PHOENIXVILLE, PA & RT. 100
EXHIBITION: 7-9 FRIDAY EVENING &
8-10 AUCTION DAY
In The Pavilion - UNCATA- In The Blue Room - A huge “G”
LOGED - An underground gauge layout from West Virginia;
railroad. Can’t tell you too much the owner gave it to the Shriners
about it; it’s dark down here! But for the children’s hospital, and the
there are trains everywhere - new Shriners sent it to me for liquida
ones, old ones, big ones, little ones tion. Track & buildings also,
and toys, too. Lots of material for a 10 % Buyer’s Premium Will
full day, that’s why we are in the Applied
pavilion. Lionel post war & mod
ern era, HO, kits, scenery. Estate of
eetwood, PA
Kenneth Koller, FI
*****•**••♦♦♦»'■
f*
writing sets made by Tiffany, or
French figural bronzes com
bined with Baccarat crystal.
When designed or sculpted by
the finest craftsmen, many
inkstands and wells could be
considered miniature works of
art. At that time they often
came with several pieces of desk
accessories such as letterholders
and blotters.
Although the use of ink and
early writing implements go
back to the beginning of civiliza
tion, writing wasn’t done by pri
vate individuals until the 16th
century. The inkwell as a deco
rative object wasn’t important.
There are a few surviving ex
amples of Italian and Spanish
majolica inkstands dating as
early as the 1500 s. By the early
16th century, France, Germany,
and Holland were making
inkstands and wells of a similar
pottery that we know now as
Delft and Delft-type.
Pottery and porcelain
inkstands and wells, as well as
those made of gold and silver
became elaborate works of art in
England and the continent by
TED MAURER (AU-000593-L)
Successful Auction Management
1003 Brookwood Drive,
Pottstown, PA 19464
Phone 610-323-1573 or 610-367-5024
Fridays & Saturdays at 610-495-5504
www.maurerail.com
>M(MMMM(I«HM H «> H M M < Ml M H
the 18th century. The finest ex
amples by important goldsmiths
were given as gifts on special oc
casions and as presentation
pieces.
They were also imported
from China as custom painted,
export porcelain.
CLUES; Style and shape as
well as materials are ways to
identify the age and country of
early inkwells and inkstands.
For example, 18th century
inkstands were casket shape
with an enclosed inkpot. There
were also tray form stands with
bullet feet.
By the mid-18th century,
English silver followed the fash
ion for rococco style using
scrolled and reeded rims. The
French silversmiths during the
same period also used this style.
In 18th century America, the
silver stands were combined
with cut glass (later pressed
glass) inkpots. The final touch
accessory was a tiny bell used
to alert servants that the letters
were ready to be sent off.
There are some reproduc
tions of the English brass
inkstands and wells, Benning
ton pottery-types, and sand
wich glass-style wells.
Prices can vary widely. A
Minton porcelain inkstand can
sell for several thousand dollars
at auction; a 19th century mille
flori paperweight inkwell for
$600; a treen well for $2OO.
Until recently a complete set
of Tiffany inkwell and accesso
ries could be had for under a
thousand dollars.
Many novelty inkwells were
made in the early 20th century.
They can range from a couple
of hundred to over $BOO and
are still available.
Most affordable and avail
able are Victorian inkstands
and glass wells.
Accessories such as pens,
seals, traveling and lap desks
can round out a collection.
The lap desks come with
glass inkwells.
Lancaster Farming
Lebanon Valley Youth For Christ
New and used items including household items, appliances, sofas,
desks, a hand-painted secretary’s desk, lawn ornaments, bird
feeders, cleaning supplies. Over 400 autographed sports items
including football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, boxing,
Nascar, NHRA, Longaberger baskets with a live demonstration on
Friday evening, Winross & Penjoy trucks, quilts and crafts, over
100 themed gift baskets, jewelry, nursery, garden & lawn equip
ment including flowers, trees, shrubs, and mowers, framed artwork
including works from Dan Christ, Robert L. Hunt, William C.
Ressler, Steve Hanks and more, vacation packages, gift certifi
cates, bicycles, automobiles, a 75 Mack dump truck, baked goods
and much, much more!
Thursday, March 13 - Preview 4-9 p.m.
Friday, March 14 - starting at 10 a.m.
PUBLIC
AUCTION
OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS, ANTIQUES,
QUILTS, COINS 1991 GMC PICK-UP TRUCK
& DIXON 3362 MOWER
SAT., MARCH 15, 2003
Quilts & Coins at 1:30 P.M.
Located at 531 Ccntial Manor Rd , Manoi Twp , Lane. Co., PA Turn ott Rt
462 in Mountville on South Manoi St. (Central Manor Rd ) I 1/2 miles to
sale auoss tiom Manoi Brethien-ln-Chnst Chuich.
ATTN: FURNITURE SOLD FIRST AT 9:0 A.M.
OAK ITEMS: oak diop leal extension table w/boaids, 2 tiger oak bureaus,
center table, piessed back chans, locker, clothe trees, square claw fool
extension table, empire bureau w/teai drop pulls, granny lockeis, Shaw
Piano Co upright piano & bench, 6 Ebersol plank bottom fiddle back chan s,
rope bed, 3 Ebcisol chairs, kitchen table w/5 boards, bar chair. 2 laddei back
tush bottom chairs, trestle table, library table, B/C church bench, 4 child's
S S chairs, Habeckei chuich bench. 2 butchei benches, deacon bench. 3 pc
Depiession living room suite, end tables, rechner; single & double beds
complete, crib complete, 4 pc. patio set; glider, park bench, display cases 2
- 45”x50” & 2 - 50”x56” w/shdmg glass doors and shelves. 20 mule team
m glass case
APPLIANCES; 19 cu almond GE lefngeiator w/ice makei, G E washei &
dryci. dchumiditiei. small appliances, flooi & table lamps, picluies, 1954
Milton Dcnlmgci painting. Hi Fi set w/cabmet, wing back chan, shelf clock,
luggage, caid table & chans, ping pong table
QUILTS, LINENS & BEDDING: Old block quill w/bai boaider. new
quilts - Tiee ot Lite, Living Rose, whole cloth off white, comtortei, quilted
wall hanging, B’xlo’ area rug, sewing & ciaft items, old thimbles, buttons
& button hooker
TOYS: J D spreadei & drill; 1 H. drill, Faimall 350 & 560, Hess trucks, tin
Low Boy truck, misc. toys, slutted animals, toy chest, doll crib, metal high
chair. Carom board.
GLASSWARE: Nontake (Fairmont Japan) dinner set seivice lot 12, set ot
yellow Depression 12 plates, 2 veg dishes, platter, pitchei, sugai & cieam
er. green Dep console set, German & Bavarian fruit dishes, Fostona pcs , 7
pc German berry set, carnival, pressed glass. Lustre pitcher, Nippon sugar
& cieamer, variety ot glass baskets, sherbets; goblets, tumblers, 16 peanut
buttei glasses, individual salts, variety Czechoslovakia items; vanely ot
plates, punch set, chicken on nest, amber medicine bottle. Freeman's daily
cieamets, dated jars, green jars w/glass lids, flatwaic - 12 knives & folks
w/cclluloid type gieen handles; 6 forks w'/yellow handles, cooking utensils,
tin ware, S S. items, iron nut cracker, banks & pig, Hubley elephant L biown
jug. 4 gal jug w/cobalt decor; full Bible on cassette tapes, stereoscope view
ci w/black & white caids, old post caids, old sample book w/name cards,
small brass bucket, biass dipper, fireplace set. kerosene heater; coal oil
light, 27” dove tailed copper kettle; 27” iron kettle; weight scales, wagon
jack, chicken crate; 6 qt. white mt ice cream freezer; canes; hat collection,
egg basket.
COINS: Silver dollars 1892, 1901, 21, 23 & 24, silver halves 1912, 43,
quarters, Indian head pennies 1884, 89, 1891, 99, 1903, 1904," 1906,
Anthony & gold dollars
1991 GMC SIERRA w/cab. Auto, full powers, 4 cyl. VB, 41,000 miles, good
condition, one owner.
Be
GARDEN TOOLS: Dixon 3362 mower used 2 yrs.; portable compressor;
portable air tank; Echo 3003 weed eater; Roto-Hoe, shop table, yard roller;
3 step ladders, and many other items too numerous to mention.
Terms by:
Harvey M. & Mary L. Hostetter
AUCTIONEERS:
Robert E. Jeffrey R. & Michael L. Martin 656-7770
Randall L. Ranck AUOOOSBOL
, No Out of State Checks Lunch by Habecker Youth Group
•-I -4 "4 »4 ’•f ** * » -♦ *4 v* f* r* H<4**T**4* 6 4 4 *4 #4 ♦ ♦
Sale at 9:00 A.M.
Truck & Mower at 1:00 P.M.
I
l
uct i o n