Product Description
A beautiful pair of antique sterling silver and cut crystal inkwells, crafted by Richard Martin and Ebenezer Hall of Sheffield in 1888. Featuring elegant sterling silver lids atop finely cut crystal bases, these late Victorian inkwells combine practicality with the refined craftsmanship of the period.
Standing approximately 7.5 cm tall, the crystal bodies catch and reflect the light beautifully, while the silver lids add a sense of understated elegance and formality typical of Victorian desk and writing accessories. Equally decorative and functional in their time, these pieces would once have formed part of a thoughtfully arranged writing desk or study interior.
In 1888, inkwells such as these were essential objects of daily life, used for correspondence, journals, invitations, and record-keeping. The writer would lift the silver lid and dip a pen carefully into the ink, pausing occasionally to blot excess ink before continuing across the page. The crystal bases allowed ink levels to be seen easily, while their weight helped keep them steady during use.
Today, they remain evocative objects from the age of handwritten correspondence — beautifully suited to display within a study, library, or thoughtfully curated interior.
Each piece in our collection carries the subtle marks of time, adding to its authenticity and charm. Any notable details are thoughtfully included in the description and imagery. Should you wish to see more, we are always happy to assist.
If This Piece Could Talk…
Perhaps it would speak of handwritten letters composed slowly beneath the glow of lamplight, of invitations carefully addressed, journals quietly filled, and news from distant places unfolded with anticipation. It may have rested upon a polished Victorian writing desk surrounded by books, correspondence, and the soft scratch of a dip pen moving steadily across the page. Perhaps these inkwells once witnessed moments both ordinary and deeply personal — thoughts captured in ink, family news shared across oceans, or words written with care and intention in an age when correspondence carried a lasting significance. The crystal catching the light, the silver lids lifted day after day, they remain gentle reminders of a slower and more thoughtful world.