Historical information

An ink stand was a basic household item in the homes of the more affluent people in past generations before the more common use of the fountain pen and the biro (late 1940s). The ink stand in a home would have been used mainly for letter writing. It was also a basic item in business houses in the same time frame.

Significance

There is no provenance for this particular item but it is of interest as a household object of the past and is useful for display.

Physical description

Wooden base with indentations for two ink bottles and pens and white metal handles (000633.1). Two ink bottles made of cut glass with white metal necks and hinged glass tops (000633.2 and .3). One ink pen with bone handle, brass top and rusty nib (000633.4).

Inscriptions & markings

Pen marked 229.2 (old cataloguing number)
Base has name in handwriting ‘Mrs A.H. Davidson’ (the donor)