Historical information

This is a Victorian salt glazed stoneware ink bottle. These types of bottles were mass produced in England by potteries such as Bourne Denby or Lovatt and Lovatt (both of Derbyshire). Unfortunately, this bottle doesn't have a maker's mark.
Pen and ink has been in use for handwriting from about the seventh century up until the mid-20th century. Up until around the mid-19th century a quill pen made from a bird’s feather was used. In the 1850s the steel point pen was invented and could be manufactured on machines in large quantities. In the 1880s a successful portable fountain pen was designed, giving a smooth flowing ink and ease of use replacing the quill or dip pen.

It was salvaged from the Loch Ard along with many smaller versions called "penny ink wells". The ship Loch Ard was built on the River Clyde in Scotland in 1873 for the prestigious Loch Line of colonial clipper ships, designed for the Australian run. It sailed from England on 1 March 1878 carrying 37 crew, 17 passengers and a diverse general cargo ranging from luxury items to bulk railway iron. On 1 June 1878, emerging from fog and hearing too late the sound of breakers against the tall limestone cliffs, the vessel struck the southern foot of Mutton Bird Island and sank in 23 metres of water. Of the fifty-four people on board only two survived, one young male crewman, Tom Pearce, and one young female passenger, Eva Carmichael.
This ink bottle was given to George Shields - a member of the Shields family who have had a long association with the wreck of the Loch Ard. In 1878, following the wreck of the Loch Ard and the subsequent rescue of Eva Carmichael, Eva was taken to Glenample station (near Princetown) to recuperate. It was during this period that Eva became great friends with Jane Shields (an Aunt of George Shields) - a friendship that continued throughout their lives. At that time, Jane was a young woman living in Princetown with her parents and siblings. Many of the Shields family continued to have a great interest in the Loch Ard and several generations of the family are buried in the Loch Ard cemetery.

Significance

This ink well is historically significant as it represents methods of hand written communication that were still common up until the mid-20th century, when fountain pens and ballpoint pens took over in popularity and convenience.
The shipwreck of the Loch Ard is of significance for Victoria and is registered on the Victorian Heritage Register ( S 417). Flagstaff Hill has a varied collection of artefact's from Loch Ard and its collection is significant for being one of the largest accumulation of artefact's from this notable Victorian shipwreck of which the subject items are a small part. The collection's objects give us a snapshot of how we can interpret the story of this tragic event. The collection is also archaeologically significant as it represents aspects of Victoria's shipping history that allows us to interpret Victoria's social and historical themes of the time. Through is associated with the worst and best-known shipwreck in Victoria's history.

Physical description

Brown, cylindrical shaped, salt glazed stoneware ink bottle with straight sides and a slightly fluted neck and round opening. The bottle has a thin raised circular line in the middle of the shoulder and two parallel lines (about 23 mm from the shoulder) around the body of the vessel. Another line (about 10 mm from the parallel lines) appear to be for the placement of a label. There is a remnant of masking tape attached to the back of the bottle and some flaking and chipping on the stoneware. No maker's mark can be seen.