Art Nouveau inkwell covered in inscribed names, any idea why?

Hello! Picked up this Art Nouveau metal inkwell at auction amongst a lot of various other inkwells. When I go it, I was surprised to see scribbled names (and other words that may not be names that I can't make out) all over it! Any idea why? Would it have been in a school and have been old-school graffitied?! I can make out "John", "Ralph", "Minnie" and "nanty". Also, is it a gilt metal? Thanks a lot

 

No idea, but ^5 on finding one still with its liner. Those always get broken.

 

Might be a presentation piece with the names of the participants in whatever.

 

that just doesn't look right........ like the kids got hold of moms inkwell...

 

Yes, thanks what I was thinking! It looks odd.

 

Lovely antique spelter secessionist nouveau inkwell,but it seems the little darlings got a bit forceful with the sharp end of a compass.

 

Ditto. Poor inkwell.

Yes to Art Nouveau, but a definite no to Secessionist.

 

It's mostly flowing curvilinear Nouveau,the section to me that evokes Secessionist design is the trapezoid (Isosceles Trapezium) shape of the inkpot receptacle section-it's got that squared geometric shape-their trademark take on traditional flowing curvy Nouveau.

 

Not an unusual feature on Art Nouveau from other countries either.

 

Very true,there was a lot of 'cross-pollination' around even back then. Magazines like 'Ver Sacrum' and 'Jugend' allowed artists to share ideas.

 

Perhaps a gift, signed by the givers? It reminds me of a bracelet I saw once, the owner of which got all misty eyed and said it was a gift from the kids she watched for almost a decade, until the youngest started school full time. They bought the gold plated thing with their own money, and scraped their names on it themselves, with varying degrees of success.

 

That is so sweet, thanks for sharing! I'd like to think it belonged to a teacher, given to her/him by their pupils