Featured Unusual Capstan Inkwell Unlidded 1905 Birmingham

JBought this inkwell for £75 along with a harrach glass bubble inkwell. Solid silver English Birmingham capstan inkwell. The liner is a custom fitted original funnel ink bottle and is in perfect condition. Condition is consistent with age, it has a dent to the top but the tarnishing is just ink that can be seen in the photos. Haven’t cleaned it yet.

Does anybody know whether this is a rarity. I haven’t seen a single example that is without a lid. Though I can speculate that it may have had a lid that isn’t hinged that is now missing.

Also, I’m out of my depth here but seeing as it is stamped BPDC could this have been made just for aesthetic purposes and not for practical use on a ship, hence the lack of a lid. But if Boots did make all sorts of silver back then, then my idea is out. I don’t know much about this though. Any help welcome

Hallmarks : BPDC Boots Pharmacy Drugs Company, Birmingham, g for 1906

 

No clue on this one but I'd like to see a pic of your Harrach Inkwell.

 

Here’s the harrach. Saw one go for £18 the other day. Somebody is selling inkwells but not describing them at all. I just don’t have the money to spend on new things at the moment. All spent up.

I think these inkwells are worth something just over £100 maybe like £120. Then again I haven’t seen too many and there’s prices are so erratic, they usually flop because of being under described or unidentified. But there’s one on 1st Dibs for £250 I think.

But I’m probs being hopeful because it’s an Inkwell I have xD

 

I have one just like it as well as a paperweight. The decor is referred to as "Glatt Iris" and sometimes called "Soap Bubble"

If memory serves me I paid about 18 as well.

 

It's a delightful little piece, but I don't think that the intended use had any connection to the sea, Nathan. I have a glass inkwell sans lid in the same shape. Just hard to tip over. Boots' mark has been found on all sorts of desk and vanity items (did you get the mark ID from silvermakersmarks.co.uk ?)

 

I did use that website yeh, confirmed it with some others. Yeh the boots connection to mostly desk and vanity items would fix me to it not being anything to do with the sea.

Never heard of ‘Glatt Iris’, another term under my belt haha.

 

Boots sold trinkets - and also ran lending libraries. So, I think your wee inkwell was made to be sold in one of their shops. It would not have been made by them, they were the sponsor.

Here's one of my wee things they sold: plated rather than silver.

 

Cool, oh yeh I get you. I know boots where no silversmiths haha. Thanks for claryfying on here though