Napoleon III Inkwell. France, ca. 1870

Napoleon III inkwell. France, ca. 1870.
Ebony, glass, and brass.
It has a patina consistent with its age.
Measurements: 11.5 x 28 x 16.5 cm.

This inkwell is a fine example of French decorative arts from the Second Empire, characterized by a historicist revival of earlier styles and hallmarks of contrasting materials. The strictly symmetrical composition features two cut-glass inkwells with brass lids on either side of a covered central compartment, set within a dark wooden base with an architectural profile.

The decoration combines stepped moldings, fine linear brass inlays, and relief plant motifs, concentrated particularly on the front and around the central body. The hallmarks of Napoleon III’s taste for representative desk accessories are the dark surface of the wood, the transparency of the glass, and the gilded details. Functionality and ornate richness are integrated into a single piece.