Fountain Pen Inkwells

Although fountain pens were specifically designed to lessen the need for inkwells, one cannot deny the pleasure of filling a handsome pen from a handsome inkwell, rather than a commercial bottle. Inkwells were desk top necessities for centuries, when pens had to be replenished after a few written words. They still constitute a handsome addition to a desk, along with a reminder of days when handwriting was still regarded as an admirable craft.

Inkwells date back to the Middle Ages, when knowing how to read and write were restricted to nobility and religious orders. Writing instruments and ink were both made by hand. Cutting a quill that stayed sharp and clear or compounding a liquid that flowed smoothly were necessary skills for early craftsmen. Those able to write could also demand the best; early inkwells were the proud products of gold- and silver-smiths, as well as court artists, and were made to enhance the cultivated reputations of wealthy patrons.

Collectible inkwells were made in abundance even into the 1920s. Many commercial enterprises, including banks and the post office provided common pens and inkwells as a customer convenience for those not yet adjusted to or able to afford new-fangled fountain pens.


Civil War era “Traveling Inkwell”
Civil War Era “traveling Inkwell”
Paypal   US $29.89
OLD SILVER PLATE DESK INKWELL SET FOOTED TRAY w 2 CRYSTAL INK WELLS HALLMARK
Old Silver Plate Desk Inkwell Set Footed Tray W 2 Crystal Ink Wells Hallmark
Paypal   US $14.99
Antique double inkwell letter holder flint glass Victorian 1850s Ex Condition
Antique Double Inkwell Letter Holder Flint Glass Victorian 1850s Ex Condition
Paypal   US $250.00
☭☭☭ VINTAGE SOVIET RUSSIAN INKWELL THE TSAR BELL USSR RARE ☭☭☭
☭☭☭ Vintage Soviet Russian Inkwell The Tsar Bell Ussr Rare ☭☭☭
Paypal   US $99.99
VINTAGE DUAL BRASS INKWELL BEAUTIFUL LK
Vintage Dual Brass Inkwell Beautiful Lk
Paypal   US $16.99
Antique 1890s Art Nouveau Victorian Woman Cast Iron Inkwell 4 Leaf Clover
Antique 1890s Art Nouveau Victorian Woman Cast Iron Inkwell 4 Leaf Clover
Paypal   US $99.00
Very Unusual Leather Covered Inkwell Squires Inkwell Co Pittsburgh PA
Very Unusual Leather Covered Inkwell Squires Inkwell Co Pittsburgh Pa
Paypal   US $16.99
Antique English Staffordshire Pottery Swan Inkwell Circa 1870
Antique English Staffordshire Pottery Swan Inkwell Circa 1870
Paypal   US $35.00
Antique Art Crafts Nouveau Copper Brass Desk Inkwell
Antique Art Crafts Nouveau Copper Brass Desk Inkwell
Paypal   US $49.99
Vintage Deco Nickel Inkwell Pen Holder 1920s
Vintage Deco Nickel Inkwell Pen Holder 1920s
Paypal   US $36.00
a vintage cream colored porcelain inkwell in 3 pieces
A Vintage Cream Colored Porcelain Inkwell In 3 Pieces
Paypal   US $4.99
VINTAGE RUBBER INKWELL INK WELL AND PEN REST WITH INK BOTTLE IN THE MIDDLE
Vintage Rubber Inkwell Ink Well And Pen Rest With Ink Bottle In The Middle
Paypal   US $4.95
VINTAGE JENNINGS BROTHERS JB 1753 BRASS INKWELL INK WELL WITH COBALT INKWELL
Vintage Jennings Brothers Jb 1753 Brass Inkwell Ink Well With Cobalt Inkwell
Paypal   US $19.95
Sterling Silver and Crystal Inkwell
Sterling Silver And Crystal Inkwell
Paypal   US $25.52
nice old school Orion flip top inkwellwith glass insert marked wilbert wax
Nice Old School Orion Flip Top Inkwellwith Glass Insert Marked Wilbert Wax
Paypal   US $9.95
Vintage inkwell bottles
Vintage Inkwell Bottles
Paypal   US $9.95
ANTIQUE MAGNIFECENT CAST IRON ELEPHANT INKWELL DESK LAMP 1930s
Antique Magnifecent Cast Iron Elephant Inkwell Desk Lamp 1930s
Paypal   US $299.00
FANCY VICTORIAN CAST IRON INKWELL HOLDER TATUMS STANDARD NO BOTTLE
Fancy Victorian Cast Iron Inkwell Holder Tatums Standard No Bottle
Paypal   US $14.99
ANTIQUE CAST IRON INKWELL W GLASS CUP ORNATE PAT APPLIED FOR VICTORIAN
Antique Cast Iron Inkwell W Glass Cup Ornate Pat Applied For Victorian
Paypal   US $9.99
Rare Ornate Double Inkwell With Brush
Rare Ornate Double Inkwell With Brush
Paypal   US $40.99
FINE 1912 ENGLISH STERLING CUT GLASS ACANTHUS LEAF INKWELL STAND
Fine 1912 English Sterling Cut Glass Acanthus Leaf Inkwell Stand
Paypal   US $895.00
Vtg Montblanc Mont Blanc Glass Brass Inkwell On Stand W Germany Label NICE
Vtg Montblanc Mont Blanc Glass Brass Inkwell On Stand W Germany Label Nice
Paypal   US $91.00
VINTAGE ANTIQUE CRYSTAL INKWELL BOTTLE WITH STOPPER TOP
Vintage Antique Crystal Inkwell Bottle With Stopper Top
Paypal   US $9.99
116 VICTORIAN INKWELL AND STAND
116 Victorian Inkwell And Stand
Paypal   US $9.99
Small Double Facet Top Crystal Victorian Era Inkwell Inkstand with Pen Rest
Small Double Facet Top Crystal Victorian Era Inkwell Inkstand With Pen Rest
Paypal   US $15.00
Antique Inkwell Block Style Oval Victorian Silver Plate Tray inkstand
Antique Inkwell Block Style Oval Victorian Silver Plate Tray Inkstand
Paypal   US $40.00
Brass Eagle Inkwell Cast Figural INKSTAND with Underplate Heavy Victorian Era
Brass Eagle Inkwell Cast Figural Inkstand With Underplate Heavy Victorian Era
Paypal   US $70.00
Antique COBALT INKWELL w Oval Silverplate Inkstand Underplate
Antique Cobalt Inkwell W Oval Silverplate Inkstand Underplate
Paypal   US $50.00
Antique Victorian Inkwell Cast Brass Crystal Large Hexagon VERY HEAVY
Antique Victorian Inkwell Cast Brass Crystal Large Hexagon Very Heavy
Paypal   US $135.00
Antique Cut Crystal Brass Art Deco Block Style Inkwell Smooth Metal Top
Antique Cut Crystal Brass Art Deco Block Style Inkwell Smooth Metal Top
Paypal   US $45.00
ANTIQUE AESTHETIC ART NOUVEAU CHESTNUT LEAF CAST IRON INKWELL PEN REST 19TH C
Antique Aesthetic Art Nouveau Chestnut Leaf Cast Iron Inkwell Pen Rest 19th C
Paypal   US $69.00
Sencbusch No 320 Duel Inkwell Desk Set
Sencbusch No 320 Duel Inkwell Desk Set
Paypal   US $20.00
FINE HANDSOME ART DECO VINTAGE INKWELL ONYX AND GLASS BEAUTY ESTATE FIND NR
Fine Handsome Art Deco Vintage Inkwell Onyx And Glass Beauty Estate Find Nr
Paypal   US $7.99