Vintage Desktop Inkwell

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Why does the pen-maker do wrong, and try to make others as bad as himself? Because he makes the people steal (steel) pens, and says they do right (write). Cassell’s Educator for the Young

Ready made ink was created in 1836. Inkwells were created to hold this ink. Inkwells were made decorative for desks; as well as, portable for travel. Inkwells came in designs of cut glass, cyrstal, enameled, brass, bronze, silverplated and more.

Inkwells worked with both steel nib and quill pens.

Quill pens were large feathers of goose, turkey, swan, or crow. These feathers had hollow barrels that made for ideal ink reservoirs and sturdy tips that were cut into writing points.

Steel nibs were mass produced in 1820s. Steel nibs were inserted into a dip pen holder.