Bid Smart: Dipping in to the wild and wonderful world of animal-form inkwells

A pair of porcelain inkwells with agate bird finials, sold together with a carved spinach and jade standish, achieved $34,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2020. Image courtesy of Butterscotch Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A pair of porcelain inkwells with agate bird finials, sold together with a carved spinach and jade standish, achieved $34,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2020. Image courtesy of Butterscotch Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A pair of porcelain inkwells with agate bird finials, sold together with a carved spinach and jade standish, achieved $34,000 plus the buyer’s premium in March 2020. Image courtesy of Butterscotch Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — At first glance, inkwells seem like a dusty holdover from the early 20th century. In this modern age of laptops and AI-generated emails, no one needs an inkwell — but that is now the point. Yes, no one needs inkwells or fountain pens anymore, but people continue to appreciate them as beautiful, elegant objects that inspire a strong sense of nostalgia and make for a well-appointed desk. Pen shows and pen auctions are held around the United States and worldwide, and those who discover the pleasures of taking pen to paper often want vintage accessories such as inkwells.

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