Today's Designs...Yesterday's Treasures

October 22, 2012

The "WRITE" Stuff...

Imagine this...one day, if not at this very moment in time, modern man will no longer use pens and pencils to write, communicate, calculate,etc.Today's students have difficulty, at times, reading anything written in cursive....sadly handwriting is becoming a lost art.

Technology has created a totally new language of abbreviations, lower case letters, and acronyms that are becoming the norm.I miss the beautiful handwriting of my grandmother...written with the free-flowing ink of a pen which had to be refilled rather than thrown away. The stages of handwriting itself certainly gives hints of my era as well.

At one time, a signature showed both creativity and pride behind each letter and character.

Inkwells are the last reminder of the beauty of a bygone era of handwriting as an art form. Allow me to share a few details about the demise of the once common inkwell.

Luis Waterman gave the world the first practical fountain pen...sonn there after, the first ballpoint pen was patented. The spinoffs of the space age gave us the Bic pen which could be effective because of the ability to write on any surface and position....alas Plastic had taken over.

Students of history and , thus, design know this to be true...as man became more civilized, so did his need for more decoration and beauty. This included the humble inkwell.

Wealth was evidenced by the materials used in the construction and decoration such as silver, gold, tortoiseshell, gemstones, and ivory.By the 19th century, the inkwell became more ornate, even whimsical. Materials such as ormolu(gilded bronze), porcelain, shell, rosewood, mahogany, papier-mâché' cut and pressed glass were used.

By the 20th century, the inkwell became more decorative rather than functional.TODAY...
an inkwell is a beautiful reminder of history and lifestyles...a memory that is STILL worthy of being incorporated into one's decor.

Here are some beautiful examples of various types of inkwells that we have at PICKWICK ANTIQUES.
A handsome, French, gilded inkwell that features a charging bison .If you are looking for a masculine gift...this is it!