Not always what they seem

At the end of the 19th Century, it was very popular to make items that looked like something different, and the Inkwell manufacturers were no exception.

At first glance this may appear to be a normal looking copper and brass Iron for pressing clothes, with a nice wooden handle,  but pop the button and it opens to reveal it's an Inkwell, complete with a little brush to wipe your nib.

Similarly, these tiny leather cases could contain binoculars or a violin, but again, upon opening there is revealed more Inkwells, and another nib wiper.

 

Commonly referred to as 'travel inkwells', they form just a small, fascinating sideline to our inkwell collection.