This exceptional, unusual and rare antique Victorian sterling silver desk standish has an oval form.
Either end of this antique silver inkstand is embellished with impressive engraved decoration depicting bird designs with snake tails, amidst a spray of pales.
The stand is further ornamented with a wrigglework decorated border, in addition to two plain oval recess composing ink pen wells.
The rim of the body of the sterling silver inkstand is ornamented with a plain applied moulded border.
This antique hallmarked silver inkstand is supported by four impressive cast bracket style feet embellished with scrolling decoration and floral motifs, all on a matte background.
The stand features a fixed central plain oval vessel representing an Egyptian sarcophagus, elevated on exceptional cast figural legs, modelled in the form of Egyptian stylised birds to a claw and ball style foot; the ball feet secure to the base with a screw fitment to the underside.
This central vessel is fitted with a push fit cover, surmounted with an impressive cast sterling silver model of an Egyptian sphinx.
The push fit cover allows access to the two recess cylindrical receivers to accommodate the inkpots, in addition to a central recessed receptacle/stamp holder.
The antique silver inkwells are fitted with the original cylindrical glass liners.
Maker: Horace Woodward & Co
