Below Stairs of Hungerford Inkwells & Writing

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All our stock is old, original, in excellent order and ready for use. We carry no modern or reproductions. We welcome your telephone calls +44 (0)1488 682317 or by email to hofgartner@belowstairs.co.uk for further information on any of the catalogue items or your other requirements or if you have any difficulties ordering through our system.

Online Catalogue > Inkwells & Writing


	Glass Travelling Inkwell IW32 Original, quality, moulded clear glass, square inkwell circa 1900/1920's, with a screw on circular brass lid. This example was used in a travelling writing slope and has a very tiny chip to one corner, otherwise all is complete and in good and working order. 1 5/8" square and 1 3/8" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £38.00


Nickel on Oak Ink Stand IW30 Original, quality, late 19th Century, honey coloured oak ink stand, with square cut glass inkwells with hinged nickel caps, engraved nickel mounts, pen rests and ball feet. The plaque to the base is engraved with a monogram 'SHA' or similar and the back mount with flowers and leaves and '1891'. A stunning desk set in superb condition; complete and in good and working order. 12" x 6.25" and 6.5" high. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £230.00


	Glass Inkwell IW28 Original, quality, late 19th Century, moulded glass inkwell with a hinged cast brass lid, with a finial and decoration in relief. The brass is lacquered and all is complete and in good and working order. 4.25" high including lid and 2.75" base diameter. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £85.00


Cut Glass Inkwell IW27 Original, quality, large, diamond shaped, clear cut glass inkwell, circa 1900, with a plain nickel plated hinged cover. The top surface of the glass has four smooth pen rest grooves and the underside is hobnail cut with further line decoration. Very minor chips to the top edge only, otherwise complete and in good and working order. 6.75" x 4.25" and 2.5" high. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £125.00


	Brass Inkwell IW18 Original quality very decorative cast brass inkstand, circa 1900/20, of a square form on four corner feet and with a lift up lid revealing the old replacement ceramic inkwell. Base 5.5" square and 5" high. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £75.00


Brass Letter Rack LR35 Original, quality, brass letter rack circa 1900, in the form of an artist's display easel or portfolio stand. The main stand is in simulated bamboo, the sheet brass dividers are decorated with patterns in relief and all has been polished and lacquered. Complete and in good order - a delicate looking letter rack. 5.5" tall x 3.5" wide and 2.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £115.00


	Brass Letter Rack LR33 Original, quality, 1920's, brass letter rack with three graduated brass wire racks, mounted on a rectangular brass plinth, with an oak infill to the underside and four brass bun feet. All is in a 'WMF' style, but with no maker's mark. Polished, lacquered and complete and in good order. The lacquer can be removed upon request, at no extra cost. Plinth 5.5" x 3.25" and 3.5" tall. Click on photo for a larger view. Price: £75.00


Brass Letter Rack LR31 Original, quality, brass letter rack circa 1900, with three brass mesh panels, a curved over the top frame as a handle, all mounted on a mahogany base with four brass ball feet. The underside has a small circular paper retailer's label with a Paris address and an impressed stamp 'S. H. & S.' for the manufacturer, S. Hall and Son of Birmingham. The brass has been polished and lacquered and, apart from one small chip to the underside edge of the mahogany, all is complete and in good order. The lacquer can be removed upon request, at no extra cost. 7" x 3.5" x 7" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £125.00


	W T & S Brass Letter Rack LR29 Original, quality, 1920's, brass letter rack on a painted wooden base, stamped to the underside 'WT & S' and with the sun trademark for William Tonks and Son of Birmingham. This unusual example has two outer pierced panels, both embossed with a face and head with laurel swags and a central brass wire meshed panel incorporating the loop top handle. Both the embossed panels have retained the original, red ochre paintwork to the reverse and all has been polished and lacquered and is complete and in good order. Base 8.25" x 4.5" and total 5.5" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £145.00


Brass Letters Basket LR27 Original, quality letter basket, circa 1900/20's, fashioned in interwoven brass wirework with a hanging loop to the back for wall hanging. This example has two sections, each with a plate detailing 'Letters Out' to the rear one and 'Letters In' to the front. All has been polished and lacquered and is complete and in good order. 6.5" wide x 7.5" high and 5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £135.00


	Brass Letter Rack LR9 Original quality, brass, wall mounted letter rack, circa 1900, with 2 pierced and decorated sections and a hanging slot to the top. Engraved 'A & J K' in script to the lower face. Has been lacquered and is complete and in good and working order. 6.5" x 4.5" x 1.25" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £58.00


Kynoch Ltd Letter Opener LO3 Original quality, 1920/30's, plain and simple ivorine letter opener / paper knife with an impressed trade mark for 'Kynoch Ltd', well known suppliers of shotgun cartridges etc. Complete and in good order. 8.75" x 1". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £34.00


	Brass and Tin Letter Clip LC23 Original, quality, late 19th Century letter clip with a pressed sheet brass top mount and a pressed tin base, both detailed in relief. The top section has a large 'A. I.' and a faint registration lozenge mark for the year 1842 to 1883 and the lower section has a hanging hole to the top. All has been polished and lacquered and is complete and in good and working order. The lacquer can be removed, if required, at no extra cost. 5.5" x 3" x 1.25". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £65.00


Tin Letter Clip LC22 Original, quality, late 19th Century, pressed tin letter clip in the original finish, cleaned and lacquered. This detailed letter clip, with it's hanging hole to the top, has large initials - 'A. I.' - to the front within the relief decoration and a faint registration lozenge mark for the year 1842 to 1883. Polished and lacquered and complete and in good and working order. The lacquer can be removed if required, at no extra cost. 5.5" x 3" and 1.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £45.00


	Pair of Tennis Racquet Letter Clips LC18 Pair of original, quality superb brass letter clips in the form of tennis racquets with a ball on oak bases, circa 1900. These have strong springs, a hole in each for hanging, in the original unpolished finish and are complete and in super order. Can you believe it, not one but a pair of these wonderful letter clips. Backplate 8.25" x 3.25" and 2" front to back. Price is for the pair. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £685.00


Letter Embosser LE4 Original quality, 1920's/30's, cast iron letter embossing press with the original paintwork and transfer decoration in near mint condition. The circular name press plate details "The Tuchy Brush Co Ltd". All is complete and in good and working order. Base 6.25" x 3.25" x 7" height. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £56.00


	Letter Embosser LE3 Original quality, 1920's, cast iron letter embossing press, with the original floral transfer decoration and brass mounts. The embossing plate fitted reads 'Lawnswood, Hampton Park, Hereford'. All is complete and in good and working order. Base 7.5" x 3.5", 9" tall including handle. Click on photo for a larger view. Price: £56.00


Quill Cutter QC3 Original, quality, mid to late 19th century, quill cutter, with an ivory body, a nickel mount to the cutter, a steel folding knife and a steel knib tip cutter. This intricate and clever tool will turn a goose or swan's feather into a dip pen. The fine penknife (the original name), would make a slanting cut to the tip of the feather stem, the knib tip cutter would be used to remove the tip and the shaped cutter would turn the feather tip into a knib shape, with a split to the centre. This example would be carried in one's case or pocket and although there is an old short split in the ivory near the knib tip cutter, all is complete and in superb order otherwise. This is the first I have seen without a maker's name, those I have had prevously were by 'Lund and Co, of London' or 'Joseph Roger and Co, of Sheffield'. Closed 4" x 0.75" x 0.5. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £165.00


	Quill Knife QC2 Original, quality 19th century quill knife, with a sharp steel blade, an ivory handle and the original paper-mache two piece case. These knives were used to cut a large feather to a shape suitable for use as a dipping pen. The blade is marked indistinctly for a London maker and the case has some line decoration. A great example, complete and in good and working order, Knife 6.25" x 0.75" x 0.5", case 6.5" long. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £115.00


Brass Pen Tray WA18 Original, quality, late 19th century, sheet brass pen tray for the writing desk. This example, probably continental, is trough shaped, has two circular feet and a stretched Greek key pattern to the top rim. A super example, complete and in good and working order. 8.5" x 2.75" x 1" high. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £65.00


	LNWR Steel Calipers DI15 A pair of original, quality, late 19th Century, large, steel, drawing calipers engraved in script to one side: 'Drawing Office' and to the other 'LNWR' for the London and North Western Railway. A super pair of polished calipers with railway connections; complete and in good and working order. Closed 19" x 1.5" x 0.5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £156.00


Brass Set Square DI14 Original, quality, pre-war, sheet brass drawing / architects set square, stamped for the maker 'S. Lloyd Tools of Sheffield'. Polished, lacquered and complete and in good and working order. The lacquer can be removed upon request, at no extra cost. 8.75" x 5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £56.00


	Steel Rolling Ruler DI12 Original, quality, patent steel cased rolling ruler drawing instrument, in the original black japanned finish and detailed in gold colour 'Duplex Ruler' and with the patent number for the year 1923. Complete and in good and working order. 12" x 1.25" x 0.5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £45.00


Bottle of Walkdens Violet Ink BJ96 Original, quality, late 19th century, freeblown sheartop, unopened, eight sided, glass ink bottle with the original paper label detailing "Walkdens Superfine Violet Ink" and the original cork stopper to the top. The bottle is in super condition, but the contents have evaporated and the label is faded and worn at the edges, but a great looker nevertheless. Base 1.75" x 1.75" x 2" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £36.00


	Bottle of Lyons Red Ink BJ95 Original, quality, late 19th century, freeblown shear top, unopened, glass ink bottle, with the original contents of red ink, the originial paper label detailing "Lyons Red Ink" and the original sealing wax stopper to the top. The bottle is in super condition, although the paper label is a little worn at the edges, but what a find. 1.5" x 1.75" x 2.5" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £36.00


Brass Watch / Pen Stand WS2 Original quality cast brass watch or pen stand, circa 1900, in the form of a horseshoe with four pairs of protruding nails, a central hook for suspending a pocket watch, a jockey hat finial to the top and a hinged easel backstand. Why a watch stand combined with a pen stand, I do not know, but a quirky desk accessory never the less. Has been polished, lacquered and is complete and in good and working order. 4.75" tall x 3.75" widest + 1.25" front to back closed flat but 3.5" front to back when stood open. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £135.00


	Negretti and Zambra Rolling Ruler R35 Original, quality, late 19th century, rolling ruler, with brass mounts on a boxwood rule. The rule is marked "Hirsbrunner and Co Shanghai" and "Negretti and Zambra, London". All is in super condition, with the brass polished and lacquered, although the lacquer may be removed if required at no extra cost. Complete and in working order. 18" x 2.5" x 0.75". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £75.00


Rabone 24" Folding Ruler R28 Original, quality late 19th Century, 24" folding boxwood ruler with brass hinge plates and side edges, all complete with the locking pins and calibrated in inches and parts thereof. The boxwood is a super colour and all is complete and in good and working order. 24" x 1" x 0.25" open and 6.25" x 1.25" x 0.25" closed. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £56.00


	Bentley Letter Opener M69 Original, quality 1950's/60's, chromed letter opener, with a "B" with wings, in the original ,faded red flock covered, hinged box. The lid of the box has a very faint image of the 'Bentley' logo for this letter opener was an official Bentley motor vehicle accessory. The paper knife is in mint condition, but the box is well worn to the outside. Box 8" x 2.75" x 1.25". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £185.00

Online Catalogue > Inkwells & Writing

Many more items are available from the shop so if you cannot find what you want, please email us. We also maintain a very successful customer requirements file. Email us on hofgartner@belowstairs.co.uk or telephone +44(0)1488 682317.