Below Stairs of Hungerford Inkwells & Writing

Product Sections

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


	Pair of Travelling Glass Inkwells IW31 A pair of original, quality, late 19th Century, square based, cut glass inkwells with screw on, cast brass caps, each with a crown and 'Patent London'. One originally contained red ink and the other black, and were used in a writing slope or a travelling document box. Perfect, complete and in good order. Bases 1.75" square and total 1.5" tall. Price is for the pair. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £95.00


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


	Onyx & Brass 4 Piece Desk Set IW19 Original quality, 4 piece brass desk set comprising a pair of candlesticks, a matching pen rest and inkwell, circa 1900/20's. The brass mounts are all in the original matt gilt finish and are mounted on the original onyx bases and both candlesticks retain their lift out sconces. The inner cap to the inkwell is engraved 'Bagshaw & Sons, Liverpool' for the manufacturer or retailer and the glass liner may well be a later replacement, otherwise all is original and complete and in good and working order, with just two tiny chips to the onyx base of the pen rest. A super desk set in amazing condition. Inkwell Base 4.25" sq and 4.25" high, candlesticks 3" sq and 7.25" high and pen rest 6.75" x 2" and 1." high. Price is for the set. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £300.00


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 LR30 Original, quality, pressed brass letter rack with three panels in the relief form of butterflies, mounted on a brass plinth with a replacement oak panel beneath. This thin but super example is also embossed with the registration number for the year 1892. Has been polished and lacquered and is complete and in good and working order. Base 5" x 2.75" and 4" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £145.00


WT & 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


Horse Hoof Letter Rack LR23* Original quality pair of horse hooves, circa 1900/1920's, mounted with brass shoes and top mounts and a letter rack fashioned with three varying sized stirrup forms. A very unusual letter rack in super condition. All has been polished and lacquered and is complete and in good order. 8.25" wide x 7.25" tall x 5.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £285.00


	Brass on Oak Letter Rack LR22* Original quality, 1920's, wall mounted letter rack with three pressed brass mounts on a rectangular oak backboard and impressed to the reverse with a crown over 'Made In England'. All is complete and in good and working order. 10" x 5.75" x 1.5" front to back. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £65.00


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


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


	Silver Plated Letter Clip LC16* Original quality, 1920's, continental letter clip in the form of a stylised Lion's paw with claws, all in great detail. This clip was originally silver plated but now most is showing though to the brass. An unusual letter clip, the first we have seen like this. Complete and in good and working order. 3" x 1.5" x 1.5" tall. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £135.00


Brass Letter Clip with Scissors LC9 Original, quality, late 19th century, unusual brass letter clip with integral scissors and holder with detailed embossed decoration. Impressed to the reverse with the registration number for the year 1886. Has been polished and lacquered and is complete and in good and working order. Backplate 6.75" x 4.25" and with scissors fitted 9.5" Click on photo for larger or other views. Price: £156.00


	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


	Carved Wooden Dip Pen SH2* Original quality, 1920's, swiss carved wooden dip pen, with a brass nib holder and steel nib. The decorative carved top end is in the form of flowers and leaves. A super item, complete and in good and working order. 9.5" x 1.25". Click on photo for larger view. Price: £45.00


Rodgers Quill Knife in Case WA20 Original, quality, mid 19th Century, walnut handled, steel quill cutting knife, in the original two piece, papier maché case. The blade is marked 'Rodgers, Cutlers to Her Majesty, Sheffield, England', and the case is embossed 'Joseph Rodgers and Sons'. These knives were used to trim off feather quills to use as dip pens. Good to be complete and in good and working order. Case 7" x 1.25" x 0.5". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £75.00


	Glass Pounce Pot WA19 Original, quality, early to mid 19th Century, cut and polished clear glass, square based pounce pot with a circular brass pull off cap, pierced with holes. A super example of this hard-to-find item. Pounce pots were filled with very fine sand and used to dust over fresh ink on handwritten letters, etc, and were often fitted within an inkstand or writing box. All is complete and in good and working order. 1.5" square and 1.5" high. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £75.00


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


	Marble Paperweight WA16 Original, quality, 1920's, rectangular shaped marble paperweight with a cushioned top and knob of a different colour marble. The main body is rich with colour and veins. A superb piece of quality, complete and in good order. 6.5" x 4.75" x 1.75". Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £45.00


Stationery Cabinet WA2 Original quality, 1920's, brass stationery cabinet, with curved-over hinged lid to reveal birchwood, sectioned interior. The embossed brass exterior is panelled with inset Tudor rose designs. Has been polished and lacquered. Complete and in good and working order. 8.75" x 3.75" x 6" tall. Click on photo for a larger view. Price: £135.00


	Papier-Mâché Pen Tray WA1* Original, quality late, 19th century, papier-mâché pen tray, with most of the surface decoration and a very detailed underside listing other merchandise manufactured and 'Thetford Patent Steel Pulp Ware'. Complete and in good order. 8.5" x 2.75" x 0.75". Click on photo for larger and other views Price: £50.00


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


	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


12" Folding Ivory Rule R26 Original, quality late 19th Century, four fold small and narrow folding ivory rule, with nickel end caps, pins and hinges. This example is calibrated in inches and parts there of. Although the marking is rather worn, all is complete and in good and working order. Open 12" x 0.25" x 0.11" Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £85.00


	Steel Rolling Ruler DI.12 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


Pair of Brass Cased Scissors S10 A pair of original, quality late 19th Century, steel scissors with decorative cast brass grips and a matching slip in, cast brass sheath. The plating from the steel on the scissor blades is a little pitted, but otherwise all is complete and in superb order. Originally used on the writing desk for the home or the office. Scissors 9.25" x 2.25", sheath 6.5" x 1.25" x 0.75" and total 10.25" long. Click on photo for larger and other views. Price: £85.00

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.