Old Walnut-Stained Poplar Wood Hat Shaped Desktop Inkwell Hinged Lid No Insert
Description: A late 19th or early 20th century Walnut-stained poplar wood inkwell with a hinged top. The hat has a carved feather carved to the side of the top. There is the name Rici Kulm carved within a rectangular frame below the feather. We believe that the name Rici Klum is the name of the original owner of the piece. The inkwell hat has a wide brim with curved-up raised rim. The hinged lid reveals a circular hole which would house a glass insert. However, the glass insert is missing. The bottom of the piece is flat and allows the inkwell to sit on a flat surface with no wabbling. A great and very unusual piece, which is probably European possibly Swiss or Austrian, that is in very good condition after being around for over 100 years. An interesting piece to add to your collection. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Unknown but most likely late 1800s (late 19th century) to early 1900s (early 20th century).
Origin: Purchased at an estate sale in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The piece was most likely made in Switzerland or Austria.
Size: Base measures ~3 1/4" by ~3", it is ~3 1/2" by ~4" when measuring the from the edges of the hat, and is ~2" high to the top of the hat with the lid closed. The piece weighs about 2 ounces.
Maker: Unknown.
Marks: Unmarked as to the maker. Has the following marking carved on the side of the hat "RICI KLUM" which we believe was most likely the name of the original owner.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: A nice and very unusual antique inkwell to add to your collection.
Condition: The inkwell is in good condition. The wooden portion of the piece is intact with no breaks, hairlines, chips, or repairs. It does have some scratches, minor dings throughout, and minor losses to the finish, especially at the edges. The piece is relatively clean with some residual ink colors on the inside of the lid. The hinge is intact and works as it should. The one issue we recognize is the fact that the piece is missing the glass insert which would hold the ink. Be that as it may, this is a very nice and unusual piece to add to your collection and would display very nicely. Because of the missing glass insert, we are selling the piece as found at a fraction of its true value. Please see photos for additional condition information.
