Antique American Pewter Inkwell Glass Insert Attributed to Trask Shop Beverly MA
Description: Antique American pewter inkwell from the 1840s. The inkwell, which is reminiscent in shape to of a chess rook piece. The inkwell has a round base with curved sides ending in a plain tooled rim. The top has a flat platform with a central hole where an insert for the ink is located surround3ed by five small round holes for quills. The sides are decorated with parallel incised lines in the bottom near the base and in the middle surrounding a raised fillet. It also has decoration consisting of incised lines flanking a second raise fillet just blow the top rim. The insert is not protected with a lid. The insert is intact and is soiled with dried ink residue. The piece is unmarked but is attributed to the Trask Shop in Beverly Massachusetts. The piece has been cleaned and truly looks great for being almost 200 years old. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Uncertain but most likely sometime in the 1840s.
Origin: Purchased at an estate sale in southeastern Pennsylvania. The piece was made in the United States.
Size: Measures ~5" in diameter at the base, ~4 3/4" in diameter at the top, and is ~4" high. The piece weighs slightly over one pound and 2 ounces.
Maker: Attributed to the Trask Shop in Beverly Massachusetts.
Marks: Unmarked.
Condition: The antique inkwell is in good condition given its age and utilitarian function. The piece has been cleaned and polished to look like it did when it was made. It shows some scratches and minor dings throughout. It has some minor pitting especially on top and inside. It also shows casting defects. We believe the glass insert is intact and soiled with dried ink residue. Other than that, the piece is all original with no breaks or repairs and looks great. A nice old piece worthy of a spot in your collection. Please see photos for additional condition information.
