Stock No. 3126	George IV sterling silver inkstand
Very elegant George IV sterling silver inkstand. London 1826, by Rebecca Emes and Edward Barnard I. The plain rectangular base has four scroll and shell feet, an applied border decorated with flowers, shells and scrolls and a pen depression on both of the longer sides. A family crest is engraved on one side of the flat part of the base. The central taperstick is in the form of a miniature chamber candlestick, complete with detachable nozzle and has a conical extinguisher which is chained to the sconce to prevent it being mislaid. Both the circular base and nozzle have a tongue and dart variation border. The extinguisher has a dart border and the circular handle has a trefoil thumb piece. On either side is an elegantly fluted contemporary glass bottle mounted with a lift-off silver lid. Both lids have the same border as the taperstick. One lid is pierced with a central hole for use as an ink bottle, the other is pierced with three holes as a quill holder. The taperstick lifts off to reveal a circular sterling silver container for sealing wafers. This container as well as the two sterling silver bottle holders into which the glass bottles fit are held fast by wire pins on the underside of the base so that they can be removed for cleaning. The reverse of the base was engraved after World War II with eleven facsimile signatures and inscribed:- "Presented to/ Lt. Col. C. S. M. Heape, O.B.E., M.C., R.A./ by the Military Advisers to the Press Censorship/ I.P.3. War Office/ in token of affectionate regard and in gratitude/ for his kindly understanding and guidance from 1939 to 1945.". Maker :- Rebecca Emes & Edward Barnard I

Condition :-Very good in general. All the designs on the borders are good although the border on the taperstick nozzle and on the extinguisher both show gentle wear. The hallmarks stamped on the reverse of the base are excellent and very crisp while all the other hallmarks are slightly rubbed but legible
Hallmarked :- London 1826
Size :- 3.7 inches (9.4 cm) high overall x 7.9 inches (20 cm) long x 4.9 inches (12.5 cm) wide at base
Weight :- 12.59 ozt (392.1 g) silver only
This is a very attractive inkstand which would grace any desk. Since the engraving is tucked on the reverse of the base, it does not diminish the value of the piece. All the pieces are hallmarked and there are no replacements. The reverse of the base is fully marked. The two bottle holders and the sealing wafer container are all marked with the makers' mark, the Georgian head and the lion passant. The two bottle tops are marked with the makers' mark, the lion passant and the date letter for 1826. The flange of the taperstick is fully marked with the Georgian head, the lion passant, the date letter for 1826 and the makers' mark. The nozzle and the extinguisher are both marked with the Georgian head, the lion passant and the date letter for 1826. Rebecca Emes was the widow of John Emes. Emes and Barnard had many commissions for silver from the Raj in India and their work was always of very high quality

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