Delightful & rare antique Victorian era 6" tall double inkwell, an equestrian themed medal, trophy or commemorative piece of a horse dated 1884 & 1885 with silvered bronze knight, inscribed shield & horse mounted on horses hoof! Here's a great old Victorian era piece, a genuine antique horse hoof that has been turned into a unique desk top double inkwell, complete with horseshoe, nickel or silver plate horse & knight with inscribed shield figures and the two original glass inkwells! Very Victorian, the use of taxidermy and mounting specimens as decorative objects for the home or office was particularly popular in the Victorian era and so few true examples of the form and era survive today. This piece in wonderful, even usable, condition with the fully intact cut glass or crystal inkwells and, of course, that undeniable decorative appeal! Don't miss it. The shield definitely commemorates the accomplishments of the horse whose hoof it is mounted on and appears to read "H. Lacher erh. 1884 ou I Preis in Wurstburg. 1885 d grosse bronze Medaille in Munchen" though I could be mistaken in a spot or two. That would translate to "H. Lacher, born 1884 1st Prize in Wurstburg. 1885 & large bronze medal in Munich".
Good to very good condition. There is some fraying to the piping around the top of the hoof and some wear to the blue velvet nap. Original horseshoe is intact. A bit of wear to the nickel or silver plating on the knight and horse figures. No chips or damage to the inkwells that I can see. There are two crosses swords on the right side, likely should be on the left side also to form a pen tray but the left is missing. Weighs 3 lbs, 10 oz. See pictures for all measurements.
