Gorgeous antique English 'brilliant' cut crystal & hallmarked sterling silver oversized 3.5" 'paperweight' style inkwell PAIR, beautiful sparkling hobnail or facet cut bases and unique figural heraldry or motto engraved on the tops with boar's heads & "Jure Non Dono" inscriptions! There for the longest time, it seemed like we simply could not find any of these great old oversized inkwells but have come across a couple in the last few months and had the pleasure to offer them here. Overly thick and heavy crystal with a faceted wheel cut base, bubble style reservoirs and sterling silver cap & collar on each. Often referred to as paper weight inkwells, these heavy treasures are fabulous decorative accents and getting harder and harder to find at a reasonable price. AND, I don't think I've ever found a matched pair, very rare! This one in 'brilliant cut crystal', the collars and inside the caps on both have English hallmarks, London and date to 1900. The silversmith marks are for John Grinsell & Sons. John Grinnell was active from 1864. Originally Grinsell & Bourne, established 1864 and dissolved 1871, when John Grinsell formed a new business with his sons (Thomas Bywater Grinsell, James Erazmus Grinsell, Lorenzo Grinsell and Joseph Charles Grinsell). The company was active at Victoria Works, 57 Tower Street, St. George's, Birmingham. Show rooms were opened at 13 Charterhouse Street, Holborn Circus, London & 73 West Nile Street, Glasgow. Around 1905 the firm became John Grinsell & Sons Ltd, the firm specialized in silver mounted glass or stoneware items. An extremely RARE matched pair, treasures both, don't miss miss them!
Very good to excellent condition. Some faint scuffs on the bottom and a few tiny nips to the crystal possible. There is a slight dent to one sterling top in the front left corner. Each inkwell has the original glass inner ink pot but one of the pots has a break in the bottom (shown in the pictures). One weighs 2 lbs 12 oz and the other is 2 lbs 14 oz.. See pictures for all measurements.
