Antique Spanish Rosell Silver Scribe's Office. Barcelona, Spain, 1840

Lovely antique solid-silver inkstand made in Barcelona in 1849 and in very good condition. This is a stylish and delicate piece with a naturalist-style design which anticipates some of the features typical of the art nouveau style. The inkstand bears some hallmarks with the signatures Fch. Carreras and N. Rosell, corresponding to Narcis Rosell and Francisco de Asís Carreras y Durán. These hallmarks are located under the inkstand base, together with the BAR hallmark that marks silver pieces made in Barcelona in the 19th century. The inkstand is complete and in very good condition. The front central silver scallop is slightly loose; it seems to have been welded a long time ago using a silver piece. The rest of the parts are in perfect condition, perfectly attached to their places and displaying a remarkable beauty. The central silver sculpture is an attention-drawing piece; it depicts a woman dressed in a simple way and with her hands crossed over her chest. Her skirt fits her legs as if it was pushed by the wind, creating a very realistic feel. The inkstands base stands on four baroque legs, decorated with moldings and flowers. Over the central scallop there is a decorative detail, shaped as an inverted heart and embellished with flowers and leaves. Then we can see a central cup-shaped pedestal crowned by the female figure stated before. The vase-shaped inkpots located on both sides of the figure preserve their silver lids; the lid of the left inkpot bears a small bell hanging inside, a delicious detail that provides this wonderful piece with even more charm. Perfect to embellish an antique sideboard or a stately study table, this antique Spanish solid-silver inkstand is a state-of-the-art piece with a delicate presence. Measurements: Width: 8.66 in / 22 cm. Height: 9.25 in / 23.5 cm. Depth: 4.72 in / 12 cm.