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Antique French double desk inkwell – D.L. n°9 Déposé – Cast bronze with gilding, ca. 1880–1890
€180Bid from €90
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Product description
Beautiful double French desk inkwell made of solid cast bronze, featuring original gilding (ormolu) and glass inkwells, marked “D.L. n°9 Déposé”.
This piece dates from the late 19th century, circa 1880–1890, and is a beautiful example of Napoleon III / Rococo Revival desk art. Features:
Material: solid cast bronze with original gilding
Dimensions: approx. 27 × 17 × 8 cm
Weight: ±1.84 kg
Origin: France, likely Parisian bronze foundry, studio style in the tradition of Delafontaine
Period: ±1880–1890, late Napoleon III / Belle Époque
Marking: “D.L. n°9 Déposé” (registered design, model n°9)
Style: richly decorated with rocaille and acanthus leaves
Glass inkwells: original examples still present
Historical context:
Dual inkwells like this example were essential in the 19th century for:
notaries, lawyers, and writers
the use of two inks simultaneously: black for standard texts, red for corrections or accounting
The robust casting of ±1.84 kg offered stability when writing with a quill or metal pen.
The bronze is originally gilded (ormolu), visible as:
shiny gold curls
matte layers with subtle patina
one small darker spot showing the underlying bronze color
The gilding is authentic, as is common with luxury Parisian desk bronzes from this period.
Rarity & collectible value:
Model No. 9 with original glass inkwells and robust casting quality is slightly rarer than most D.L. ink sets.
The piece is a first-quality desk object, likely from a Parisian bronze foundry that produced luxury ink sets around 1880–1890.
Condition:
Excellent for its age
Glass inkwells completely intact
Gilding largely preserved with light natural wear (see photos)
No repairs or significant damage
Specifications
ConditionVery goodColorsGoldMaterialBronzeNumber of items1Height8 cmWidth27 cmDepth17 cm
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Oostvleteren, BelgiumOn Whoppah since October 2023 • 0 sales