Silver Mounted Round, Hobnail Cut Base, Inkwell by John Grinsell Birmingham 1890

A real heavyweight silver mounted glass inkwell that is over 130 years old, and wears it very well. Filled with ink or empty, this gorgeous inkwell commands attention whether on a desk, shelf or side table. John Grinsell (previously Grinsell and Bourne) is one of the most prolific designers and manufacturers of inkwells throughout the latter part of the 19th Century and into the 20th Century. There was a time when virtually any inkwell requirement of substance could be met by; the Birmingham workshop, through showrooms in London & Glasgow and many other retailers in cities throughout the UK, Europe and the Commonwealth. This particular inkwell is marked as being retailed by Vickery & Hobbs. John Collard Vickery and his then partner, Arthur Thomas Hobbs, bought up the long-established business of William Griggs, a stationer and bookseller at 183, Regent Street in c.1890. Subsequently they obtained Royal Warrants for Hm the Queen, Hm Queen Alexandra, Trh the Prince and Princess of Wales, Hm the King of Portugal, Hm the King of Spain, Tm the King and Queen of Denmark, Hm the Queen of Norway, Hm the King of Sweden, and Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig Holstein, providing expanded stock including jewellery, dressing cases, gold and silver lines Whilst known for superb glass products with silver mounts, Grinsell also worked in stoneware again with silver mounts.