{"product_id":"george-betjemann-sons-sterling-silver-mounted-cut-lead-crystal-inkwell-london-1905-edwardian","title":"George Betjemann \u0026 Sons | Sterling Silver-Mounted Cut Lead Crystal Inkwell | London 1905 | Edwardian","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeorge Betjemann \u0026amp; Sons | Sterling Silver-Mounted Cut Lead Crystal Inkwell | London 1905 | Edwardian\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAn inkwell of this quality was never merely a vessel for ink — it was a statement about the desk it sat on and the person who sat behind it\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeorge Betjemann \u0026amp; Sons was one of the most accomplished decorative object makers operating in London during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Established in 1859 and based in Clerkenwell, the firm built its reputation on the production of objects that combined fine materials with exceptional craftsmanship — inkwells, tantaluses, patent bookslides, jewellery boxes and a range of desktop accessories that were standard furnishings in the libraries and studies of the professional and upper-middle classes. A Betjemann piece was understood to represent a particular level of quality, and the firm's output from the turn of the twentieth century — the period to which this inkwell belongs — reflects the full confidence of a maker at the height of its powers. The term \"partner's inkwell\" refers to the large, substantial form associated with the partner's desk — the double-sided library desk that was the centrepiece of the serious Victorian and Edwardian study — where an inkwell of presence and weight was expected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body is cut lead crystal of spherical form, the surface worked in an overall hobnail and crosshatch pattern that produces a dense, prismatic brilliance across the entire piece. The cutting is deep, sharp and even throughout, with the characteristic refractive quality of high-grade lead crystal. The neck is fitted with a sterling silver collar carrying the full London hallmarks for 1905 and the maker's mark of George Betjemann \u0026amp; Sons. The lid is sterling silver, domed and plain-polished, with a substantial feel commensurate with the weight and quality of the crystal body below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cut crystal body is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks or damage to the cutting. The sterling silver mount and lid are bright and even with no dents, splits or repairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Details\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaker: George Betjemann \u0026amp; Sons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAssay Office: London\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDate: 1905\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeriod: Edwardian\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterials: Sterling silver mount and lid; cut lead crystal body\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForm: Partner's inkwell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSilver Condition: Excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrystal Condition: Excellent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA London silversmith's mark and a date letter are not merely a guarantee of metal content — they are a fixed point in time, proof that this object existed and was considered worth hallmarking in the year that the Edwardian summer was still at its height.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Dancing Faun ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45019155235016,"sku":null,"price":3950.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0575\/3497\/2104\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_f2f1accc-24cb-4536-a521-cd58ac0fea7c.png?v=1775886835","url":"https:\/\/dancingfaun.co.za\/products\/george-betjemann-sons-sterling-silver-mounted-cut-lead-crystal-inkwell-london-1905-edwardian","provider":"The Dancing Faun ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}