ENGLISH SILVER MILITARY INKWELL BY THE IMPORTANT SILVERSMITH OMAR RAMSDEN.

This superb & very large decorative inkwell was designed and produced in the early 20th century by the renowned and highly collectable arts & crafts silversmith, Omar Ramsden.The arts and crafts movement was very popular and influential in England from the 1870s until the late 1930s,the principle of the movement was to encourage the production of unique hand made goods rather than identical machine made factory products. Circular silver Standish in a decorative hammered style with a raised edge with eight raised ridges that probably simulate rivets and which would be ideal for holding pens, the center of the inkwell almost grows naturally into a tall mushroom form, the lid is hinged and when opened features a glass inkwell. The lid of the well is beautifully engraved with large highly detailed Regimental badge, a Ram holding a flag surmounted by the Kings crown and engraved around the outer edge, THE QUEENS 22ND LONDON REGIMENT. The outer raised border of the inkwell between the stylized rivets is engraved, I WAS WROUGHT FOR CAPTAIN K.E.PREVITE BY COMMAND OF THE OFFICERS 22ND REGIMENT (THE QUEENS) ON THE OCCASION OF HIS MARRAGE 30TH JAN 1930.The edge of the ink well is stamped with the silver hallmark OR (Omar Ramsden) and the hall marks for London 1926.From research I have managed to discover one other almost identical inkwell also of the Queens Regiment which was in the Campbell (Omar Ramsden) silver collection, that inkwell was produced in the same year as the one I am offering for sale but it was presented on a different date to a different officer. It is believed that the Regiment purchased a very small quantity of these inkwells (probably no moor than 6 or 8) from Omar Ramsden in the mid 1920s for presentation for officers marriages and perhaps retirements, Ramsden probably retained the inkwells until they were required and then the inscription would have been applied at his workshop. Silver produced by Omar Ramsden is highly sort after and collectable this also has the added interest of being an inkwell with a military connection. [Condition: Mint]

Code: 32337