Inktstel van zilver. Blad met uitgebogen voorzijde; inktpot en zandstrooier meloenvormig, tafelbel peervormig

About this artwork

Purchased with the support of the Stichting tot Bevordering van de Belangen van het Rijksmuseum

Art Historical Context

This elegant silver inkstand, crafted by Dutch silversmith Laurens Potmans between about 1773 and 1782, reflects the refined tastes of the late eighteenth century. The set includes a tray with a gracefully flared front, a melon-shaped inkpot, a matching sand shaker for drying ink, and a pear-shaped table bell—all rendered in gleaming silver that weighs nearly a kilogram. Such objects combined practicality with display, serving as essential tools on the writing desks of merchants, officials, and the educated elite. Silver’s popularity for desk accessories during this period stemmed from its du...