French Porcelain Ink Well or Stand with Pen Holders Hand Painted Antique c 1880

French Porcelain ink stand or ink well with three pen or quill holders in Vieux Paris (Old Paris) porcelain. The inkstand is 12 sided (dodecagon) and in the centre is a lidded, removable inkwell within a fixed holder. Surrounding this are three tubular pen or quill holders. The outer faces of the ink stand have been hand painted with sunburst type motifs and sprays of pink roses. There are gilded bands at the top and bottom of the ink stand and a gilded lid. There are no manufacturer's marks.

The ink stand measures 4 1/8th inches in diameter and stands 2 1/4 inches high. It weighs 280g and is in good condition with wear to the gilding - mostly the rim and a little to the lid, commensurate with age and use. This item dates to around 1880.