Antique Carved Wooden Inkwell with Glass Insert by Bear Brienz, 1880s-1910s

Details

Description

Antique carved wooden inkwell with glass insert (bear – brienz, ca. 1880–1910, with later t.y. Paris inkwell)

this unique inkwell … Read more Antique carved wooden inkwell with glass insert (bear – brienz, ca. 1880–1910, with later t.y. Paris inkwell)

this unique inkwell features a finely hand-carved wooden bear leaning playfully over a log. The carving most likely originates from brienz, switzerland, renowned in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for its exquisite black forest woodcarvings. Animal figures, especially bears, were among the most popular motifs of this tradition.

set into the wooden holder is a glass ink insert marked t.y. Paris déposé 1588. This was produced by établissements tardy (t.y. Paris), a french manufacturer established in 1881, known for school and desk inkwells. The number 1588 refers to one of their mould designs, typically dated around 1930–1950. These sturdy pressed-glass pots were widely used in schools and desks across france and often served as replacements in older desk sets when the original liners were lost or broken.

features

holder material: hand-carved wood (bear and log, typical black forest/brienz work)

date of carving: ca. 1880–1910

insert material: pressed glass

insert maker: t.y. Paris, france (établissements tardy)

model number: 1588 (ca. 1930–1950)

notable detail: original brienz carving combined with a later, well-fitting french glass insert


collectible value

this inkwell beautifully demonstrates how functional objects were preserved and adapted over time. The wooden carving represents 19th-century swiss folk craftsmanship, while the glass liner reflects french writing culture of the early 20th century. Together, they make for an attractive and distinctive collector’s piece—appealing both to enthusiasts of antique writing instruments and admirers of black forest carvings. See less