Editing Inkwell

{{Short description|Container used for holding ink}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Redirect|Inkpot|the Shocking Blue album|Inkpot (album)|the comics awards|Inkpot Award}}
[[File:Inkwell15.jpg|thumb|right|An English silver and glass inkwell, [[hallmark]] date 1910]]

An '''inkwell''' is a small jar or container, often made of [[glass]], [[porcelain]], [[silver]], [[brass]], or [[pewter]], used for holding [[ink]] in a place convenient for the person who is writing. The artist or writer dips the brush, [[quill]], or [[dip pen]] into the inkwell as needed or uses the inkwell as the source for filling the reservoir of a [[fountain pen]]. An inkwell usually has a lid to prevent contamination, evaporation, accidental spillage, and excessive exposure to air. A type known as the '''travelling inkwell''' was fitted with a secure screw lid so a traveller could carry a supply of ink in their luggage without the risk of leakage.

==Origins==
The inkwell's origins may be traced back to [[Ancient Egypt]] where [[scribes]] would write on [[papyrus]].  Knowledge of [[hieroglyph]]s was at the time highly restricted.  Only scribes knew the full array of hieroglyphs and would write on the behalf of their employers, usually the [[pharaoh]].  After Rome invaded Egypt, inkwells became more popular in Italy as a larger percentage of the population were capable of writing.<ref>Shanks, H. (2002). Scrolls, Scripts & Stelae. Biblical Archaeology Review, 28(5), 24.</ref>

Inkwells gradually fell out of use in the early part of 20th century<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.pelikan.com/pulse/Pulsar/en_US.CMS.displayCMS.252924./the-piston-filling-mechanism |title = The piston filling mechanism}}</ref> as the reservoir fountain pen (which needs to be filled only occasionally) replaced the dip pen, which needed to be dipped in ink after writing a few lines. Old school desks had round holes for inkwells.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.rblandmark.com/News/Articles/10-16-2007/Schooling-since-1913/ | title=Schooling since 1913| date=8 February 2021}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Inkhorn and ivory case, 9th-13th c, exh. Benedictines NG Prague, 150683.jpg|Inkhorn with [[ivory]] case ([[Prague]], 9th–13th century). An inkhorn is an inkwell made of [[horn (anatomy)|horn]]
File:Chemical auditory, 1904.jpg|Stands for dip pens and inkwells in the desks of student benches in the historic Chemical Auditorium of the [[Gdańsk University of Technology]], 1904
File:Ritterling 13 (3D reconstruction).png|3D model of a Roman Ritt. 13 inkpot
File:Anonymous Amber inkwell 01.jpg|[[Renaissance]] [[amber]] inkwell of king [[Sigismund III Vasa]], 1590s
File:Travelling Inkwells.jpg|Examples of 19th century Travelling Inkwells
File:Tudric Inkwell.jpg|Tudric pewter Inkwell
File:Ecole-banc1900.jpg|French school desks, c. 1900. The holes for the student's inkwells can be seen
File:MEK II-438.jpg|Inkwell, currently at the [[Museum Europäischer Kulturen|MEK]]
File:Pallme-König & Habel - Inkwell - 2008.67 - Cleveland Museum of Art.tif|alt=Pallme-König & Habel&nbsp;— Inkwell - 2008.67 - Cleveland Museum of Art|Pallme-König & Habel&nbsp;— Inkwell - 2008.67 - [[Cleveland Museum of Art]]
File:England or America, 19th century - Inkwell Set - 1961.172 - Cleveland Museum of Art.jpg|alt=England or America, 19th century&nbsp;— Inkwell Set - 1961.172 - Cleveland Museum of Art|England or America, 19th century&nbsp;— Inkwell Set - 1961.172 - Cleveland Museum of Art
File:Inkwell carved from anthracite - Cleveland Museum of Natural History (34362298300).jpg|alt=Inkwell carved from anthracite&nbsp;— Cleveland Museum of Natural History|Inkwell carved from anthracite - [[Cleveland Museum of Natural History]]
File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art mxd 0056.1.jpg|10th century medieval Islamic agate inkwell inscribed with [[Kufic]] script. [[Khalili Collection of Islamic Art|Khalili Collection]].
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Calligraphy]]

==References==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{Commons category|Inkwells}}
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*''The Collector's World of Inkwells'', Jean & Franklin Hunting, Schiffer Publishing Ltd {{ISBN|0-7643-1102-6}}
*''The Write Stuff  Inkwells Pens & Desk Accessories'', Ray & Bevy Jaegers, Krause Publications {{ISBN|0-930625-86-2}}
*''McGraw's Book of Antique Inkwells Volume 1'', Vincent D McGraw, published privately 1972
*''Edwardian Shopping 1898–1913 selection facsimile'', Army & Navy Stores, David  & Charles {{ISBN|0-7153-7068-5}}
*''Pens & Writing Equipment'', Jim Marshall, Miller's {{ISBN|1-84000-066-X}}
*''English Silver Hallmarks'', Judith Bannister, W Foulsham & Co Ltd {{ISBN|0-572-01181-4}}
*''Handbook of Pottery & Porcelain Marks'', J P Cushion, Faber & Faber Ltd {{ISBN|0-571-04922-2}}
*''Walter's Inkwells of 1885 Book 1'', Leo G Walter, published privately 1968
*''Inkbottles & Inkwells'', William E Covill Jnr, William S Sullwold 1971
*''Inkstands & Inkwells A Collector's Guide'', Betty & Ted Rivera, Crown Publishers Inc,{{ISBN|0-517-50419-7}}
*''Inkwells Identification & Values Book 1'',Veldon Badders, Schroeder Publishing Inc, {{ISBN|0-89145-639-2}}
*''Inkwells Identification & Values Book II'', Veldon Badders, Schroeder Publishing Inc, {{ISBN|1-57432-020-3}}
*''Western Writing Implements'', Michael Finlay, Plains Books {{ISBN|1-872477-00-3}}
*''Writing Antiques'', George Mell, Shire Publications Ltd {{ISBN|0-85263-519-2}}
*''Writing Implements & Accessories'', Joyce Irene Whalley, David & Charles {{ISBN|0-7153-6903-2}}
*''Yesterday's Shopping 1907 facsimile'', Army & Navy Stores, David & Charles {{ISBN|0-7153-4692-X}}
*''The Story of Writing'', Donald Jackson, Studio Vista {{ISBN|0-289-70985-7}}
*''The Enormous File, A Social History of the Office'', Alan Delgado, John Murray {{ISBN|0-7195-3612-X}}
*''Doulton Ink Wares'', Colin Roberts, BEE Publications {{ISBN|0-9520547-0-1}}
*''Ink, Glue, Polish and Blacking Bottles, A Collector's Dictionary, 1750-1950,'' Guy Burch, Mistletoe Towny 2023 {{ISBN|978-0-9957956-1-7}}
*De Vito, C., Medeghini, L., Mignardi, S., Coletti, F., & Contino, A. (2017). (Rome, Italy): Production technology. ''Journal of the European Ceramic Society'', 37(4), 1779–1788. 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2016.11.044

==External links==
* [https://inkwellresearch.com/inkipedia Society of Inkwell Collectors]


{{Pens}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Writing implements]]
[[Category:Pens]]
[[Category:Visual arts materials]]
[[Category:Decorative arts]]