Desk set (2) - Papier-mache

Two mid 19th‑century japanned papier‑mâché desk items, a desk stand with glass inkwells and a pen box. The desk stand has a hinged lid, gilt figures and twin glass inkwells, an English Victorian desk stand, in the style of Birmingham makers such as Jennens & Bettridge, dating roughly circa 1850–1870.​

The separate flat pen box has a dense gilt figure scene and is a matching‑period japanned papier‑mâché pen box, again English and from the same date, mid‑19th century; a beautiful complementary pair

To make these bodies were built from many layers of paper pasted together over moulds, dried, then hardened with oil and heat to form a dense, wood‑like material that could be sawn and planed.​ Several coats of black varnish (“japanning”) were stove‑dried and polished, then artists added gilt and colour details; a final clear varnish coat was applied and polished to a gloss.​ The glass inkwells were blown and ground to fit their recesses, with the central lidded compartment used for pens or nibs, following standard Victorian desk‑set practice.​ The lid to the compartment between the inkwells is a replacement.

A stunning desk stand and box, beautiful decorative items as well as remaining functional, both in good condition.

The ink stand measures 23 x 9cm (9" x 3.54") and the smaller box 19.7 x 5.5cm (7.75" x 2.16").