Inkwell - Silverplate

We offer for sale an antique inkwell, silver-plated, featuring a decorative style with an angel or cherub at the center.
Function: Historical container used to hold ink for dipping the pen to write.
Design: It presents two ink containers with lids and a central tray, probably for storing nibs or as a pen rest.
Material: It is a silverplate item (silvered alloy), typical of fine desk pieces.
Style: The elaborate decorations and the angelic figure indicate a classical or baroque artistic style, common from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
Mark: The mark in the image shows an anchor enclosed in a shield with the letters "FB".
The Anchor: It is the official symbol of the Birmingham Assay Office in England. It indicates that the item has been tested and certified by this office to guarantee the metal’s purity.
The Letters "FB": They represent the initials of the silversmith or the firm that produced the piece. Among British producers associated with these initials are names such as Frederick Brasted (active in the late 19th century) or F. Banks (early 20th century).
The Shield: The shape of the outer frame is not only decorative; in the British hallmarking system, the shield design (together with the typeface) helps determine the exact production year within the alphabetical cycles.
Signs of time: I note that the piece needs re-polishing, and moreover one of the lids for the two containers has lost its screw and is only resting on the base.
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