Inkwell

The inkwell has the shape of an opening ball placed on a flat base. The ball with an opening mechanism is an ink container, and its external part is decorated with motifs that resemble contours of continents. Between them runs a ribbon with an inscription explaining the historical moment and the context of making this craft product: EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRY OF ALL NATIONS IN LONDON 1851. The base on which the ball is placed has the shape of a wheel divided into nine fields separated with pseudo-Gothic ribs. The fields contain relief representations of figures shown during various works that represent different professions. The composition of fields and figures is complemented by three caduceuses, as well as coats of arms of England, Scotland and Ireland placed at the top. Between coats of arms runs an inscription in a font resembling Gothic writing: MANUFACTURES, COMMERS, RAW MATERIALS. At the external edge of the base, an interlaced ribbon runs through the entire circumference, with names of discoverers, painters and famous craftsmen placed on it, including Newton, Raphael or Wedgwood. At the edge of the base, an inscription indicating the manufacturer is engraved: PUBLISHED AS ACT DIRECTS BY HENRY ELKINGTON FEB 20 1851.

A copy of the same inkwell has survived in the collection of Victoria & Albert Museum. The description beside the object stresses the symbolism of the composition in the context of the exhibition. The globe and contours of continents symbolised the international character of the exhibition, and the content of representations express its purpose, i.e., the presentation of achievements of contemporary craft and related new technological solutions, as well as the reinforcement of international trade exchange. The object was probably purchased for Wilanów by August Potocki during the world exhibition. In 1856, it was displayed at an exhibition held by the Potocki family in their own palace. (J. Paprocka-Gajek, The Wilanów perspective of the Warsaw Exhibition of Antiquities in the palace of the Potocki family in the summer of 1856, in: ‘Studia Wilanowskie’, 2019).