TIFFANY STUDIOS | "Crab" Inkstand

with clear glass inkwell liner and period pen

Private Collection, New York
Sotheby's New York, December 17, 2009, lot 405

Alastair Duncan, Tiffany At Auction, New York, 1981, p. 54
John Loring, Louis Comfort Tiffany at Tiffany & Co., New York, 2002, p. 195
Alastair Duncan, Tiffany Lamps and Metalware, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2007, p. 430, no. 1710

Overall very good condition. The patinated bronze surfaces displays an exceptionally rich green-brown patina, with scattered minor surface scratches and abrasions consistent with age and gentle use, and with light surface soiling and traces of oxidation to the recessed areas. The bronze with some occasional small ink stains including a few concentrated to the proper right side of the crab’s back, visible in the catalogue illustration. The base of the crab’s lower body is hinged, which opens to reveal an interior storage compartment. The shell-mounted cover to the inkpot is also hinged, revealing a period clear glass liner which is in very good condition. This lot includes one period pen (as shown in the catalogue illustration), which is in very good condition with minor areas of rubbing to the patina. The mounted shell with some light surface soiling and wear. A superb example of this highly sculptural and desirable inkstand model.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.