A Russian Tula Neoclassical Polished and Gilded Steel Ink-Well, Circa 1780

Property from the Estate of Alexis Gregory, Sold to Benefit the Alexis Gregory Foundation 

A Russian Tula Neoclassical Polished and Gilded Steel Ink-Well, Circa 1780

shaped as a globe, surrounded by a band with four rosettes connected by garlands, inscribed in Cyrillic with the days of the week from Monday till Sunday, fixed on a piédouche resting on a square base, can be opened by pressing down the two quarters of the globe by a thumbpiece on the urn on top of the handle, revealing inkwell and caster fitting into a small circular plateau. (inkpot has a small cover, not shown on photograph).

height 9 3/4 in.; width 4 in.; depth 4 in.

24.8 cm., 10.2 cm., 10.2 cm.