Antique Victorian probably late 1890s? Art Nouveau ink well

Antique Victorian probably late 1890s? Art nouveau ink well - truly stunning! Very heavy, hand made and beaten with original ink liner. Lovely aged patina.

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Unfortunately as much as I have looked, I can't see a makers name - such as WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, more commonly known as WMF, was an important silverware and tableware manufacturer in Germany in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. The roots of the company lie in the foundation of the small metal manufacturer 'Metallwarenfabrik Straub & Schweizer' in 1853.

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16 cm wide 13 depth 4 cm tall

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The Art Nouveau period lasted from the early 1890s to World War I. It was a decorative art style that was popular in Europe and the United States. The term "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art".

Characteristics

Organic forms

Art Nouveau is known for its flowing lines, organic shapes, and eccentric geometry

Natural inspiration

Art Nouveau was inspired by the natural world, with motifs like flowers, leaves, and roots

Muted colors

Art Nouveau often used muted colors like silvers, greens, and purples

Exotic materials

Art Nouveau used exotic materials like iridescent glass, silver, and precious stones

Influences Japanese art, The Arts and Crafts movement, and The Aesthetic movement.

Examples

The drawings of Aubrey Beardsley

The architecture of Victor Horta and Paul Hankar

The poster designs of Alphonse Mucha

Applications

painting, sculpture, jewelry, metalwork, glass, ceramics, architecture, interior design, and illustration.

ment that flourished from the 1880s to World War I. It was a reaction to the historicism of traditional design and architecture, and sought to create a "total work of art".

Origins

The Arts and Crafts movement in England in the 19th century inspired Art Nouveau.

The term "Art Nouveau" first appeared in the Belgian journal L'Art Moderne in 1884.

The movement was influenced by the work of German biologist Ernst Heinrich Haeckel, who illustrated deep-sea organisms.

Characteristics

Art Nouveau is characterized by flowing lines, organic forms, and an emphasis on beauty and craftsmanship.

It was used in many different art forms, including architecture, interior design, jewelry, glass, posters, and illustration.

Notable artists and works

Victor Horta: A Belgian designer who created the Hotel Tassel in Brussels, which is considered the first Art Nouveau building.

Maurice Denis, Pierre Bonnard, and Édouard Vuillard: French painters who integrated fine arts painting with decoration.

Emile Gallé, the Daum Brothers, Tiffany, and Jacques Gruber: Glassmakers who used the Art Nouveau style to create innovative glassware.