What is this thing? It is Delft.

[ccrjones]

Can someone tell me what this is?? It is Delft.

[KC]

bulb planter?

[ironlord1963]

What are the Diminsiions?    Could it be a Ink well?

[waywardangler]

I am guessing a potpourri burner or one of those oil scent burners if one of the other two sides that are not shown is open.

[ccrjones]

It's 4.5 cm on each side  and across the top and 4 cm high. The center hole is just over 2 cm and the smaller holes are .5 cm.  No open sides...

Thanks!

[fancypants]

I'd say it's a square Delft tulip vase with a frog top .

Sorta like the one in the image below .

[ccrjones]

Thanks everyone! I found it on Ebay....it is an ink well!

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here's the Ebay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-RETIRED-OUD-DELFT-QUILL-HOLDER-INKWELL-INK-WELL-/200477670503?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2ead667c67

I'm going to agree with the Ebay seller that this is a reproduction, first because it does not look like an old Delft mark. Second because there is more than one of these obviously despite the "personalization" for Edmond H. and the date.

Here is a page showing old Holland hallmarks:
http://www.oldandsold.com/pottery/holland1.shtml

The Ebay item has an impressed 1972 on the Ebay item. ccrjones I'd be interested to know if yours does too. It was hard to read anything in the photo of the bottom. It also looked way to squeaky clean, shiney new to me to be 1755.

Here's a couple of examples of old non-repro Delft inkwells

[ccrjones]

It has a 1981 stamp....

[talesofthesevenseas]

Whoops photo #2 doesn't allow links. The inkwell is the heart-shaped one in the first photo. Sounds like 1981 is the actual date of manufacture to me- Anyone else have thoughts on that?

[gingertomantiques]

Need to know anything about pottery or porcelain, the backstamp says it all as always (1981)
Delft ? yes,
copy ? yes,
Antique of the future ? yes in 100 years

[ccrjones]

 

[KC]

still agree that this is a bulb forcer.  Can even see this post on ebay for the heart with 1 large bulb and 3 smaller ones says they came from a gardener home! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330438611293

Very common in the 60's to 70's and has been used by gardeners/lovers of Holland bulb for many, many years.

Have seen these come out prior to spring for years.  Usually with a larger bulb (like a hyacinth or amaryllis for the middle and paperwhites, narcissus or crocus for the smaller ones).

These are commercially reproduced and would put value at $12 - $15

By-the-way the person who put that is an inkwell is cracking me up!  Why not just call it a tooth brush holder!  Ha!

[ccrjones]

The only reason it didn't seem like a bulb forcer is that it's so tiny.... see measurements above. Is if for small bulbs. It's only a few centimeters across....

[KC]

The laugh may be on me....but I still believe it is for bulbs. 

I don't believe I have ever seen an ink well with pen holders placed all the way around the well.  An ink well would have a covering for the ink (so as to not dry it out) and the pens/quills would need to be dried in between.  The center would have a separation from the rest of the interior to hold the ink and not get the tips of the pens/quills soaked.