Customer Reviews

The Collector's World of Inkwells

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As an avid inkwell collector I was very excited about a new book coming out on the subject. The last books I got on inkwells were the Badders' books from 1995, so I was ready for an update. Wow, was I disappointed! First, the book is not organized in any way. It seems they may have tried to organize by subject matter (lion, girl, etc.)but this system is erratic. Secondly, they have obviously not taken into account the market fluctuations due to online auctions. I have seen mint inkwells sell for $250 where this book estimates values at $300-$500. On the other hand, I have seen an estimate of a $200 inkwell selling for $400. These examples are not a "one time" situation, they are consistant. I realize that this is probably a difficult factor to add into estimating, but if you are going to call yourself an expert and publish a book about it, you should consider all factors.

Featuring more than 1,000 photographs of inkwells and inkstands, The Collector's World Of Inkwells is a benchmark publication and a "must" for all inkwell collectors. Included are examples spanning the mid-eighteenth century to the early twentieth century by drawn from American, European, and Asian manufacturers and artists. Here are to be found examples from Tiffany, Wedgwood, Quimper, Staffordshire, Sandwich, and Vaseline glass, majolica, art pottery, faience, milk glass, and Delft. Examples are also provided of inkwells of porcelain, sterling silver, pewter, cast iron, brass, wood, and other natural materials. Some are decorated with precious and semi-precious stones, others are combination pieces. Jean and Franklin Hunting draw upon their considerable expertise to provide detailed descriptions, an historical perspective, tables on United States patents and designs, an up-to-date price guide, and an index. The Collector's World Of Inkwells is an invaluable, indispensable, beautifully presented reference work that could well become a collector's item in and of itself!