A brass inkwell designed by C.F.A. Voysey and attributed to Jesson, Birkett & Co, circa 1905.

This inkwell was designed by Charles Francis Annesley Voysey around 1900 and a double version of this particular design was exhibited at the Annual Arts and Crafts Exhibition in 1903. The inkwell exhibited was made by Richard Llewellyn Rathbone who subsequently sold part of his business to Faulkner Bronze Company in 1902. The Faulkner Bronze Company was reconstituted as Jesson, Birkett & Co in 1904, after which  this inkwell was made.

The underside of the inkwell has the Rathbone design number “673” and an “R”. The R was used by Jesson, Birkett and Co for inkwell model numbers in their catalogues which strongly suggests that this particular inkwell was made by them.

The V&A have a version of this inkwell in their collection: