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Elkington & Co. Silver Inkwell of Henry Morton Stanley
Elkington & Co. Silver Inkwell of Henry Morton Stanley
Elkington & Co. Silver Inkwell of Henry Morton Stanley
Elkington & Co. Silver Inkwell of Henry Morton Stanley
Elkington & Co. Silver Inkwell of Henry Morton Stanley
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Elkington & Co. Silver Inkwell of Henry Morton Stanley

  • This silver inkwell was presented to Henry Morton Stanley for his marriage by the future King
  • It bears Stanley's monogram and the crest of the Prince & Princess of Wales
  • Produced by Elkington & Co., no detail was spared in its creation
  • Stanley’s discovery of Livingstone made the journalist a hero and international celebrity
  • Get complete item description here
$48,500
Item No. 31-7482

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Description
This exceptional sterling silver inkwell was presented to Henry Morton Stanley, the famed Welsh-American journalist, politician and explorer, on the occasion of his marriage to Dorothy Tennant. The inkwell was a royal gift from the Prince of Wales, the future King George V, and the Princess of Wales. The charming inkstand was designed by Walter & John Barnard for the royal silversmiths Elkington & Co., and no detail was spared in its creation. Each inkwell. . .
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This exceptional sterling silver inkwell was presented to Henry Morton Stanley, the famed Welsh-American journalist, politician and explorer, on the occasion of his marriage to Dorothy Tennant. The inkwell was a royal gift from the Prince of Wales, the future King George V, and the Princess of Wales. The charming inkstand was designed by Walter & John Barnard for the royal silversmiths Elkington & Co., and no detail was spared in its creation. Each inkwell bears Stanley’s monogram, while the crest of the Prince and Princess adorns the delicately pierced tray. The inscription reads, “To H. M. Stanley on the occasion of his marriage / From the Prince & Princess of Wales / July 12th, 1880.”

Born in Wales, Henry Morton Stanley’s lifetime of adventure began at the young age of 15 when he crossed the Atlantic aboard a merchant vessel and jumped ship in New Orleans. The young orphan was taken in by a local merchant named Henry Morton Stanley, whose name he took as his own. Stanley began a career as a journalist and was commissioned by the New York Herald to go to Central Africa in search of the famous missionary David Livingstone in 1871 who had gone missing while on his expedition. It is said Morton uttered, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume...” when the journalist finally found him on the shore of Lake Tanganyika on November 10 of that very year. Stanley’s discovery of the once-lost missionary made him both a hero and an international celebrity. He later returned to Great Britain, where he was knighted and served as a member of Parliament from 1895 to 1900. 

Known as one of the finest 19th-century producers of electroplate wares, Elkington & Co. created pieces of individual and exceptional design. Founded during the 1830s, the firm invented and perfected the art and science of silver plating, and they were awarded a patent for this revolutionary technique in 1838. Soon after, they began receiving commissions from the most esteemed clientele and the highest honors at the International Exhibitions. The firm was the supplier of flatware to the luxury dining sections of the Titanic and enjoyed years of Royal commissions from Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII as well as the monarchs of Spain and Italy.

Bears hallmark of Walter & John Barnard and standard mark
Stamped “ELKINGTON & CO. LTD / SILVERSMITHS / 22 REGENT ST / LONDON”

Circa 1880

Tray: 4" high x 12 3/8" wide x 7 7/8" deep
Inkwells: 3 1/4" high x 2 1/2" wide
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Elkington & Co. Silver Inkwell of Henry Morton Stanley
Maker: Elkington & Co.
Period: 19th Century
Origin: England
Type: Inkstands
Style: Victorian
Depth: 7.88 in. (20.0 cm)
Width: 12.38 in. (31.43 cm)
Height: 4.0 in. (10.16 cm)
Buy with Confidence

At M.S. Rau, we are committed to building a long-term, rewarding relationship with each and every client. That’s why your purchase is backed by our 125% guarantee.

Learn More

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The M.S. Rau Difference

The M.S. Rau Difference

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M.S. Rau is committed to offering fine art of the highest caliber and we seek paintings and sculpture by historically renowned artists, often with impressive provenance. The large majority of our works of art come from private collections; many are fresh to the market. Founded on Bill Rau’s expertise in the field, our specialisms range from Old Master pictures to Modern Art masterpieces. We regularly exhibit Dutch, Flemish, and Italian Old Masters, Academic, Orientalist, Barbizon, Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Maritime & Sporting, British Neoclassical and American Illustration.

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For more than a century, M.S. Rau has offered clients a superb selection of the highest quality jewelry. From the rarest colored diamonds, to the most sublime gemstones, to the most exquisite designer jewelry, M.S. Rau houses an extraordinary collection of fine jewels to satisfy the most discerning collector. Stunning creations by Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Patek Philippe are offered alongside extreme rarities such as vivid yellow, pink and blue diamonds, coveted Burma and Kashmir sapphires and elusive Golconda diamonds prized for their fire and perfection. Iconic jewels from the Art Deco, Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Victorian periods round out the collection.

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Since 1912, M.S. Rau has been recognized as a leader in the antiques industry and today our collections of rare silver, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glass and objets d'art are second to none. Our commitment to curating the. . .

Since 1912, M.S. Rau has been recognized as a leader in the antiques industry and today our collections of rare silver, furniture, clocks, porcelain, glass and objets d'art are second to none. Our commitment to curating the world’s most extraordinary and beautiful treasures has remained steadfast and our acquisition philosophy is simple: seek out and acquire only the very finest works whose provenance, beauty and rarity set them apart from all others. Our clients can be certain that each and every piece in our gallery has been hand-selected and carefully vetted for authenticity, condition and provenance. And, because our network of contacts spans generations, we are often able to acquire pieces that may have otherwise never been available on the market.

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