Australian Sterling Silver Inkwell Presented to George Coppin, Melbourne 1858

An important Australian sterling silver inkwell by William…
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An important Australian sterling silver inkwell by William Edwards and presented to George Coppin, Melbourne, circa 1858, maker's mark W.E followed by separate kangaroo and emu marks, the well retaining its original glass liner enclosed within a hinged foliate cover raised on a domed openwork base of parrots, cockatoos, and other birds amidst fruiting grape vine and with a pen rest of vine twigs to one side, standing on four feet cast in relief with scenes respectively of a pair of kangaroos, pair of emus, a possum(?), and a further pair of emus in natural settings framed by foliate C-scrolls and with a pair of fox heads between the feet on opposing sides, the base of the cover engraved with an inscription 'To the Honble G.S. Coppin, M.L.C. From R.W. Younge as a slight token of great esteem and a sincere friendship, Melbourne, Feby 26th 1859.', the cartouche to the top of the cover engraved with a crest of a griffin rampant on a coronet, 13.5 cm high, 282g

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  • Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.

    In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • Important - Important is a word used in the antique trade to indicate an object should be ranked above other similar objects, and is therefore more valuable.

    The object could be considered important because it is by a famous designer or maker, has been shown at a major exhibition, is of exquisite workmanship, is rare or is a "one-off", was made for an important patron, and so on.

    Even further up the pecking order are objects that are described in catalogue descriptions as highly important or extraordinarily important.
  • Foliate - Decorated with leaves or leaf-like forms.
  • Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
  • Griffin / Griffon / Gryphon - A griffin, also known as a griffon or gryphon, is a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle. It is typically depicted as a powerful and majestic beast, with the body and legs of a lion and the head, wings, and talons of an eagle. The griffin is widely recognized as a symbol of strength, courage, and guardianship, and has been used in a variety of cultures throughout history.

    In ancient mythology, the griffin was often associated with the gods and was considered a symbol of divine power. In ancient Greece, for example, the griffin was associated with the sun god Helios, while in ancient Egypt, it was associated with the goddess Hathor. In medieval European heraldry, the griffin was used as a symbol of strength, valour, and protection, and was often featured on the coats of arms of noble families.

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