The Role and Evolution of Inkwells Through the Centuries

Inkwells have quietly accompanied the history of humanity with surprising constancy. They are small objects, often forgotten, but capable of evoking entire worlds: the scratch of a pen on paper, the scent of fresh ink, the thoughtful silence of a study lit by candlelight. From rudimentary containers to elaborate collector’s pieces, the inkwell has adapted and transformed, while remaining a faithful companion to the written word.

The earliest traces of inkwells date back to Ancient Egypt, where scribes used wooden containers to hold red and black ink. Among the Romans, the term calamus initially referred to the stylus, the writing stick, and only later extended to include the ink containers, often made of glazed terracotta. Many examples have been found in Pompeii, bearing witness to the widespread use of writing in everyday life.

In the Middle Ages, inkwells were essential tools in monastic scriptoria, where monks copied religious and classical texts by hand. These inkwells were often simple, embedded into holes in wooden desks.
During the Renaissance, everything changed: writing became not only a practical task but also an aesthetic act, an expression of self. Inkwells evolved accordingly. Crafted from chased bronze, worked brass, glazed ceramics, and often shaped as animals or allegories, they became not only containers but true works of art, worthy of elegant desks beside busts, rare books, and scientific instruments.

Between the 19th and 20th centuries, with educational progress and increasing literacy, inkwells entered mass production. Pressed glass models became common—affordable and functional, intended for schools and offices.
Travel inkwells were developed in metal or leather, equipped with sealed lids to prevent leakage. For bourgeois desks, refined bases appeared, featuring double inkwells, pen holders, candlesticks, and bells. Writing became a daily ritual, and the inkwell its centerpiece.

With the rise of fountain pens and later ballpoint pens, inkwells gradually lost their practical role. However, in their quiet retreat, they gained new meaning.
They became collectible items, tangible witnesses of a time when each word required care, time, and attention. Collectors seek antique and signed pieces—those from schools, post offices, or artist studios. Inkwells tell stories: of the hands that used them, the thoughts they witnessed, the eras they passed through.

Today, a restored or simply rediscovered inkwell is not just a vintage decorative object. It is a bridge between generations, a symbol of mindful slowness and the value of handwritten words. It contains the silence of libraries, the echo of old correspondence, the dedication of those who chose ink over haste.
For those who love writing, it remains one of the most fascinating objects one can have on a desk. Having one nearby means embracing memory and making space for a more intimate and reflective way of communicating. It’s an invitation to slow down, to listen, to reflect. And perhaps, to truly write again.

That’s why, in the section of our shop dedicated to "The Writer’s Corner", inkwells are a must.
You’ll find a wide variety—from school glass models to elegant antique pieces in brass or ceramic, all carefully selected to offer not just beauty, but also an authentic fragment of history to cherish and use. Because every desk deserves an object that speaks to the heart, not just the hand.