Rare 1881 Victorian Sterling Silver Inkstand Desk Set by George Fox, London

For sale is an exceptionally rare, fully complete, and authentic Victorian sterling silver desk inkstand set, crafted in London in 1881 by the highly collectible master silversmith George Fox.

Finding a complete, un-pieced desk tidy where the heavy crystal bottle, the silver collar, the lid medallion, and the central tray crest all match seamlessly is an absolute rarity on the Irish market.
Specification & Provenance:

Silversmith/Maker: George Fox, London (stamped with the distinctive 'GF' cloud punch mark). The Fox workshop was famous for refusing mechanical assembly lines, sticking strictly to traditional hand-wrought craftsmanship.

Assay Hallmarks: Fully certified on the bottle's silver collar with a flawless row of marks: Lion Passant (Sterling purity), Leopard's Head (London Assay Office),
lowercase date letter 'f' (precisely dating it to 1881), and the Queen Victoria Sovereign's Duty profile mark.

The Tray: Stunning solid sterling hexagonal stand featuring an intricate, beautifully pierced and chased gallery border pattern, resting on three ornate claw-and-ball feet. The tray alone weighs 304 grams.

The Inkwell: Spectacular, heavy hand-cut crystal beehive/ribbed style bottle fitted with a working hinged sterling silver collar and lid. The gross total weight of the complete assembly together is 513 grams.

Heraldry & Crest: Features a beautifully crisp, deeply hand-engraved family crest of a wild boar’s head erased (jagged neck) and transpierced by an arrow. The engraving in the center of the tray matches the raised silver medallion inset on the bottle lid perfectly.• Historically associated with prominent families such as the Ennis and Abell lineages.

Condition:
Superb antique condition. The silver holds a gorgeous bright shine, all hallmarks are incredibly crisp and deep, the hinge functions perfectly, and the heavy crystal well is beautifully preserved with zero cracks or heavy staining.

Pricing & Value:

Asking Price: €950

Serious, sensible collector offers are welcome. Please note that lowball offers near raw scrap-metal melt value will be politely ignored.

This is an investment-grade, 145-year-old museum-quality piece of Victorian history.

Collection Details:
Strictly COLLECTION ONLY in Dublin. Due to the delicate nature of the heavy antique crystal and the value of the silver, I will not risk postage. Happy to meet a serious buyer face-to-face in a secure, public location.