330: A FINELY CARVED DIEPPE LOCOMOTIVE FORM INKWELL

An outstanding French Dieppe carved from porous bone inkwell sander in the form of an early steam locomotive, the intricate scroll cut sides and ends enclose a platform fitted with silver plated inserts for ink and drying agent, these sit on another platform with rounded ends having a conforming half-round railing, one of those ends being mounted with a fancy fretted smokestack, everything sits on three pairs of ornate wheels.

Dieppe is a coastal town on the northeastern coast of France famous for it's fine carving tradition, much of which was created by prisoners in the famous British military prison maintained there during the Napoleonic wars.
Measures 3.25 x 4.5 x 1.5 inches.
Very good original condition throughout, noting one small bit of lost fretwork lower left corner of one side panel, there are no other issues of damage, loss, repair or heavy wear.
$400 - $600