SOLD - Roycroft Hand-Hammered Copper Inkwell, c. 1900s
This item has been sold
ID: 09-3056
Roycroft hand-hammered copper inkwell, dating to the early 1900s during the peak of the American Arts and Crafts movement. It features the classic Mission-style design with a broad riveted base, a domed hinged lid with knob finial, and a finely hammered surface with original patina. The underside is stamped with the Roycroft orb-and-cross mark The lid opens to reveal the well interior, which once held a glass insert. An excellent example of functional design merged with craftsmanship. SOLD 2025
Categories: 20th Century, Containers, Vases, and Dishes, Copper, Decorative Collectibles, Ebay, Items, Metal, SOLD
Roycroft hand-hammered copper inkwell, dating to the early 1900s during the peak of the American Arts and Crafts movement. It features the classic Mission-style design with a broad riveted base, a domed hinged lid with knob finial, and a finely hammered surface with original patina.
The underside is stamped with the Roycroft orb-and-cross mark, indicating production likely between 1906 and 1920s. The lid opens to reveal the well interior, which likely once held a glass insert. An excellent example of functional design merged with craftsmanship.
The Roycroft community was a leading force in the American Arts and Crafts movement, founded in 1895 by Elbert Hubbard in East Aurora, New York. Inspired by the writings of John Ruskin and the English Arts and Crafts ideals of William Morris, Hubbard envisioned a utopian artisan colony that emphasized handcrafted quality over industrial mass production. The Roycroft campus included bookbinders, printers, furniture makers, and metalworkers, many of whom were trained on-site in a philosophy that blended artistry, labor, and ethical production.
By the early 20th century, Roycroft copperware—particularly desk accessories like inkwells, letter holders, and candlesticks—had become a hallmark of the movement’s aesthetic. The signature hand-hammered finishes, riveted forms, and warm patinas of these pieces embodied the Roycrofters’ dedication to honest materials and visible craftsmanship. Copper goods from this period were stamped with the now-iconic orb and cross “R” mark, which helps date and authenticate original works. Roycroft remained influential into the 1920s and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
