Prior to the modern fountain of the late 1800s most writing was done with quill dip pens or steel pointed straight pens dipped in inkwells.
The most popular materials for antique inkwells were glass and pottery because these substances resisted the corrosive effects of ink.
Glass was the most common material used in the making of inkwells but porcelain, stone, wood and shells were also used.
Most collectible inkwells are from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Some of the finest glass inkwells were produced by the three mold method.
With this method glass was blown into molds of three parts.
Most glass inkwell molds were carved with elaborate patterns imitating cut glass patterns and designs and are very valuable.
More affordable to the average collector are glass inkwells made in the late 1800s.
These inkwells were made from a mold or pressed glass.
There cost depends not only on the type of glass but also on the pattern and the manufacturer.
An inkwell is a single container of ink.
But when two or more are combined, for inks of different color, in one unit they make up an inkstand.
Inkstands may include, in addition to the ink bottles a pot filled with powdered sand for drying ink and glue container and candles used for sealing letters.
One other unusual item contained in an inkstand is a penwiper made of bristles packed tightly into a ring and used to clean crusted ink from a pen point.
Many Victorian desks were also equipped with ink knives.
Ink knives have a small blade used to scrape away errors.
You can find inkwells, ink bottles, inkstands, penwipers, ink knives at your local antique stores, flea markets but the best place is eBay.