Inkstand ca. 1730 French The inkstand was an indispensable object for the letter writer and could be made of many materials. Those of gilt bronze would complement beautifully the mounts of the writing table it was placed on. It contained an inkpot and a container with a perforated lid for fine sand or pounce, used for blotting the excess ink, on a tray that would also hold the quills, a knife and the sealing wax. A bell to notify the servant that a letter was ready for delivery is found in the middle.. Inkstand 202576