“Pitkin” – Blown Glass Inkwell – Green

Early American center hole inkwell; the style is referred to as a “Pitkin” style inkwell. These pattern molded inkwells are attributed to Connecticut glassworks and date from approx. 1780-1830. The following description is from an identical pattern & colour inkwell listed online – “BLOWN-MOLDED GIII-29 INKWELL, dark olive green, plain base with rough pontil mark. Attributed to Keene, NH. The McKearins – American Glass, p. 256, pl. 94.”
Pattern molding was a process of forming a basic design pattern (typically ribs) on an expanding gob of glass via a dip mold with an engraved design. “Pitkin” style inkwells were made by a number of regional glasshouses like Pitkin Glassworks, Coventry Glassworks, and Keene.
This ink was blown in a three-piece leaf mold, has a blow-pipe pontil scar on the base, is 4cm tall and 5.7cm in diameter, and has a flattened “disk” type finish surrounding the central bore that was formed with simple glassmaker tools. The body design is referred to as a “geometric” pattern which was a molded take-off or loose imitation of English or Irish cut glassware of the period.
Excellent condition with no chips or cracks. Small “leak” of glass at the mold seam (not damage, just a minor flaw in production). The colour is the rarer green hue. Base shows some minor rubbing from 200 years of sitting on desks/shelves.