Desk Items - niederkornsilver

The silversmiths at Hingelberg workshop in Denmark created this letter opener probably after 1935. The cloven silver handle of the letter opener is botanically inspired resembling two parting leaves and two united stamens, and in the void four arched wires cross; it is stamped with a crown mark and a partial unreadable mark. The stainless-steel blade has a graceful undulation to its outline and the front and back are gently curved; on the back of the blade, near the handle, are the marks “Hingelberg Stainless” in circling letters over “DENMARK”. The letter opener measures about 9” long. The letter opener is in excellent antique condition.

Unger Bros., of Newark, New Jersey, made this crystal inkwell with a hinged sterling top in the early 1900s. The cap portion of the sterling top is repousséd in the “Love’s Dream” pattern, depicting a young woman asleep in billowing mist being kissed by a cherub. Below the dome of the cap, the inkwell is stamped with Unger Bros. intertwined “U” and ”B” in a circle on either side of “STERLING 925 FINE”, followed by “PAT. FEB. 10th 1903”. The crystal base of the inkwell is block shaped with all edges beveled; the bottom of the crystal base is cut with a star. The inkwell is about 3 2/8” inches high, by 2 5/8” inches wide by 2 5/8” long. The inkwell is in very good condition, having some minor roughness to the beveled crystal that can be felt but not apparent to the eye.

This English inkwell is from Birmingham, England and was made in 1905. The top is sterling silver and fully hallmarked with an anchor (for Birmingham), a lion (for sterling silver) and an "f" for the year 1905. There is also a maker's mark of "L&S" probably for Levi & Salamann. The lid is also hallmarked with a lion and the "f".
The inkwell is of nice weight mostly from the wonderful molded crystal glass with a ribbed motif. The crystal and silver are in exceptional beautiful antique condition. There are no monograms or other engravings on this inkwell and no removals. The lid is hinged and works perfectly. The inkwell has not been buffed.
The inkwell stands approximately 3 ½” inches tall. The sterling lid is approximately 2 ½” inches in diameter and the crystal base is about 3 ½” inches in diameter. Scuffs and minor scratches on the bottom of the inkwell are consistent with years of use. The crystal has not been polished.

This is an early Georg Jensen all silver letter opener in Jensen's most popular flatware pattern, Acorn. Newer Jensen Acorn letter openers have a stainless steel blade. The overall length of this letter opener is just shy of eight inches. It is in very good vintage condition. There are no dents in the handle from being dropped. The Jensen logo stamped into the letter opener indicated that is was made pre-1927. There no monograms or other engravings on this letter opener. This piece has NOT been buffed.