Similar inkwell was presented to Tsar Nicholas II by Edward VII upon Tsar Nicholas II visit to Osborne House 1909, engraved Dear cousin Nicholas, your gift of the mirror proved most favourable with the Empress, Edward R Osborne 1909, 9.5cm high, approximate weight 170.4g

Decorated with classically inspired decoration and applied motifs of seated goddesses and victor's laurels

It has gilt bronze mounts with rams head corners, floral swags, with an acanthus leaf and floral cap, all finely detailed in the Neoclassical style.

Inkwell XVI-early XVII centuries. Russia. Plot: "Battle of Lion and Unicorn“.  The emblem pair of "Lion and Unicorn" was widespread in Russian culture of the XVI-XVII centuries. Used by scribes.  A number of scribes increased dramatically, when Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov was in power (1645 -1676).

The hinged cover inscribed 'Bird on the Wing, Foaled 1871, Died 1888', maker's mark of Horace Woodward & Co, Birmingham 1888

Jennens & Bettridge Birmingham and London; papier-mâché ware manufacturers (1816–70) . In 1825 they  took out a patent for ‘ornamenting papier-mâché with pearl shell’. In the early 1850s they become the largest manufacturer of papier-mâché ware in the world,