Charming Edme Samson “Lowestoft Ink Well”

What a great find, a French porcelain ink stand by the famous Paris firm of Samson & Company.

Rare and outstanding example of the Lowestoft Pattern with hand decorated enamel pattern often called “Chinese Lowestoft” and heavy gold trim.

Marked on bottom as shown with typical pseudo-oriental style painted symbol and a gold crown. This is from the period 1859—1870 or earlier. This lovely Desk item measures about 4.25 inches diameter with the insert (no lid) and height is about 1.50 inches to top of inkwell.

This was found in very good, condition with some wear to gold trim and enamel from normal use.

Samson began his career by making service and set piece replacements in the late 1830's. In 1845 he opened the ceramics firm Samson, Edmé et Cie at 7, Rue Vendôme (later Rue Béranger) in Paris, with the intention of supplying reproductions of ceramics on display in museums and private collections. The factory was moved to Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis in 1864 by Samson's son, Emile Samson (1837—1913). The firm either drew inspiration from other factories, or directly copied their pieces. Designs from the factories of Meissen, Serves, Chelsea, and Derby were among the reproductions Samson, Edmé et Cie produced, along with designs copied from and all the major factories of England, France and Germany.

During the eighteenth century, the market for fine china was considerable and Sampson's firm reproduced ceramics in a breadth of styles including the faience and majolica types of Italian pottery, Persian style dishes, Hispano-Moresque pottery (a blending of Islamic and European motifs, produced during the 13th to 15th centuries), plates in the Fitz Hugh pattern, as well as plates designed by his fellow Frenchmen, Bernard Palissy. Another frequent style copied by the Samson firm was the famille rose and famille verte styles produced in China between 1720 and 1790. Imari wares, named for the Japanese port where a type of richly decorated porcelain made at Arita was shipped, were also copied by Samson.

Antique Porcelain & Pottery