INKSTAND

A desk stand supporting a variety of writing accessories.
It is made in various forms, but the basic examples are:

- an oblong box with hinged lid, holding inkpot and a pounce-pot. Sometimes a sealing-pot case and a wafer-pot are added. Quill pens are held on a drawer or on a compartment on the back;

- a tray, upon which rest inkpot, pounce-pot, sand-box, quill-pot, wafer-box. Sometimes the inkpot is surmounted by a taperstick and a hand bell.
The tray has various forms (rectangular, oval, triangular) and is supported by four feet (in the form of ball or paw). The inkstand has usually a guard ring or suitable recesses in which to place the writing accessories.

Pounce-pot: used for sprinkling pounce (a powder used both to dry ink and to make paper smooth for writing)

Sealing wax case: containing a resinous preparation, soft when heated, used for sealing letters

Inkpot: receptacle for ink

Sand-box: containing the powder used to dry ink

Wafer-box: containing a dried paste, gelatin, or the like, used for sealing letters

Taperstick: a taper lit to heat the sealing wax

Quill-pot: containing small lead shot for cleaning the ink from the nib of quill pens