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Inkwell w/ Chinese Jade and Carnelian and Silver Mounts by Edward Farmer, 1920s

$16,500
£12,432.29
€14,531.90
CA$23,365.64
A$23,795.38
CHF 13,659.55
MX$287,134.36
NOK 158,307.34
SEK 160,481.93
DKK 108,646.54

About the Item

Memorialized as an art and antique dealer and "collector of Chinese jades and porcelains" in a 1942 obituary in the New York Times, Edward Farmer, like his father, traveled to China many times to gather pieces of jade and hardstone, later assembling them into gorgeous, jewel-like pieces such as this inkwell at his shop in Manhattan. This piece includes four Chinese elements: a pale green tray, a spinach jade bowl, a carved jade medallion, and a carnelian sculpture, all with engraved sterling silver mounts that Farmer himself created. The lid is hinged, and inside -- like a pearl inside an oyster -- is the inkwell, washed in gold, with a removable insert. Farmer made a number of exquisite objects over the years, including lamps and boxes, but in our opinion this is one of his finest. The piece is signed and marked "Sterling."
  • Creator:
    Edward Farmer (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 5.25 in (13.34 cm)Width: 5.75 in (14.61 cm)Depth: 4.25 in (10.8 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1920s
  • Condition:
  • Seller Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU865146477642

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