Bidspirit auction | Imperial Russian Octagonal Glass Inkwell

Imperial Russian Octagonal Glass Inkwell with Ruby Stained Cabochons and Brass Cap - An Imperial Russian glass inkwell of octagonal form, featuring a clear glass body decorated with ruby-stained oval and rectangular cabochon accents. The vessel is constructed with a waisted, star-burst-shaped footprint and is fitted with a hinged, stepped brass cap and collar. The underside of the base features an embossed circular mark around a central heraldic motif. The mark includes a double-headed eagle with outstretched wings and a shield at the center of the chest. Encircling this device is an embossed Cyrillic inscription. Starting from the bottom left and moving clockwise, the characters read TOBAPИЩECTBO followed by a space and then MAHLOBO CKO... with the remaining characters obscured by wear and light reflections. The presence of this specific mark, identifying the Maltsov Brothers Partnership (Товарищество Мальцовских заводов), identifies the piece as a product of the Russian Empire. Height: Approximately 3 1/8 inches to the top of the cap. Width: Approximately 3 3/4 inches at the widest point of the base. The glass body shows surface wear, including numerous small scratches and abrasions throughout, particularly visible on the base (photo 2). The ruby staining remains largely intact with minor surface scratches (photo 1). The edges of the glass facets show typical minor flea bites (photo 5). The brass cap and collar exhibit oxidation, tarnish, and a dull patina (photo 6). There is visible residue, likely dried ink or plaster, inside the brass collar and on the interior rim of the glass (photo 6). No major cracks or large chips are visible in the provided photographs.