This is an antique circa early 1900s brass blue crab inkwell for your consideration. It is missing the porcelain insert. It has  great patina for over the years giving it a nice dark color. It has great detail which other modern copies just don't have. The top of the shell is engraved "Dr. D.L. Thompson" so it did indeed belong to a doctor. On the back fin underside we can see the letters WM and possibly the number 1 or the letter I. The crab's arms are held to the body with flat head pins, not screws like modern pieces. The hinge that holds the tip and bottom together is also of very early design. This is just a wonderful looking crab. It is about the size of an actual live blue crab (please see the photos). It is also over 2 pounds.