French gilt silver inkstand fitted to a Qing Dynasty porcelain narcissus pot with dragon motif. The French silver fitting is crafted from .800 silver in a Chinese influenced design. The piece has a central inkwell that is fitted with a glass insert and covered by a hinged lid in the form of an upturned roof. Around this inkwell are 6 compartments to house different desk accessories.

The different components are each marked with the Paris ‘petite garantie’ mark of a tête de sanglier, or boar’s head which was used on small objects with a fineness of 800/1000. A lozenge-shaped makers mark is on the surface of the piece, though it is difficult to decipher. The gilding has aged to a mellow gold hue, with some area shining in silver, such as the lid of the inkwell. The silver insert is of a heavy gauge, weighing 423 grams.

The porcelain narcissus pot is finely decorated in the famille verte color palette with iron red dragons as the primary decoration. The gilding on the edges has faded over time and there is a small edge chip that is only noticeable upon close inspection. The piece measures 6-3/4” long, 4-1/2” wide, and 3-1/2” high.