Welcome to the world of inkwells!

My name is Leonid Belsky

I have been collecting inkwells for many years. My collection include over 500 inkwells from the 1st century AD to the 21st century.

In my collection, there are inkwells from over 50 countries, crafted from an array of materials including silver, bronze, brass, porcelain, ceramic, pewter, cast iron, glass, wood, bones and various others.

My collection also include a wide range of antique ink writting tools and accessories.

World of inkwells

Explore the transformation of inkwells, from simple, utilitarian vessels to ornate and luxurious items that became symbols of wealth and artistic expression.

The earliest forms of inkwells can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. In Europe, prior to the sixteenth century, writing was considered to be a lowly task. A scribe would write using a quill pen and ink on behalf of the aristocrat.

From the seventeenth century onwards the art of writing spread across Europe and inkwells became more decorative. Inkwells made from porcelain, sterling silver, pewter, cast iron, brass, wood, and other natural materials became fashionable.

I invite you to the world of inkwells!

Twelve inkwells from Leonid Belsky's collection, each representing a unique piece of writing history!

A Victorian horse's hoof inkwell with silver mounts

Maker's mark of Horace Woodward & Co, Birmingham,1888

Louis fifteenth style chinoiserie inkstand.

The inkwell has a hinged lid. A pen rest is across the front. The bird, stump, flowers, and inkwell are porcelain; the base, trees, lid, a rack are bronze. France.

English Silver Plated & Cut Glass Dog Inkwell.

The ink stand is made with a sculptured dog, set on a textured oval base simulating grass.

A Victorian horse's hoof inkwell with silver mounts

Maker's mark of Horace Woodward & Co, Birmingham,1888

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"The mysterious world of inkwells". Exibition at Mytishy Art Gallery.

"Animal inkwells".
Exhibition at Moscow Darwin Museum.

Selected inkwells from Leonid Belsky collection.

"The History of Ink Writing" project

"In an age of technology where e-mail, texting, and Twitter have become ubiquitous, handwriting are considered archaic and irrelevant by young people. Once-commonplace tools, inkwells become forgotten......"

"The History of Ink Writing" project objectives:

Organize educational exhibitions to engage young people and spark their interest in handwriting, inkwells, and ink writing tools.
Conduct handwriting workshops where visitors can explore the art of writing using old fashioned tools, such as reeds, quills, and dip pens.
Publish captivating stories about inkwells and ink writing tools.

Recent Exibitions

"Ink Kingdom"

Exibition at the Vorontsovo estate.

5,000 Years of the evolution of Inkwells and Ink Writing Instruments: from reed and quils to dip and fountain pens.

More than 200 exhibits showcasing the history of ink writing, from ancient Egypt to the present day. Inkwells and ink accessories from many countries.

3D tour

"World of Fountain Pens"

Exibition at the Lublino palace.

The history of fountain pens over the last 150 years: from the first Waterman eyedroppers to modern limited-edition pens.

Legendary pens from Waterman, Parker, Sheaffer, Pelikan, Montblanc.., along with limited edition pens and unique, one-of-a-kind fountain pens.

Over the past three years, Leonid Belsky, together with his colleagues, has organized ten exhibitions that attracted more than 50,000 visitors across various museums and art galleries.

Hundreds of workshops were conducted during the exhibitions, with thousands of participants experimenting with various old fashioned ink writing tools, such as reeds, quills, and dip pens.

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Leonid wrote and published over 30 articles on the history of inkwells and ink writing tools. He is also the publisher of a magazine titled "World of Inkwells".