Roman Marble Double Inkwell, 2nd–3rd century AD.

Roman Marble Double Inkwell.

Roman Empire, 2nd–3rd century AD.

Measurements
11 × 4.2 × 3.2 cm

This compact double inkwell is carved from marble, its surface displaying a softly worn patina consistent with long use and handling. The oblong body is neatly worked, with one short end terminating in a shallow, scalloped indentation. The upper face contains two vertical cylindrical ink chambers, their rims subtly chamfered through wear. Surrounding the reservoirs is a panel of low-relief carving composed of scrolling vegetal motifs and interlaced tendrils within a narrow recessed frame. The sides carry similar relief decoration with alternating rosettes and scrolls, while the terminal faces bear large stylised floral devices.

The dual reservoirs correspond to Roman writing practices in which black and red pigments were employed in tandem, particularly in administrative and documentary contexts. Stone inkwells of this type represent a more select class within the broader typology of writing equipment, which more commonly survives in bronze or ceramic. The decorative vocabulary reflects Roman ornamental habits of the 2nd–3rd century AD, in which vegetal reliefs and rosette forms were widely applied to both architectural fragments and small utilitarian objects.