inkstand

plural inkstands

1. A small tray containing pens and an inkwell; (by extension) a pot for holding ink, inkpot, inkwell.

   I beg your pardon for being here. I come to look for you, and after waiting a little while in hope of your coming in, was making use of your inkstand to explain my errand.

   1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter IX, in Mansfield Park: […], volume II, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 189

   3 more examples

   1765, Laurence Sterne, letter published in Original Letters of the Late Reverend Mr. Laurence Sterne, never before published, London: 1788, pp. 89-90, […] if I thought any thing I might hereafter write would be within their reach, I would throw the Manuscript that is now before me into the fire, and never dip my pen into my Ink-stand again […]

   If you have no ink with you, the first time you go out, stop in at a stationer’s store, and buy a small sixpenny bottle that will stand steadily alone, and answer the purpose of an inkstand.

   1864, Eliza Leslie, chapter 1, in The Ladies’ Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners: or, Miss Leslie’s Behaviour Book, Philadelphia: T.B. Peterson & Bros, page 21

   Lugar Brae anniversaried recently. Revs. G. Martin and C. W. Graham were the preachers. At the social Mr. Caleb Corbett was presented with a silver-plated inkstand as a marriage souvenir.

   1896 June 6, “Short Items”, in Geo[rge] Martin, J. C. Warner, editors, The Methodist, volume V, number 23, Sydney, N.S.W.: Wesleyan Book Depot, →OCLC, page 6, column 4