I did a translation on the text, I was figuring that they were just names, below is the before and after:
BREVE DIN Von S.G.D.G. H. FROMONT EN FRANCE & A L'ETRANGER
BRIEF DIN Von S.G.D.G. H. FROMONT IN FRANCE & THE COUNTRY
It would not stay centered over the inkwell without mounting holes, unless it were at least glued in place -- perhaps with provisions for removing and replacing the inkwells from below.
I do remember there were still inkwells in some of the desks at school in South Texas prior to the 1960s at least. They were no longer in use, and I at first wondered about them as a kid. Some of the desks just had the holes for the inkwells, without the inkwells still being present.
Mostly from a right hand opening it many times -- and a few from the left hand as well.
They could indeed be ink. Was there anything on the underside of the hinged part? The angle of view doesn't give much chance of telling it.
And where did you find this one? At a guess, in an antique store, not in a museum, where it would have been properly labeled.
Enjoy, DoN.
Someone sent me the photos, looking to find out what it is, they found it a box along with a few unfinished furniture legs that someone had given them. I don't know if there was anything on the underside of the hinged part.
Rob
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