Man, motifs, writing implements and manuscripts make history. Inscriptions. prescriptions, communications and commemoratives, musical scores and manuscripts, horoscopes and religious tracts… in India, writing has been known since the earliest times. A lot of ink has flowed in praise of the hands that crafted the prose and poetry of those early days. But, what of the hands that crafted the very instruments and ink-wells from whence the ink flowed? Who recalls those artistic giants that have gone unsung into the ashes of yesterdays!

  

Ink-pot
(Maharashtra)
18th Cent. A.D.
The Museum is an edifice to these great men of India. Here you find workmanship that is unmatched in the world today. And a collection that’s unrivalled. From within these pen cases and inkwells flowed the mainstream of life and letters- A golden way to recapture and remember India’s rich cultural heritage.

Ink-well
Bronze
Inkwell
Ivory & Bronze
Inkwell
(Gujarat)
(Gujarat & Maharashtra)
19th Cent. AD
(Maharashtra & Karnataka)
18-19th Cent. AD
19th Cent. A.D


In this collection of inkwells and pen-cases is seen sheer poetry-even before it is written ! Almost all in forged or cast brass, these inkwells are both simple and ornate, with animal and bird forms, and figures of the Gods. One imaginative exhibit is in the form of a chariot drawn by horses with God Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity as the charioteer.

In ancient India there was an oral tradition from Guru to disciples. The first written evidence is found in Sindhi culture (2500 BC to 1700 BC) On the Terra-cotta bricks. Later the Samrat Ashore’s inscriptions (300 to 400 BC) throw light On Brahmi script. Some scholars opine that the Devnagri script is developed from the Brahmi script before the discovery of paper in India. The writing was done On Bhurja Patra with the help of a metal pin. A religious books & manuscripts one also made for the diffusion of religion. This is a very great utility of the art of writing.
In the collection of the Museum there are 100-150 Inkwells and Pen boxes which are of 18th to 19th Century AD belonging to Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Inkwells are made of wood, Glass, Ivory, Terracotta, Copper and Brass. Silver Inkwells and Pens are used in noble families. The brass and copper Inkwells carry the birds and animals motifs. Glass Inkwells are equipped with the stand. In case of Pen boxes there are separate space meant for Inkwell, Pens and Sand. The sand is used for drying the Ink.
 

Inkwell & Pen Box
18th Cent. A.D

Some of the Inkwells are hung in the form of large vessels. There are hooks on Inkwells for hanging purpose. The Clay Inkwells of 18th Century AD are beautiful hailing from Nepal and China. There is a separate collection of Elephant shaped Inkwells in the Museum.
The Inkwells from Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat of 18th and 19th Century AD Ivory Inkwells and Pen boxes are displayed separately in the gallery of Ivory objects. When not attached to the inkwell, the pen cases are oblong or cylindrical boxes of metal, ivory, wood and paper Mache with perforations, inlaid ivory, lacquered and painted motifs-in an array of workmanship that leaves you lost for words.