As far as I remember, I’ve always been fascinated with ink bottles. And it all started with a Pelikan inkwell, a gift from my grandfather when I was in primary school. It was nothing special about its design, but as a kid, I loved the idea and even found the shape of the bottle quite elaborate. Time has flown by, but my passion for ink hasn’t changed. For those who share the same passion, and not only, I’ve rounded up 5 of the coolest ink bottle designs to have on your desk. From ingenious Akkerman ink bottles to Graf von Faber-Castell classics, I hope you’ll find something to suit your taste.
Akkerman
Originating from 1930, these ink bottles are designed in the shape of an Erlenmeyer flask with a wide, stable base and a long neck with a marble stopper. In addition to its unusually cool design, the ink bottle features an innovative system that allows you to easily fill your pen with ink, even when there’s little ink left inside. By tilting the ink bottle closed, the neck of the bottle will fill itself with ink. Once you place the bottle back on a flat surface, the marble will no longer allow the ink to flow back into the bottle. Containing 60ml, this ink is available in 31 wonderful shades.
Price: €17,90 EUR
S.T. Dupont
While it may not be very practical, this ink bottle designed by S.T. Dupont looks majestic and will certainly add a touch of elegance to your desk. Made out of glass in a shield shape, it has a clean finish with nicely cut edges and a solid base. Such ink bottle designs have always given me a sense of luxury. To complete the overall look of the bottle, Dupont opted for a metal cap adorned with their logo. I would have liked to see a bit more colour diversity as the ink only comes in five colours, but maybe the Parisian brand will consider new shades for the future. Each ink bottle contains 70ml of ink.
Price: €35,00 EUR
J. Herbin
A little bit overlooked, Jacques Herbin produces some wonderful inks and their ink bottles have caught my eye for a while now, especially the 1670 and 1798 series. I love their shape, but I’m absolutely fascinated by the wax seal label, perhaps the detail that makes this square ink bottle stand out. If you’re a fan of shimmer inks, you’ll love these two series even more.
Price: €29,00 EUR
Graf von Faber-Castell
The Graf von Faber-Castell ink bottle needs no introduction. Already a classic, it has one of the most appealing designs. Whenever I think of what an ink bottle should look like, I think of Graf von Faber-Castell. Not only does it look, but it feels like a very well built inkwell. It has a solid base and a finely fluted surface – an unmistakable style of the German brand. Each ink bottle contains 75ml of ink and there are 20 colour options.
Price: €24,00 EUR
Tools to live by
Designed to emulate vintage French elegance, this ink bottle is handcrafted by a Taiwanese master and is entirely made out of glass. Similar to the Akkerman in terms of shape and features (it is equipped with the same marble stopper), however more refined in terms of design. I have to admit that I am fascinated by the glass cap of this bottle, reminiscent of the lid of a beautiful cognac decanter. Each ink bottle contains KWZ iron gall ink.
Price: €70,00 EUR
