Just the most Glorious Victorian Bronze Pen Wipe

THE STORY - It was the naive charm of this dear pig that first caught my attention, I fell in love with the form of his face with his wide snout and two simple round indents for eyes and those ears which although simply formed for me instantly shout pig. And then I held him and I was taken with the sense of just what a substantial piece he is and I really liked that. The pig is quite large I think for a pen wipe measuring approx 4" / 10cm in length and is made from bronze giving him that beautiful weight and on his head he has impressed what looks like the word 'Dinant'. Dinant is a small town in Belgium which I believe has a history of artisanship in Bronze, Brass and Copper products as it sits on a river which allowed the ease of access for the raw materials necessary to make these products. I also understand it is a very beautiful spot, so it does make sense that this little chap would of been bought as a Souvenir. Tours of Europe were very popular in the 1800s with those who were in a position to afford them as they were seen as a form of education. I imagine this little guy was probably purchased towards the end of the Victorian Period circa 1880. Pen Wipes were much needed accessories in the study as it would undoubtedly have been either with a dip or possibly fountain pen correspondence would have been written and one of the unfortunate downsides is that the nib could at times get clogged up, hence the need for a pen or nib wipe with which one would clean the nib through of the brushes of the wipe, and I imagine the brushes on this Pen Wipe are like those of many others of this time time from Hog Hair.

AGE - Circa 1880

CONDITION - This pen wipe I think in very good condition. I do want to point out that his colour does look different in different photos and for me I think the best representation of his colour is the second photo. In the impression of the word 'Dinant' there is what looks like a casting fault in the bronze, but I guess it could be a chip, it can best be seen in the fourth photo. He stands firmly on a flat surface and his bristles are still ample, if feels as if they sit unattached in the pig but I have not tried to take them out to check this and on occasion an odd bristle has escaped.

DIMENSIONS (Approx) - Length 4" / 10cm, Height 2&1/4" / 6cm, Depth 1&1/4" / 3.5cm

I love the thought of this darling pig giving such happiness to both the original purchaser as they came across it whilst touring Dinant, both in the sweetness of the pig and the thought of the person they were going to gift him to, or maybe they were going to keep them for themselves as a reminder of their tour. And how this pig still makes me smile, but now the excitement of the new has disappeared but it is replaced with the wonder of the beauty of age and trust me he wears that age well.