Casgliadau Arlein

Inkwell of electroplated silver, in the form of a globe on a large circular flat base; the underside of the base covered with black leather, the upper side with an outer border consisting of a scrolling ribbon, entwined with a vine issuing berries, the ribbon inscribed with the names of artists, scientists and others, surmounted by vignettes of men at work; a male figure sitting at a cauldron with shovels and spades in the background, perhaps representing the mining of precious metals, a man harvesting a crop, possibly cotton or flax, a young shepherd dressed in classical style with sheep and a dog, a man sitting at a weaving loom, a figure, probably intended to represent a merchant seated and writing, a potter shaping a vase on a wheel, a man seated with packages and an open book, possibly intended to represent a dockside scene, a man measuring cloth from a roll and a male figure carrying a package, possibly a bale of cotton in a colonial type landscape with palm trees; all contained within ornate panels interspersed with ornate Gothic arching and three caducei surmounted with shields, containing, a harp with a caryatid column, representing Ireland, a lion rampant, representing Scotland and three lions passant, representing England, the bases of the caducei entwined respectively with shamrocks, thistles and roses; the flat base surmounted in the centre with a small globe, forming the inkwell, hinged at the equator and flat chased with geographical representations with inscriptions of various cities regions and oceans.