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.

This was made to commemorate the Great Exhibition of 1851, held at the Crystal Palace in London. The Exhibition was intended to demonstrate the eclectic taste of the Victorian public and to raise the international profile of British design.