RARE ATQ 17th C. English Oak Inkwell Block Quill Holder Desk Base Socket Treen For Sale

Up for sale is an authentic 17th-century (circa 1600s) English oak writing desk socket and inkwell block featuring an integrated quill holder. Hand-crafted from solid, dense English oak with rich, dark oxidized patina, this piece was designed to sit on or mount to a writing desk, ledger stand, or writing slope. It showcases a central bored socket with an open thru-hole--displaying heavy, genuine ink staining from centuries of use--alongside a secondary top hole crafted specially to hold a feathered quill upright.
The underside exhibits historic white mounting residue from original adhesive attachment, alongside a heavy, period coarse-threaded iron lag screw. This screw represents an early functional adaptation/repair-installed when the original glue joint loosened over centuries of use to permanently re-anchor the block to a writing desk. This historic structural adaptation remains tight and stable, adding significant provenance, character, and inherent value to the piece. No modern repairs or structural restoration.
Footprint: Approx. 4" X 4" X 3 3/4" (hand-hewn timber, slightly irregular; two sides measure 4", adjacent side measures 3 3/4"
Height: Approx. 2"
Central inkwell diameter: Approx. 2"
Quill holder diameter: 1/2"
Weight: 10oz (approx. 0.63lbs.)
Historical Context & Design Parallel:
This inkwell block is a prime example of early English desk hardware used throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Desk blocks featuring identical bored sockets, quill stand, and heavy timber mounting can be seen in surviving period writing spaces today--most notably within the 15th century Guildhall at King Edward VI School in Stratford-Upon-Avon, where William Shakespeare attended school in the 1570s. While this block is an authentic surviving period piece rather than a site relic, its directly reflects the exact style of ink and quill sockets mounted on the desks and ledger stands of early English schoolrooms, law offices, and writing houses of the Jacobean era.
As a one-of-a-kind historical artifact, I strive to describe all items as accurately and thoroughly as possible through detailed research and close up photography. Please review all photos carefully as they form an integral part of the item condition.Packed securely, fully insured, and signature confirmation required upon delivery. and shipped promptly.