Antique Inkwell - Help with description

How would one describe the design on this antique inkwell? the faces appear somewhat Asian. Thanks for any tips!

 

Or maybe Indian!
Will be fun to see what everybody thinks!

 

Are all of the faces the same or are some smiling? Reminds me of the Tragedy and Comedy masks you often see in theaters.

 

the faces vary

 

As a collector of antique writing equipment (just in case all those posts about writing slopes isn't a hint), I would say that this would be best described as a highly-decorated solid brass inkwell. I agree that it may be of Indian manufacture, probably during the days of the Raj. It's very beautiful.

Does it have the original porcelain insert? These are often missing.

 

Shangas,

Bottom view, you can see the glass insert

 

Ah sorry, I didn't see it. That's good, then. That means it's still functional.

 

I would SO have to soak this in warm,soapy water and scrub all that buildup brasso out with a toothbrush! That's probably criminal on my part ,but my ocd would demand it.

 

I get that! but I don't polish or clean up stuff like this.

Thanks everyone for all the tips and help! I found a couple similar online but no one seems to know much more than the rest of us.

 

Don't be hard on yourself......I'd scrub it till it looked brand new.....or better !

 

Hi,
I have to concur. People that clean brass and do not rinse and dry all end up with all that gunk and paste. If you are going to polish brass, be sure to really rinse and dry. I would be scrubbing it also. I guess Rose is going to sell it so perhaps she does not want to do anything to it.
greg

 

If it was me, I'd be scrubbing that until it sparkled!!

 

Me too! Right now it looks like a temple with all the mortar oozing away. Methinks this is one of those things that cleaning will help in the sale thereof.