Dolphin inkstand, belonging to Sir James Caird (1864-1954), shipowner, and founder trustee and benefactor of the NMM.

The inkstand and bell are mounted on a polished oak base. Two decorative dolphins with ram's horn bodies and silver open-mouthed heads and silver tails are mounted on the base facing away from each other. The heads are stamped with the Registered Design Number 32842 (for the date 1898). On each of the dolphin's backs is a glass inkwell with a silver hinged lid, which slide into a silver mount fixed to the horn. Between the dolphin tails is suspended a small silver bell on a scroll bracket mounted to the tail of the right-hand dolphin. The flat argent of the unmarked bell is attached to the bracket by a silver pin, which allows it to swivel.


There is a depression at the front of the stand to take a pen, and two small silver stands behind it, in the forks of which rests a double-ended clapper terminating in different sized balls to ring the bell. Between them is an unengraved silver shield. A hollow-handled silver dip-pen (by Sampson Mordan & Co) with the set is engraved in cursive script: 'Presented by Captain R.C. Davenport R.N. R.N. College'.

The inkstand was originally a wedding present to Sir James Caird; it was used in the Trustee's room and later used in the Library of the NMM.