Zandstrooier van een inktset van tin met veer c. 1864 - 1923

This is a tin ink set with a feather made by Hendrik Kamphof, who lived from 1833 to 1923. The ink set gives us a glimpse into the world of literacy and communication of the 19th century. Consider the act of writing during Kamphof’s time; it was a skill often associated with power, education, and social status. In a society where access to literacy was not universal, the ability to write marked a clear distinction between different social classes and genders. The feather, as a writing instrument, embodies the physical connection to the creative process and the creation of knowledge. Who had access to these tools, and whose stories were being recorded? The inkwell stands as a silent witness to the stories, documents, and ideas it helped to create, reflecting the socio-political landscape of Kamphof's era. It is a reminder of how objects can embody the power dynamics of a society.