A splendid and unusual Greek Revolution inkwell. Certainly French and from the third decade of the 19th century. The inkwell is of bronze and is oval in form. To the raised centre is the head and shoulders of probably a Turkish soldier, ( although I have seen a picture of the Greek Revolutionary hero General Yannis Makriyannis dressed in a similar way). However the conceit is probably that the figure does represent a turk and when the hinged turban is lifted it revealed that there is no top to the Turk's head and inserted within the head is the original porcelain inkwell. The figure is very well cast and has a fine moustache and his shirt is beautifully engraved as is the back of his turban. To each side of the figure are pen holders in the form of flowers and they also form the two parts of a pen stand. The oval rim is decorated with forget-me-not flowers. The whole stands upon four toupee feet. France circa 1825-30. 7 inches wide by 4.5 inches high by 4.25 inches deep ( 17.5 cm by 11.25 cm by 10.625 cm).