A 19th century Australian silver-mounted emu egg inkwell

A 19th century Australian silver-mounted emu egg inkwell,

by Henry Steiner, Adelaide circa 1870,

of ovoid and circular form, a central stem modelled as intertwined tree branches with four leaf supports, the pull-off cover with a kangaroo finial, the cover opens to reveal a compartment for ink, on a circular naturalistic base height 23.4cm.