A FINE THAI GUILLOCHE ENAMELLED AND NIELLO SILVER INK BLOTTER, Thailand, South East Asia, 19th century, of typical shape, resting on a smooth, curved, crescent-like blotter, backed by a stepped nielloed silver panel with a bulbous, knob-like handle in the centre, the outer border of the silver panel engraved with fine vegetal scrollwork with stylised lotus flowers, the same motif repeated in niello as background to the inner perimeter, further enhanced by two polychrome guilloche enamelled decorative elements, a Western monogram with interlocked letters and a Thai crown, the nielloed handle decorated with stylised lotus flower design, an inscription in Western characters to the left short side reading R. K. Luhar, 7.5cm x 16cm x 9cm. Most probably a royal commission, this silver ink blotter features several fine qualities, including the use of precious materials and foreign techniques, like polychrome guilloche enamel. The crown insignia possibly ascribes it to Thai royalty and the fact the blotter is covered by a fine sheet of silver, instead of iron or steel, seems to corroborate a royal attribution.