This is a vintage Theo. Alteneder & Sons drafting inkwell holder. It is a cast iron
mechanical inkwell holder designed for technical drawing and drafting. The item
features a lever mechanism and was patented around November 14, 1930. A red
and gold decal is typically found on the back near the lever.
The primary function of an inkwell holder (or inkstand/standish) was
to provide a stable, covered reservoir of ink for use with dip pens
(quill and steel-nib pens), which lacked an internal ink supply.