An inkstand is a small container or holder that sits on a desk and holds bottles of ink, along with pens or quills for writing. Before ballpoint pens were invented, people wrote by dipping a pen into liquid ink, so they needed a convenient place to keep their ink bottles within easy reach while working.

Traditional inkstands were often made of glass, ceramic, or metal, and the fancier ones might hold multiple ink bottles in different colors, plus have special slots for storing pens. Some inkstands were quite elaborate, with decorative designs befitting an important person's desk. Abraham Lincoln kept an inkstand on his desk in the White House, and he used it to sign important documents, including the Emancipation Proclamation.

You might see an antique inkstand in a museum or historic home today. Though we now use pens with built-in ink supplies, people who practice traditional calligraphy still use inkstands to hold their special inks and dip pens. The word inkstand helps us remember a time when writing required more tools and patience: you couldn't just uncap a pen and start scribbling.