Syng inkstand
Artist	Philip Syng
Year	1752; 273 years ago (1752)
Type	silver inkstand
Location	Independence National Historical Park,Philadelphia

TheSyng inkstand is a silverinkstand used during the signing of theUnited States Declaration of Independence in 1776 and theUnited States Constitution in 1787. Besides paper documents, it is one of four still-existing objects that were present during theConstitutional Convention, along with theLiberty Bell, the chair thatGeorge Washington sat in as the convention's presiding officer, andIndependence Hall itself.

The inkstand was made byPhilip Syng in 1752 for theprovincial assembly of Pennsylvania.^[1] It is both a work of art and an important historical artifact, as it was used by such prominentFounding Fathers of the United States as Washington,Benjamin Franklin,Thomas Jefferson,John Hancock,Alexander Hamilton,John Adams,James Madison, and the other signers of the founding documents.^[2]

Desktop inkstands hold ink for quill pens and other tools that require ink. Ornate versions include a pen holder, an inkpot, a candle to melt sealing wax, and a pot similar to a salt or pepper shaker used to pourpounce to aid in thesizing ofparchment orvellum.^[3] The Syng inkstand is decorated in lateRococo style and includes a pounce pot, quill holder, and inkpot (left to right in the image shown).

Syng immigrated to America from Ireland in 1713. He was a renowned silversmith who created fine works in silver and gold for the wealthy families of Philadelphia. He was an associate of Benjamin Franklin and a prominent member of the Philadelphia community^[2] who assisted in founding theLibrary Company of Philadelphia, theAmerican Philosophical Society, theUnion Fire Company, and theUniversity of Pennsylvania.^[4] In 1731, Syng served as Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania.^[5]

The Syng inkstand became the property of the State of Pennsylvania and was moved to the state capital inHarrisburg soon after the Constitutional Convention ended. It was returned to the City of Philadelphia in 1876, on thecentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, where it became famous.^[2] It was displayed in Independence Hall on a desk in front of George Washington's chair. Cracks appeared in the plaster ceiling of Independence Hall in 1922 and stoked fears that the building would collapse, and the inkstand was considered such an important artifact that it was removed at the same time that the first floor was cleared of visitors.^{[citation needed]}

The National Park Service acquired the inkstand when it took over maintenance of Independence Hall from the City of Philadelphia.^[6] It is now on display in a special case inIndependence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, along with copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.^[2]

• Declaration of Independence, an 1819 painting byJohn Trumbull featuring the Syng inkstand.
• Signing of the United States Declaration of Independence
• Signing of the United States Constitution
• Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence
• Charters of Freedom

• 1752 works
• Writing implements
• Drafting of the United States Constitution
• United States Declaration of Independence
• Silver objects
• Independence National Historical Park

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