If These Shirts Could Talk: The Tantalizing Tales Behind Used Clothes
Jockeying for Position: How Boxers and Briefs Got Into Men's Pants
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
In the Hot Seat: Is Your Antique Windsor a Fake?
Bizarro Beauty Products, from 1889 to Now
Love at First Kite: How Pizza and Pente Led to One Oklahoman's High-Flying Obsession
Pin-Up Queens: Three Female Artists Who Shaped the American Dream Girl
Say Ahhh: An Oral Surgeon's Quest to Reimagine the Garage-Band Guitar
Tokens for Sweethearts, in Times of War
American Picker Dream, Part I: Mike Wolfe On His Love Affair With Bikes
Posted 8 months ago
Hems303
(49 items)
A "Jewel in the Crown" of my collection! Strangely enough we do not know by who or when it was made. There is no Makers Mark, no Hallmarks, no nothing! All I know is that it came from the estate of a 98 year old lady in Herefordshire (England) and it belonged to her parents when they lived in that beautiful Georgian Spa Town of Bath. She recounted to her daughter (who sold it) that it had been "specially made" for her parents.
This propelling pencil has been very carefully tested, so as not to do irreparable damage, and it tests for at least 14 carat gold. As the "standard" most common in Victorian England was 15 carat, it is 99% certain to be 15ct. The construction and engraving is typically English Victorian and was probably made in Birmingham or Chester as the family had it's business and social "sphere" entirely in the Western reaches of England, which precludes London, the other centre of excellence for objects such as this. (Supposition based on circumstantial evidence)
Details:
Antique 15ct Gold propelling pencil and reversible dip pen. The double-ended section carrying the propelling pencil and dip pen, very crisply slides into and out of the body section with a well engineered interference fit. This whole section, which ever implement is chosen, then slides into the body using the slide ring decorated with the very finest worked acanthus leaves I have ever seen. It is an absolute tour-de-force of the jewellers skill. I had never handled such exquisite work! I saw it and just had to buy it. It has a striking un-engraved yellow/orange semi-precious stone seal on the finial in the shape of a double recurving shield. Extended Length is 13cm. Retracted Length is 9cm. Weight is 13.2g
The pencil tip is marked with an "M" which many people think denotes "Mordan" as the maker; as in Sampson Mordan. This is not true, it denotes the type of lead applicable to the pencil. It is true that this protocol or specification was laid down by Mordan in his Granted Patent, but it does not mean he made it, as many other Makers adopted his "standardisation of leads" system.
See my post below for the Patent that laid down the lead nomenclature:
See the 4th photo (the far right photo):
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/69693-1825-sampson-mordan-dip-pen-and-pencil
PencilsThe modern pencil was born in 16th-century England, where, in Cumbria, a ma…
Gold PensAs pens became items of luxury and status rather than mere utilitarian tool…
Here's a live link to the Collectors Weekly post that in the 4th photo gives the Mordan Patent for his pencil design, but more importantly the widely, and quickly adopted standardisation for leads in English Victorian propelling pencils:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/69693-1825-sampson-mordan-dip-pen-and-pencil?in=user
Beautiful Hems!...:-)
STUNNING , WOW VERY BEAUTIFUL:)
Thanks mustangtony for your love it! Much appreciated. I like your newly posted early magazine advertisements...especially the Irish one! Must just go and make myself an Irish Coffee right now!...the power of the advert...even after all these years! LOL
many thanks to vetraio50 and AR8Jason for the appreciation! (AR8Jason; I read your interview in the CW Feature this week on Masonic Collectables...Most impressive!)
For all the kind support, I thank walksoftly, miKKoChristmas11, bratjdd, robinj, pickrknows, BELLIN68, mustangtony and last but never least; inky!
(10)
Here is a link to my CW Post dealing with Lead Refills for Antique propelling pencils, especially Mordan examples:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/75513-sampson-mordan-lead-refills-for-gold-and-s
Kerry; Thanks for the "love", very kind of you!
Steve, you're welcome,did they make these in "ivory" if so I might have one.
Kerry & AR8Jason; sounds good, please post your ivory examples! The makers used alsorts of materials but the non-metal examples are quite rare by comparison, presumably because they were more fragile or perhaps less cherished years ago
Steve
Kevin, I'll dig it out tomorrow , after I get home and post, looks like the same style tube, but missing the end(pencil) section
AR8Jason & kerry10456; Did you manage to find your pencils?
I took the trouble to have some (re-)valuations done before the holiday; just for info; this pencil/pen combo came in at: 185.00 GBP = 298.00 USD
Yes, thanks Kevin, I did see your fine specimens and saved them into my CW "Collection", I don't think kerry has posted yet, and I think I wrongly thought you had some more "hidden away" :)
I'm a pencil & "penaholic" and can't get enough.....must seek therapy this year..lol
i have one but it is a personal tooth pike.
With regard to comments .14, .15 & .18 above: It is with regret that I point out that AR8Jason has deleted ALL his Collectors Weekly posts showcasing his beautiful and extensive collection of antique gold, silver pens and pencils. This has also caused ALL of his items we have put into our Collectors Weekly "Collections" to be no longer available.
Hello Hems and how are you?
Hi Sean. I'm very well, weather is dreadful for spring (in England) just had a sudden, unexpected heavy snow storm that has brought everything to a standstill (as usual). So having a restful weekend tucked up in front of the fire posting on good old CW!
Hope You & Yours are well!
Best wishes from a very white and quiet Shropshire!
Steve