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Author	Topic: Solid silver writing instruments
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 04-11-2008 05:14 PM [01-2642] I just did some appraisal research on an area of Silver collecting I haven't had much exposure to. Solid silver writing instruments. I am not interested in learning any more about values, but I would love to learn more about sterling fountain pen/pencil collecting. Who were the smiths? Do we have any members a who collect and would you share with us some interesting examples? IP: Logged
Polly Posts: 1970 Registered: Nov 2004	posted 04-11-2008 09:01 PM I know this isn't very useful, but I have a streamlined sterling ballpoint pen by Towle. It has a sphere-and-disk finial on the non-writing end, to use for dialing a telephone, back in the days when telephones had dials. If anyone wants to see it, I can take a picture. And the Rococo show that I keep raving about at the Cooper-Hewitt museum has the most astonishing Art Nouveau object, an entire writing desk made of sterling (with a little ivory thrown in for good measure). It's by Gorham, if I'm remembering right. Okay, I just looked it up in the catalogue, and it's a dressing table, not a writing table, so it's completely irrelevant. But it is Gorham, and it is amazing, and everyone should go see that show. Shutting up now. IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 04-11-2008 09:20 PM Hello Scott! There is a gentleman from, I believe Englewood N.J. His name is Stuart Schneider who has written several books for Schiffer on pens, as well as other subjects, but I think his passion was/is pens. He does, I think have a website. You might try contacting him. I understand he is quite knowledgeable & I have seen the book & there are silver ones included. Jersey IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 04-12-2008 01:11 PM Thanks Polly & Jersey. I collected a few examples from the internet. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 04-12-2008 03:49 PM By the way some of the above pictured items have retail prices of many thousand of dollars. I guess if I had one I'd leave it on my desk in a prominent place. I would hate to have one fall out of my pocket. IP: Logged
Dale Posts: 2132 Registered: Nov 2002	posted 04-12-2008 05:12 PM Over the years, many pen collectors have passed thru my booth. None of them had any interest in silver. But were enthusiastic pen collectors. There are some pens that were made by traditional silver makers. Frequently they were part of a chateleine and partnered with a silver covered, ivory page, note pad. Traditionally this was called a 'dance card', the idea being that a young lady would write the names of her dance partners on the ivory at balls then later erase them. Beyond this and the desk sets, the makers of silver writting instruments are as mysterious as the makers of silver lamp finials, silver buttons, liturgical silver and so on. Our definition of silver maker is too limited. There were, and probably are, a large number of firms that every once in a while produce items in silver. Many of them will be mainly in the copper and brass business. Some will serve a particular market like churches. Then there are the lamp companies. Having researched liturgical silver, I can confidently say that I have no idea of who makes the silver. Clearly it is produced today, there is a lot of it for sale. And custom orders are being solicited. But who the actual makers are, no clue. They are reffered to as 'olde worlde craftsman', which is really vague. Much the same will be true of writing instruments. There are some we can attach to silver companies. And I lot are just mysterious. My own take is that anyone who can make something in copper or brass can also work in silver. And does so when requested. Beyond this, I really don't know. IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 04-14-2008 01:33 AM Here are a few interesting examples of silver writing instruments. c1910 David-Andersen silver gilt & enamel feather motif. c1905 Battin & Co. lobster motif pencil case. "Woodward's Patent" engraved silver pencil w/shield motif glass intaglio seal. Same as above with rebus seal. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 04-14-2008 07:57 AM Paul, They are all great. Thanks. I can't make out what the first seal says? The Second "For 'ever' 'eye' Live" is great. IP: Logged
salmoned Posts: 336 Registered: Jan 2005	posted 04-14-2008 05:35 PM Hm, I thought it was 'For [tree] (thee) [eye] (I) live'. IP: Logged
Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 Registered: Apr 93	posted 04-14-2008 06:38 PM I don't know what is correct but that also works for me. IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 04-14-2008 07:40 PM I think salmoned is correct about the rebus being "For tree (thee) I live". I always thought this was kind of lame, kind of a stretch... As for the shield, I spent a lot of time with huge closeups trying to figure out the words, but to no avail. The letters are terribly ill-formed and illegible. The seals are glass and seem mass-produced, they are not custom, finely hand-carved hardstone examples. Their mediocre quality suggests they were probably offered as inexpensive novelty items. IP: Logged

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