C.1900 Dip Pen, Gold Wire on Spiral Carved Mother of Pearl MOP

Antiques : Writing Instruments : Dip Pens

 

Very slender, delicate, and showy, this wonderful Victorian dipping ink pen has somehow survived unscathed for more than a century! The four spiral-cut flutes on the M.O.P. handle not only add movement to the lustrous white pearl with every little shift in position, but the two smaller grooves each carry double strands of twisted gold colored wire to the small golden ball at the tip.

5 7/8" long, with a machine knurled grip which holds a "J.B. Davis & Co No 2" platinum-tipped nib. The pen is in excellent condition with no dents, chips, cracks, or flaws, although the holder could use a soaking in a bit of pen cleaner to get the ink out of the engraving. The nib is fine for display, but a couple of stress cracks make it not useable for writing. A very fine example of what was not only a beautiful marriage of design and pearly chatoyance, but one of the technically riskiest shapes for an English shop to carve in such a delicate material!

Item ID: 00707