Featured Antique? dip pen pierced bone/Ivory? Age?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by 916Bulldogs123, Oct 16, 2021.

  1. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

    This is a very cool little pen.
    Threaded on both ends with the pen inside 5" long.
    The nib is marked Spencerian Counting House England.
    Any idea on age would be appreciated.

    Mikey
    atree 27900.jpg atree 27905.jpg atree 27906.jpg atree 27907.jpg atree 27910.jpg
     
  2. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    Don't know, but the online definition says Specerian writing became fashionable around 1850:
    Image1.jpg
    Spencerian script:
    Image2.jpg

    Spencerian drawing:
    clinton.jpg

    According to Wikipedia, steel pen nibs started becoming common as early as the 1820s. I think the carving on the pen is reminiscent of the Barleycorn style of chess sets, which were in vogue from the 1820s to 1850s, so I'd take a WAG and suggest 1850-70?

    Just rambling here.
     
  3. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

  4. Shangas

    Shangas Underage Antiques Collector and Historian

    Steel pens started being made in the late 1820s/early 1830s. The pen holder looks to be made of bone, rather than ivory.

    Age? Anyone's guess. Dip pens were extremely common. It's like asking someone how old their BIC Cristal is. Unless the date is engraved onto it, they probably can't tell you.

    Closest I could guess is second half of the 19th century, but that'd be the limit of my theorising.
     
  5. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Wow 1820’s already! I wouldn’t have even been close if I had to guess that..
     
  6. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    LauraGarnet02 and 916Bulldogs123 like this.
  7. Houseful

    Houseful Well-Known Member

    A lot of these pens had tiny Stanhope images, I can see a hole at the top, have you checked that?
     
  8. moreotherstuff

    moreotherstuff Izorizent

    I've been thinking about it and now might guess an even earlier date,say 1830-60, but really, that's just wishful thinking. Hopefully some else will have a more reliable sense. Bear in mind that the current nib may not be the original.

    Extra cool if it has a Stanhope.
     
  9. 916Bulldogs123

    916Bulldogs123 Well-Known Member

    Unfortunately no stanhope. But the end piece is a wax seal stamp.
    Thanks for all the help and information on this little pen.
    Mikey
     
    bercrystal and LauraGarnet02 like this.
  10. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  11. bluumz

    bluumz Quite Busy

    Had to google this. Thanks for teaching me something new!
     
  12. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

    Makes 2 of us..
     
  13. Renee Yancy

    Renee Yancy Active Member

  14. Northern Lights Lodge

    Northern Lights Lodge Well-Known Member

    What a beautiful piece! Love it!
    Leslie
     
  15. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member


    Would think no earlier than mid 19th century, likely had a Stanhope lens that fell out - it happens...

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/110133...=sr_gallery-1-10&organic_search_click=1&frs=1

    The seller describes their pen as "Vintage from the 1940s", but would think much, much earlier - the Stanhope is of the Crystal Palace, built for the 1851 Great Exhibition, destroyed after a 1936 fire.

    ~Cheryl
     
    Houseful likes this.
  16. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    Me five.

    Also I LOVE Spencerian drawing but never knew there was a name for it. Learned two birds with one stone here.
     
    bluumz, Houseful and bercrystal like this.
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