L' Artisan Pastellier Callifolio Inks

[SamCapote]

I wanted to start a topic on these inks, available from http://encres.styloplume.net because they are really extraordinary. If you put the webpage in Google Translate, you can get a pretty good idea what is going on. I also starting translating their Blog and this entry in particular which discusses mixing ratios and color results. Click on the small images which take a few seconds to load. Here is another blog topic

 

When I ordered all 34 of the inks in the packets & an extra color, the total delivered price came out to about $200 which was only $5.71 per ink. These are all intermixable with each other, and of similar pH ranges. They are not a co-opted or relabeled brand from another company. I will add to this topic as I get more samples and specific feel in various pens.

Edited February 11, 2011 by SamCapote

[elenita]

I'll be going to France in May, and am interested in getting these inks. I'd like as much information as possible before I go (forewarned is forearmed, as they say), so would appreciate anything I can learn from fellow FPNers. Please chime in if you can, and I promise I'll do the same after my trip.

 

Thanks, SamCapote, for getting the ball rolling.

[Jared]

I really am quite interested in this topic, and have wondered about Callifolio Inks for some time. The last bit of significant information we saw was a water test of some of these inks in Aug 2009. It's been too long since. I've often wondered if these aren't just J. Herbin inks, repackaged. I understand that there aren't many ink manufacturers in the world, and many are made by few producers (as are nibs).

 

I eagerly await your reviews.

[elenita]

According to one of the old Califolio threads, L'Artisan makes the ink themselves. I'll have to see if I can hunt up the link when I have more time.

[USMCMom]

They have a minimum order, if I understood what I read?

[SamCapote]

I asked this question myself in emails, and Loïc Rainouard & Didier Boinnard are extremely proud and certain that these are their own inks. Didier makes all their natural products for artists. The water based "Callifolio" category of fountain pen inks are made without solvents or pigments, and can be stored for years. Here is a Google translation on their main page:

 

  Quote

Discover and enjoy our product and our fine arts paintings rustic rare colors.

 

The creation of the Craftsman Pastellier arose from the fusion of a chemical engineering talent and a heritage of Renaissance colors and natural dyes in the Albigensian region.

 

The specificity of the Artisan Pastellier is to offer its customers a variety of authentic products based on natural colors, mineral and vegetable, available in ranges for the arts and decoration. Pastel blue * is the flagship of the brand, given the historical importance of this dye in our local and regional history.

 

Our production is distinguished by expertise guaranteeing the originality and craftsmanship of our products and their quality "premium" in respect and knowledge of European environmental standards.

 

Thus, we do not use solvent, and we prefer natural colors, but also the "recipes" used in the past, raw materials are mostly natural.

 

The story summarized blue pastel

 

The plant (Isatis tinctoria) was grown extensively from the twelfth century in the diocese of Albi, and then in the triangle Albi, Toulouse, Carcassonne (also called "Land of Plenty"), until the eighteenth century. Leaves worked into balls (called "Cokes"), gave an exceptional blue. The pastel was reserved for dyeing cloth of the richest, and the tank bottoms were used to make a painting based on linseed oil for protection shutters, and carts (blue wheelwright). Indeed, the ancients had noticed the repulsive property of the blue to insects.

 

Our logo is inspired by the way of young foot pastel, during the first year of growth. The foot has a mature yellow flower of the family Brassicaceae (crucifers), then giving the seed stalks.

[loic]

  On 2/10/2011 at 10:02 PM, elenita said:

I'll be going to France in May, and am interested in getting these inks. I'd like as much information as possible before I go (forewarned is forearmed, as they say), so would appreciate anything I can learn from fellow FPNers. Please chime in if you can, and I promise I'll do the same after my trip.

 

Thanks, SamCapote, for getting the ball rolling.

Dear Jared,

 

Please, just a few words to introduce myself : I'm Loic Rainouard from Styloplume.net (France) and I have created the brand CALLIFOLIO with Didier Boinnard from l'Artisan Pastellier. Didier is a specialist of chemistry in natural pigments, pigmented inks, based water inks. I met him 10 years ago and we decided to create together a range of inks dedicated for fountain pens. Since this time, we have done different inks : thanks to Didier, we were able to create inks that can dry slowly of quickly. The inks were done initialy done to be very polyvalent ; I mean, you can use it on every paper, and you will be sure to have no problem of inks that spread to much into the paper, the inks are enough fluid and can be used in every fountain pen, even of course vintage fountain pens.

 

Callifolio range as sometimes done for french shops special ranges of inks, under there own label, but we never worked for Herbin in France. You can be sure of that. Herbin has been bought by Clairefontaine a few years ago and they have their own team for chemistry and marketing.

 

As I'm new on FPN, I wish to respect your rules here : so don't hesitate to ask me if I do not or if you want more explanations on our inks.

[Professor Plume]

Thank you, Loic. That is very informative. Merci for taking the time to give us the interesting details and welcome to the Fountain Pen Network!

[USMCMom]

Yes ... welcome! I'm so glad you've joined us!!

[brunico]

Thank you, Loïc, for your many helpful ink scans over at the styloplume forums.

[saintsimon]

  On 2/12/2011 at 10:26 PM, brunico said:

Thank you, Loïc, for your many helpful ink scans over at the styloplume forums.

 

Wow, the comprehensive work of an ink adict

[USMCMom]

I saw a bottle at the top left in the Boutique ... appears to be glass and the top is on it's side or at an angle and also appears to be glass ... is this bottle available??

 

There are several colors I'd like to have, just have to budget a bit more to cover the minimum order.

[SamCapote]

  On 2/12/2011 at 10:26 PM, brunico said:

Thank you, Loïc, for your many helpful ink scans over at the styloplume forums.

 

WOW! What a fabulous resource...and represents a lot of work and investment in inks. Thanks!

 

  On 2/12/2011 at 11:06 PM, USMCMom said:

I saw a bottle at the top left in the Boutique ... appears to be glass and the top is on it's side or at an angle and also appears to be glass ... is this bottle available??

 

There are several colors I'd like to have, just have to budget a bit more to cover the minimum order.

 

Loic said that is a two piece bottle that he used to carry, but not sure if it ever will be available in quantity again.

[USMCMom]

  On 2/12/2011 at 11:37 PM, SamCapote said:

  On 2/12/2011 at 10:26 PM, brunico said:

Thank you, Loïc, for your many helpful ink scans over at the styloplume forums.

 

WOW! What a fabulous resource...and represents a lot of work and investment in inks. Thanks!

 

  On 2/12/2011 at 11:06 PM, USMCMom said:

I saw a bottle at the top left in the Boutique ... appears to be glass and the top is on it's side or at an angle and also appears to be glass ... is this bottle available??

 

There are several colors I'd like to have, just have to budget a bit more to cover the minimum order.

 

Loic said that is a two piece bottle that he used to carry, but not sure if it ever will be available in quantity again.

 

Oh ... that's sad ... I'd love to have a few of those bottles, too.

[xuan87]

$200 for 34,35 colors of inks shipped, each being 40ml is the cheapest ink i've ever seen. i'm definitely getting these inks once my budget allows it.

[Jared]

Dear Loic,

 

I am excited about the thought of another high-quality ink manufacturer. I only wish that these inks were more easily available in the US. Any plans for Callifolio inks to be carried by retailers in North America? How about any other colors? We would love an ink to fill the void left by the discontinued Mont Blanc British Racing Green (vert anglais).

 

I'm also very impressed by the mulitple scans of ink. What a wonderful resource!

 

Jared

 

  Quote

Dear Jared,

 

Please, just a few words to introduce myself : I'm Loic Rainouard from Styloplume.net (France) and I have created the brand CALLIFOLIO with Didier Boinnard from l'Artisan Pastellier. Didier is a specialist of chemistry in natural pigments, pigmented inks, based water inks. I met him 10 years ago and we decided to create together a range of inks dedicated for fountain pens. Since this time, we have done different inks : thanks to Didier, we were able to create inks that can dry slowly of quickly. The inks were done initialy done to be very polyvalent ; I mean, you can use it on every paper, and you will be sure to have no problem of inks that spread to much into the paper, the inks are enough fluid and can be used in every fountain pen, even of course vintage fountain pens.

 

Callifolio range as sometimes done for french shops special ranges of inks, under there own label, but we never worked for Herbin in France. You can be sure of that. Herbin has been bought by Clairefontaine a few years ago and they have their own team for chemistry and marketing.

 

As I'm new on FPN, I wish to respect your rules here : so don't hesitate to ask me if I do not or if you want more explanations on our inks.

[saintsimon]

Here you can find a little promo video in French featuring Didier Boinnard from l'Artisan Pastellier. It is not about inks but about his artist's water colours and his small business.

[SamCapote]

  On 2/13/2011 at 2:19 AM, xuan87 said:

$200 for 34,35 colors of inks shipped, each being 40ml is the cheapest ink i've ever seen. i'm definitely getting these inks once my budget allows it.

 

Yes, I thought so too! Here are how effective those packets end up being. This was the box they arrived in, which in turn was cushioned inside of a larger box. The box weighed just under 5 pounds, and each packet 2 oz. I compared them to these other well known 50 ml bottle sizes. Just out of curiosity, I poured one into a beaker, and it had 60ml in it which you can see in larger view. Those screw tops are replaceable, but make sure you are not putting any squeeze pressure on packet when opening. The stem base is a sturdy plastic to hold onto. (thumbnails)

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Artisan/AP-box1s.jpg

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Artisan/AP-box2s.jpg

 

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/pike444/Inks/Artisan/AP-PacketSizes.jpg

 

 

 

 

.

[Scriptorium Pens]

I ordered using Google to translate and it was very easy. My order was placed on Jan. 24 & it arrived on Feb. 11. I got 8 packets and one bottle, just because I liked the triangular look of it. I've dip tested them all, & inked 3 pens with Cassis, Violet, & Inti. I really like these inks. The Violet & Inti have incredible shading. The Cassis doesn't shade much in a fine nib. I have tons of purple inks, and these two are unique in color. The others I ordered are Yalumba, Sepia, Anahuac, Inca Sol, & Cannelle. I'll definitely be getting more of their colors. Total cost for 8 packets & 1 bottle was $80.16.

[Michael R.]

  On 2/12/2011 at 1:30 PM, loic said:

Please, just a few words to introduce myself : I'm Loic Rainouard from Styloplume.net (France) and I have created the brand CALLIFOLIO with Didier Boinnard from l'Artisan Pastellier. Didier is a specialist of chemistry in natural pigments, pigmented inks, based water inks. I met him 10 years ago and we decided to create together a range of inks dedicated for fountain pens. Since this time, we have done different inks : thanks to Didier, we were able to create inks that can dry slowly of quickly. The inks were done initialy done to be very polyvalent ; I mean, you can use it on every paper, and you will be sure to have no problem of inks that spread to much into the paper, the inks are enough fluid and can be used in every fountain pen, even of course vintage fountain pens.

 

Callifolio range as sometimes done for french shops special ranges of inks, under there own label, but we never worked for Herbin in France. You can be sure of that. Herbin has been bought by Clairefontaine a few years ago and they have their own team for chemistry and marketing.

 

As I'm new on FPN, I wish to respect your rules here : so don't hesitate to ask me if I do not or if you want more explanations on our inks.

 

Dear Loic,

 

Great to see you on this board (even I do not speak French that well I visit Styloplume.net once in a while just to check the ink scans)!

 

I have orderd additional Callifolio inks recently and I'm really amazed by them.

 

The following 12 colors found their way to Germany a few weeks ago (excellent fast and friendly sevice):

 

http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn140/PENSnINKS/Inks/Callifolio.jpg

 

The colors are:

 

• 
   
  
• ITZAMNA (1st, left collumn)
  
• HAVANE (1st, right collumn)
  
• GRIS PAYNE (2nd, left collumn)
  
• OLIFANTS (...)
  
• ANDRINOPLE
  
• BOURGOGNE
  
• OLIFANTS
  
• OCONTO
  
• OMI OSUN
  
• BLEU AZUR
  
• BLEU ATLANTIQUE
  
• OHLANGA
  
• BLEU PACIFIQUE
  

 

Those inks will be listed in my Ink Sample Booklet IX!

 

I already had those before (already listed in part VII):

 

• 
   
  
• Noire
  
• Canelle
  
• Bleu Bonne Espérance
  
• Bleu Bosphore
  
• Bleu Botany Bay
  

 

Besides the wonderful colors and good performance of the inks I've tried so far I really like the different subtle shades of one color family!

 

...I'm getting the missing colors for sure soon as well

 

Please let me know about those products: Encre Classique; are those your own, inhouse made inks as well?

 

Hope to hear more from you about your great inks.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

 

PS:

 

  On 2/12/2011 at 1:30 PM, loic said:

As I'm new on FPN, I wish to respect your rules here : so don't hesitate to ask me if I do not or if you want more explanations on our inks.

 

...as much information as possible are welcome

Edited February 13, 2011 by Michael R.