Show Us Your Oblique Penholders!

[Cryptos]

That's rather handsome. You are very fortunate.

 

Edit: I just received a small packet from the Netherlands today containing a dozen Baignol et Farjon Henry Superieure #2730 EF nibs. They are rather forgiving to use and nicely flexible.

Edited July 22, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[MusinkMan]

  On 7/22/2015 at 11:12 AM, Ken Fraser said:

Another magnificent penholder from Brian Smith (Unique Obliques).

 

 

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd289/caliken_2007/Lincoln%20900.jpg

Wow, thank you Ken! Your Spencerian is breathtaking as usual!!! Totally magnificent!

[Cryptos]

In a recent conversation the following point was made regarding - in this instance - highly specialised niche markets: Low supply, high demand, ... people end up buying what is available rather than what they might really want.

 

This is a quite subtle point that I had not considered.

[Cryptos]

Deleted the dreaded double post.

Edited July 22, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[dhnz]

  On 7/22/2015 at 11:12 AM, Ken Fraser said:

Another magnificent penholder from Brian Smith (Unique Obliques).

 

 

I’m not a fan of this look, which seems to be quite common in modern penholders, where there’s not much of an hourglass shape to the body; visually and tactilely, I prefer the Magnusson and Zanerian style, where the curves are more pronounced.

[MusinkMan]

  On 7/22/2015 at 10:52 PM, dhnz said:

 

I’m not a fan of this look, which seems to be quite common in modern penholders, where there’s not much of an hourglass shape to the body; visually and tactilely, I prefer the Magnusson and Zanerian style, where the curves are more pronounced.

Gee thanks bro! You are so tactful and supportive of me! Have I wronged you in a past life or something??? LOL

[dhnz]

I was expressing my view on a type of holder that seems to me to be quite common nowadays. It’s got nothing to do with who made it or the quality of the maker’s work. For the same reason, I absolutely love PIA’s hourglass oblique but am not very keen on their straight stem obliques, though they are made by the same person and to the same high quality.

[MusinkMan]

You just seem to be kind of "down on me" in this and a few other posts is all; maybe it's just me. No biggie. It's all good.

[Cryptos]

I understand what dhnz is saying here, and in this particular instance I agree with the comment. That holder is very nice, and clearly made to a high standard (as best as could be stated from mere photographs of course), but from a practical perspective I think I too would favour a less streamlined, more contoured, grip area. As dhnz points out, it's a personal preference. I too have the Hourglass from PIA, though I find even that is slightly the wrong shape for my hand. It's close but not quite there.

 

As for aesthetics, well, they cannot be quuestioned, as the saying has it (de gustibus non disputandum, if my Latin serves me correctly).

 

Regarding the script in post #760, the only word that springs to mind is exemplar. Something we could all aspire to (though I doubt very much that I will ever emerge from the grasslands at the foot of this particular mountain).

[dhnz]

  On 7/23/2015 at 12:09 AM, MusinkMan said:

You just seem to be kind of "down on me" in this and a few other posts is all; maybe it's just me. No biggie. It's all good.

 

I don’t see what you’re referring to; the only comments I have recently made in relation to you are in post 753, where I said that I didn’t think Empty would be disappointed if he bought one of your holders and I also said that you made a lot of brightly coloured holders using acrylics or resins (which was my impression after seeing the holders in your sold listings). If you see that as being ‘down on you’, then all I can say is I think you’re being too sensitive. In the same post, I stated that Jake Weidmann’s holders were not to my taste, that I didn’t think I'd like an aluminium holder (as made by Artemscribendi), and that I didn't like the ‘pay your money but get no choice’ options offered to me by Michael Sull and Bill Lilly in regard to their holders.

Edited July 23, 2015 by dhnz

[caliken]

Compared to the rather bland offerings of the past, the emergence of Brian Smith's penholders, a couple of years ago, was like a breath of fresh air. They are never less than tasteful and beautiful, and on occasion, could be realistically described as miniature works of art. I have four of his penholders and have used them exclusively since acquiring the first one.

 

We are fortunate to have such a craftsman - a true 'penmeister' - in our midst!

[Cryptos]

There are holders I have seen made by the artisans of today that I personally think are fantastic pieces of art, and then there are some that would be better used for stirring paint⁽¹⁾. It's entirely subjective.

 

With all due respect, Ken Fraser, while something quantifiable may be said about craftsmanship, the same cannot be applied to taste, beauty, and 'works of art'. What you, Ken, think of as bland holders of the past, others may see as understated elegance. There is absolutely no mileage in trying to assert one's own appreciation of art over that of anyone else.

 

 

(1) Obviously this is hyperbole. Don't take it too literally.

Edited July 23, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[caliken]

It should go without saying, that everything I wrote in post #771 is, of course, subjective and only my own opinion.

 

It would become rather tedious to have to write "in my opinion" or "IMO" every time I express a view.

Edited July 23, 2015 by Ken Fraser

[Cryptos]

It should go without saying... but this is the internet and it's not always that obvious, particularly when absolutes (like 'never') are used.

 

With that in mind, I think that some of Mr Smith's designs are quite delightful, as are some of Mr Yoke's, not to mention the outpourings of the less well-known makers. As someone potentially in the market for this kind of thing I really don't want to favour any one maker unless there is a very good reason to do so. At this point I have seen pictures of some very interesting holders (excluding the excretion that I posted) from a number of sources.

 

How does a prospective buyer make a comparative choice? Especially when one doesn't have ready access to the articles in question.

Edited July 23, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[Iso*]

Holders often take many designs. Some holders are functional and are tailored for greater for ergonomics and utility. Others were made to carry aesthetics and symbolics.

 

Some people have different preferences that's all. I strongly admire dhnz's frankness and candor in expressing a contrary view.

 

My favorite penholder is simple in its design, contoured for just my hand. I am planning to get an aluminum penholder eventually. While dhnz may not prefer it, my reason is that it has a multihead capability as well as the ease of cleaning the pen if you over dip. It seems that it can also endure a lot of punishment if I ever travel with it. For these reasons, I would pay the price of a cold metal holder. And about 70 dollars.

[caliken]

  On 7/23/2015 at 11:33 AM, Empty_of_Clouds said:

How does a prospective buyer make a comparative choice? Especially when one doesn't have ready access to the articles in question.

Listen to someone whose opinion you respect, and then just do it.

[Cryptos]

  On 7/23/2015 at 1:59 PM, Ken Fraser said:

Listen to someone whose opinion you respect, and then just do it.

 

 

Okay, based on that advice I find there is nothing to recommend the craftsmanship of one maker over another and I may as well choose at random between them and focus on the aesthetic that I want as the deciding factor.

[dhnz]

  On 7/23/2015 at 12:40 PM, Iso* said:

I am planning to get an aluminum penholder eventually. While dhnz may not prefer it, my reason is that it has a multihead capability as well as the ease of cleaning the pen if you over dip. It seems that it can also endure a lot of punishment if I ever travel with it.

 

Please post a review and some pictures when you get it, Iso*. While I’m not in the market for one, I am interested to read what you think of it. In the past I have considered buying one of Artemscribendi’s inkwells and have read good things about them, so I’m sure the build quality of his holders will be good. And it does look easy to clean and should be robust.

[Cryptos]

I am no longer searching. So, back to admiring the craftsmanship of the regular contributors to this thread!

Edited July 26, 2015 by Empty_of_Clouds

[hzsimms]

So I made another "Sheer Nonsense" short pen. It's another experiment in that it's the first time I've used actual stone in an inlay. This one is:

 

http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p743/hzsimms/63d52471-0806-45e8-822a-94d749b10f36_zpsfvdeb1fx.jpg

 

Yeah, I know, "bling" is a really campy word but it's a whole lot of fun to write! Besides, what better to describe glitter.

 

http://i1349.photobucket.com/albums/p743/hzsimms/9623597e-3286-4c33-8b17-a953c02c1cca_zps7jc59bab.jpg

 

I have learned one, indisputable fact from this pen. Grinding stone is exceedingly time consuming and tedious!

 

Thanks for looking,

Howard

Edited August 9, 2015 by hzsimms