Mother of Pearl Pens

[QM2]

I absolutely love mother of pearl, and have been wondering why this material is not used by pen makers more often. I do not mean bits of abalone shell in maki-e, but rather overlays for pen barrels, or decorative insets. The overlays would not be at all difficult to do on a faceted barrel, and decorative insets could be done on pretty much any shape of barrel, as well as on the top of flat-top pens.

 

There is a handful of pens that have been made with m.o.p., and as far as I know these are: the Taccia m.o.p. series, the Libelle Nature series, the Retro 51 Cioppino (though that one has chunks of shell suspended in resin), and the Ferrari Botticelli. I include images below for reference. Also, Montblanc uses a m.o.p. inset instead of the traditional snowcap on some of its LE pens. But that's it. I have also noted that most of the pens that are made with m.o.p. tend to be of the lower-end variety, with steel nibs, which to me seems to clash with the luxurious mother of pearl material.

 

I guess what I would like to see, are some contemporary reincarnations of the gorgeous early eyedropper pens with silver-trimmed pearl overlays. Has anything like that ever been made in today's pen world? And for all the pen-makers out there -- what are your thoughts on using this material?..

 

---

 

Taccia Fantasy:

 

http://www.goldspot.com/fpngallery/Taccia/TA-K2018K-FA_big.jpg

[image from goldspot.com]

 

Libelle Nature:

 

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/airline_2016_43388269.jpg

[image from Airline International]

 

Retro 51 Cioppino:

 

[image from Swisher Pens]

 

Ferrari da Varese Botticelli:

 

http://www.franklin-christoph.com/FerraridaVarese/FdVimages/BotticelliMOP.jpg

[image from franklin-christoph.com]

Edited September 18, 2008 by QM2

[PenTieRun]

QM2, I just picked up a rather pricey Krone Virtuoso that has a hand painted mother-of-pearl barrel. The design is gorgeous and flawless, and the nib is as smooth as they come. The best of both worlds: serious hand bling, and perfect nib.

 

I don't think that Libelle is real mother-of-pearl. Don't they use imitation??

[petra]

Here are some more brands to look at:

 

Laban - MOP & abalone pens (Father Neptune) and also silver + MOP

 

Xezo - MOP & abalone (and absolutely fabulous gold nibs, some of my favorites in fact)

 

Check out the new Taccia MOP & Abalone - there's one model called "pearly gates" which has both, I saw it at Gilbertson Clybourn in Chicago, gorgeous! (Joon shows the MOP version on their web site)

 

DaniTrio - you can see them at Avalonpens.com

 

The Libelle by the way is not real MOP.

[yachtsilverswan]

Don't forget the 888 Edition of the Montblanc Francois I - the entire barrel and cap are Mother of Pearl.

 

Montblanc usually reserves Mother of Pearl for the 888 Editions of the Patron of the Arts Series, and for the even more rarified Artisan Edition pens.

 

It's a pity, because the small addition of the Mother of Pearl MB Star just transforms the look of the pen.

 

I tried a few weeks ago to entice a pen maker with a 3-D scanner and a computer controlled 3-D lathing machine to craft a Mother of Pearl replacement for the MB Star on my 149 - but he never got back to me.

[white_feather]

I had the Taccia Stained Glass one and I am sorry I sold it, but I did keep the Taccia Imperial Portuguese. I will get another Taccia again.

[Ghost Plane]

I have 2 Xezo MOPs w/ 18k nibs and an Abalone. Still in production and the quality of the workmanship is fantastic. The nibs are hard as nails and I have to make due with Ms, but I keep using them anyway 'cause they're such well made pens. Come in chrome and gold furniture.

Edited September 18, 2008 by Ghost Plane

[DRP]

The question remains only partially answered.

 

There are evidently a few manufacturers who produce pens with Mother of Pearl but apparently not many. Is this because of the curvature of the pens? I confess to knowing very little about MoP other than having an appreciation of its beauty.

 

Anyone care to comment on manufacturing problems? Are any of the FPN members who are pen makers able to comment? This might present a great business opportunity if using MoP is practical.

 

I had not thought of this but now my curiosity has arisen (hey, QM2, thanks a LOT for making me want another expensive pen that I can't afford; this time a pen made from made of mother of pearl)

[QM2]

Thanks for the additional info everyone and I am sorry if this comes off as negative/critical -- but for some reason I am really not attracted to the M.O.P. pens made by Taccia, Danitrio, Laban, and Xezo. Something just seems off to me in these designs, as well as in the look of the resins and metals used. I guess they just do not strike me as harmoniously put together -- and interestingly, all the above-mentioned pens share this same look. The MB Francois I is closer to the look I am hoping for, but given that this pen is priced at over $5K, there is no danger of me getting it!

 

But imagine for instance, a Delta Dolce Vita Soire, with a strip of MOP inset instead of the amber-coloured one; or a Montegrappa Micra/Symphony where the panels are strips of MOP -- that is the look I'd really like to see, and it really should be neither difficult nor too pricey to create.

 

Mother of Pearl panels are frequently used to create custom luxury knife handles, gun grips, watch faces, and innovative pieces of jewelry -- where they are complemented with sterling accents, or other appropriate materials. So why not fountain pens? Hypothetical question of course...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FrankB]

It could be as simple as the material's not being universally apreciated. Some pens are being made in Mother of Pearl, but how well are they selling? In what markets are they selling? Personally, I like m.o.p. I am just wonder also what the issues around the material not being used might be.

[prodigo is totus]

From what I have read, MOP isn't used much as it is considerably more difficult to work with than today's materials. I personally love MOP when it is mated with complimenting materials and colors. I would love to see more pens made from it, though I'm sure I could afford them!

[Ghost Plane]

I love the way it feels in my hand. One of the things I love about my Xezos is the way they smoothed the corners so they don't feel sharp.

[Kimo]

I think the reasons are:

 

1. Limited demand - I like mother of pearl and have inlays in my guitars, for example, but not everyone likes bling like you or I do. Look at how many plain black pens are sold. Look at how many people wear sensible brown shoes. Look at how many cars are bought that are either black, white, brown, or grey.

 

2. Cost - ounce for ounce, good mother of pearl and abalone is more expensive than 'resin' or other plastics. This is especially true with panels of this material as opposed to small chips of it. This increases overall price which reduces demand to some degree.

 

3. Difficultly of working with it. - Dust from mother of pearl and abalone can be a serious irritant for some people who work with it so not everyone wants to make pens from it. Also, the pearlescence in it is in layers and it can be difficult making the final product look good as you sand it down you go from very thin pearly layer to very thin dull layer to pearly to dull, etc.

 

[lapis]

Maybe this isn't all that much of an answer but...

 

I have always wanted to buy a current Duofold in "Mother of Pearl and Black" BUT... in the Demi version.

Unfortunately this is not available in Germany. {A} I'm disappointed, and {B} I keep asking myself why not available here, but available elsewhere?

 

Mike

[feiye]

I have the Caran d'Ache Lagoon LE in mother of pearl...beautiful pen.

 

I'm also wondering at the lack of mother of pearl pens. Although, Dupont recently released a black mother of pearl LE Orpheo, looks hot.

[Kay]

This beauty is on ebay...

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/DANITRIO-Brillante-Fou...1742.m153.l1262

 

It looks really good with the WHITE I think

[callida]

Here's a couple from S.T. Dupont.

 

The white one says 'white mother of pearl lacquer, ring encrusted with real mop rectangles'.

 

Edit: Grammar

Edited November 4, 2008 by callida

[Siv]

Why have a white MoP pen when you can have something like this:

http://www.nakaya.org/special/deca/draden3.jpg

http://www.nakaya.org/special/deca/draden5.jpg

Edited November 4, 2008 by Siv

[callida]

^ I admit to liking the elegant white one better! I love many of the Nakaya pens but that particular one is not my favourite - a bit too over the top for my taste. Each to their own, though, and the better for it.

[Deirdre]

Why have a white MoP pen when you can have something like this:

http://www.nakaya.org/special/deca/draden3.jpg

http://www.nakaya.org/special/deca/draden5.jpg

Hmm, how much is that one?

[Vipul]

I had not thought of this but now my curiosity has arisen (hey, QM2, thanks a LOT for making me want another expensive pen that I can't afford; this time a pen made from made of mother of pearl)

 

My sentiments exactly!