England, Scotland, Ireland Innovations
The Golden Age
Scottish innovation beginning in the 16th century continued a revolution that started in Europe. During the period of the Bishop’s Wars and Charles I’s campaigns against Scotland ending in 1640, the need for mobile calligraphy tools arose.
This seal is a part of an armorial Seal and Penner, struck with a maker’s mark only ‘T’ over ‘C’, English circa 1640-42. The venerable quill needed travel companions including quill cutter, inkwell, and storage for sealing wax and other scribe’s needs.
Britannia Silver was 95.8 percent silver and adopted between 1697 and 1720; however, this penner is .950 or greater silver.
Length – 14.70 cm.; Diameter – 2.10 cm.; Weight – 88.50 gms.
17th Century
A 17th century solid silver penner complete with inkwell, quill and sealing wax storage, and seal matrix.
Scottish Silversmiths
The TC hallmark/maker mark reflects Edinburgh, Scotland Silversmith Thomas Clyghorne, 1640-42. See Sir Charles J. Jackson English Goldsmiths and Their Marks (1921) p. 499.
Cutting Evolution
From top: Harrison Brothers and Howson, Cutlers to Her Majesty pen knife, mid-nineteenth century.
Early Sampson Mordan Gold quill and propelling pencil with only an engraved arrow mark (blade marked with Mordan’s mark).
Francis Mordan pen knife marked F. Mordan, with ivory bolsters.
Halstaff pen knife with mother of pearl bolsters.
W.R. Rodgers Cutlers to His Majesty Patent tortoiseshell pen knife and letter opener.
James Rogers pen knife, quill holder, and pencil combo.
Powder Horn Penner
Osborn created this Revolutionary War era powder horn style penner in the late 18th century.
Equipped with interchangeable pen-knife blades and a compartment containing a silver quill holder, the bolsters are antler and the spring-mounted end cap with embellishments is silver.
Classic Powder Horn Form
A popular theme for the times. The JA engraved cypher is classic 18th century styling with leaves and vines. See additional imagery at the Cyphers link.
Michael Finlay
Finlay mentioned a cutler named Osborne in his book
Thomas Willmore
Porte Crayon
Thomas Willmore and James Alston, both independent craftsmen, partnered and marked their work through the Birmingham Assay Office from 1773 to 1801.
Willmore specialized in buckle making, while Alston focused on button making. After Thomas Willmore's death in 1816, his grandson, Joseph Willmore, who had been marking his own work since 1808, took over. Joseph expanded the business, registering with the London Assay Office and opening showrooms on Bouverie Street and later at Thavies Inn in Holborn.
Joseph Willmore eventually formed a partnership with fellow Birmingham silversmiths John Yapp and John Woodward. The Willmore legacy in silversmithing concluded with Joseph's death in 1855.
The original seal matrix is beautifully carved.
Our History
Fully hallmarked
Thomas Willmore
Willmore makers mark, this item dates from 1798.
John Jago
Porte Crayon to Quill Holder
British makers developed porte crayon and quill holder technology as the writing instrument revolution evolved that rivaled French eloquence. At the same time sturdiness in English design resulted in the rugged, reliable tools the Brits are known for.
John Jago
A sought-after silversmith, John Jago. Circa 1790. Early Jago designs enabled pencil pass-through and this function continued into the first quarter of the 19th century with other makers.
Note the extraordinary length of the silver Pen nib, designed to provide the writing experience of a quill.
John Jago crafted Earliest Bramah’s
John Jago. Circa 1817, this Joseph Bramah patent design not only incorporated Mr. Bramah’s innovative quill nib clamp. The pencil mechanism was arguably the first English retractable pencil lead mechanism, and is rarely seen today.
See below more of this Bramah combo.
Alexander J. Strachan
Goldsmith Extraordinaire
Goldsmith A. J. Strachan produced 18th century writing instruments and a variety of snuff boxes and other items.
Notable in this 18k gold porte crayon / Gold Pen nib equipped example of Strachan's workmanship is the locking closure for the Strachan made Gold Pen nib, circa 1790-1810.
This type of combination instrument allows the porte crayon/pencil to pass through the center of the Gold Pen nib, an 18th / early 19th century construction method.
Instrument Maker to Royalty
A.J. Strachan registered his first mark as a small worker at Goldsmiths ' Hall on 21 September 1799 when he was living at 30 Long Acre in London .
He had moved to 7 Mercer Street , Long Acre , by 1803 and moved again to 124 Long Acre in 1828.
Mr. Strachan’ a Sun insurance policy of 1824 describes him as
“ Jeweller and Engine Turner ” .
He appears to have been the principal supplier of gold boxes to the royal goldsmiths , Rundell , Bridge and Rundell , but he also supplied the retailers Thomas Holland and Coward and Smith .
In 1826 he acquired a house , Vine Cottage , Cromwell Lane , Old Brompton .
1774 - 1850
A.J. Strachan retired to Brighton in 1839.
Nine years later he applied to the Goldsmiths ' Company for a grant since , with “ the falling away of business he was obliged to retire with very little property ” .
According to contemporary documents his surname was pronounced “Strawn ”.
Amethyst End Cap
Note the double end cap, the inner for application of wax seals. Weight 20.5 grams of gold. Length 132mm or 5.196in / 109mm or 4.29in / Diameter 8mm or .314 in
Samuel Pemberton
Porte Crayon
Samuel Pemberton silver porte crayon has the rule on one side, that measures up to 4 inches and it is ornately decorated with a detailed bright cut design on the other. Samuel Pemberton was a Birmingham silversmith.
Bright Cut Engraving
Hallmark
The hallmark indicates this item was crafted about 1805.
Joseph Bramah
Joseph Bramah Patent Pencil
The J.Bramah patent pen/pencil in silver by John Jago is almost 8 inches long. The pencil mechanism is rarely seen. The mechanism was one of the first enabling retraction of the pencil lead.
Jago Silver J.Bramah Combo
Note the length of almost 8 inches with a quill nib installed.
Joseph Bramah Patent Pen
Discussion of Bramah pen/pencil related patents forthcoming...
The depicted dip pen marked J.Bramah Patent is gold and mother of pearl.
Joseph Bramah Patent Pen
Discussion of Bramah pen/pencil related patents coming...
The depicted dip pen marked J.Bramah Patent is gold and mother of pearl.
Early Gold Pen Tipping
Michael Finlay’s “Western Writing Implements in the Age of Quill Pens”
Michael Finlay identified several pen holder and Gold Pen nib makers operating in the 1820-1835 period who were applying ruby and rhodium tipping to Gold Pen nibs, including Dr. Wollaston, John Rose, William P. Doughty, T.C. Robinson, and “others”.
Depicted above the Finlay book excerpt is a photo of a Doughty silver mounted penholder with gold decorated shell handle.
These two writing instruments were acquired in Hereford, Herefordshire England on 8 July 2024.
During packaging or shipping the items were stolen and substituted by thieves and have been reported as such.
I am assured by the seller that the items were properly packaged and shipped per “We are absolutely certain that we sent the correct items out to you.”
Members of WES, please be alert and on the lookout for the items pictured in this section as both are reported stolen.
In the event any member of The Writing Equipment Society or anyone else becomes aware of the location or identity of persons possessing either item, please contact this author and alert from the PorteCrayon.com website contact app. Thank you.
1820-1825 Gold Pen nib
Silver Mounted Tortoiseshell Dip Pen With Gold Nib, consisting of two separate gold strips with tipping applied.
The handle of this item is embellished with a gold mark (see the shell handle).
Dimensions: Length: 15.8cm or 6.15 inches Width: 0.7cm
1820-1830 Gold Pen nib
Silver Mounted Dip Pen With Gold Nib, consisting of two separate gold strips with tipping applied.
Although the pen holder handle is absent, this item is consistent with Doughty designs documented by Michael Finlay and Jim Marshal.
Thomas Lund
Thomas Lund
Thomas Lund opened his premises at 56 & 57 Cornhill, London in 1814 but it is thought that his business was first established in 1804. The 1815 Post Office Directory lists him as: 'Lund Tho. Cutler & Manuf. Of Pens & Quills, Importer of Filtering Stones, fitted up for use, Warehouses, 56 & 57 Cornhill.' He soon moved onto selling writing and dressing boxes and became known for his chess pieces, whose pattern are referred to by his surname. An invoice of Lund's from 1838 shows an image of the shop front at 56 & 57 Cornhill with his signage listing his wares as 'Letter Copying Machines, Portable Writing Desks, Dressing Cases & Morocco Articles of Every Description'. The shop also has a sign calling it the London Cutlery Warehouse.
Lund soon built up a reputation for high quality goods and certainly the boxes we have seen have proved this to be true. Amongst other items known by Lund are tortoiseshell tea caddies, razors and gaming boxes. Lund are also known for their corkscrews and in 1838 Thomas patented a bottle grip corkscrew.
Thomas' son William was apprenticed to William Anderson a cutler and razor manufacturer at 24 Fleet Street. In 1835 William Lund took over the property and set up under his own name. When Thomas Lund died in 1845, his William inherited his business and ran it alongside his own. He expanded the Fleet Street address to encompass first number 23 and then by 1859 number 25.
William Lund was succeeded by his son Charles on his death in 1872 and the business continued under the name of William Lund & Son.
Our History
Founded in 1995 by art collectors John and Jane Doe, Porte Crayons has become one of the leading contemporary art galleries in the country. Over the years, we have hosted numerous exhibitions, featuring works by some of the most renowned artists of our time.
Our Collection
Our collection includes a wide range of contemporary art, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. We are constantly adding new pieces to our collection, and work closely with our artists to ensure that we are showcasing the best and most innovative work.
John Isaac Hawkins
Gold Pen Inventor
John Isaac Hawkins was a prolific inventor and the brilliant mind behind the invention of the iridium pointed gold pen.
The Gold Pen nibs exhibited above, marked “Diamond Pointed”, are early production mounted by silk cord onto an early cardboard display touting the merits of Gold Pen nib use.
Hawkins and Sampson Mordan memorialized various tipping methods for pen nibs in their December 20, 1822 British patent number 4742, stating in part “The improvements on pens consist, first, in making the pens of tortoiseshell or horn, and in impressing into the nibs or wearing parts,
-when they are softened with water at nearly the boiling heat, small particles of diamond, ruby, or other very hard substances; -secondly, in affixing to the wearing parts of tortoiseshell pens larger pieces of the above substances, and securing the same by soldering or cementing pieces of tortiseshell over them;
-thirdly, "in lapping a small piece of thin sheet gold over the end of a piece of tortoiseshell" and pressing the gold into it, while it is in a soft state, "and afterwards forming the pen by cutting away the superfluous gold and tortoiseshell together;
-fourthly, in applying to the nibs of pens, whether made of tortoiseshell, horn, or quills, small particles of diamond, ruby, &e.," and causing the same to adhere by means of any varnish or cement that is not corrodible by ink; and
-fifthly, in placing against the back of the pen "two springs, or a forked spring of tortoiseshell, horn, quill, or metal" to be slided to and from the nibs by a knob.
In the case of portable or fragment pens" the forked spring may be fixed to the back of the holder, or made "a mere prolongation of the back or upper jaw thereof.”
Diamond Pointed Gold Pens
Gold Pens
Early Hand Inked Card Stock above contains the following promotional prose:
GOLD PENS
These Pens are made of Gold of a
SUPERIOR QUALITY
so peculiarly Alloyed as to possess all the
FLEXIBILITY OF THE QUILL
Pointed with a pure native Alloy as hard as a
DIAMOND
AND PERFECTLY ANTI-CORROSIVE
===================================
From the great length of time they endure
THEY WILL BE FOUND
CHEAPER
THAN ANY THING BEFORE INTRODUCED
Sampson Mordan
Early Mordan Pencil Production - 1822 Patent
Sampson Mordan, 1770 -1843, served as an apprentice to the mechanic John Bramah before setting up his own company in 1815.
He, alongside John Isaac Hawkins, secured a patent in 1822 for the first propelling pencil.
The Pioneering 1822 Patent granted to John Isaac Hawkins and Sampson Mordan on December 20, 1822, was a daring move by Mordan.. He was an ambitious entrepreneur who urgently needed funds to capitalize on his patent . The patent application had been costly, and Mordan could not rely on his co-patentee John Isaac Hawkins for financial support to expand his business so he sought external funding.
In 1823, Mordan bought out Hawkins for £450, paying in installments, and became the sole patentee of the propelling pencil patent. He quickly sold a half share in the profits to Gabriel Riddle, a successful commercial stationer from Paternoster Row, London. Riddle provided not only the needed capital but also complemented Mordan’s skills as a machinist, laying the foundation for a successful partnership.
Gabriel’s son, William Riddle, confirmed in a letter to “The Builder” publication on August 3, 1861, that his father’s investment was crucial at this pivotal moment, stating, “my father’s money founded the firm of S Mordan & Co.”
On June 9, 1823, Mordan registered his mark “SM” in an oblong at Goldsmith’s Hall as a small-worker, allowing him to make the barrels of his pencils in gold and silver. The barrel imprint mark read “MORDAN & CO PATENT.” On April 30, 1824, still located on Castle Street, Mordan registered a joint mark with Gabriel Riddle as a plateworker.
Year marks were typically updated annually on May 19, so no “SM” marks should appear for 1824. However, 1824-marked pencils do exist. Quite simply manufacturers could apply their mark before the official assay. It’s possible that some pencils were stockpiled before the Mordan-Riddle partnership and assayed later, around the end of May 1824. These items were stamped for 1824 rather than the more accurate 1823, allowing the financially savvy Mordan to avoid sharing profits with his new business partner.
Mordan & Co. manufactured and sold pens and pencils marked “SM.G.R.” A variety of marks and imprints were used throughout the partnership.
His co-partnership with Gabriel Riddle concluded in 1836.
Afterward, the firm continued as S. Mordan & Co. Following Mordan's death in 1843. His offspring, Sampson Jr. and Augustus, took the helm of the business.
Mordan’s Early Pencils
The exhibited example above is dated 1827 and marked S. Mordan & Co. ‘s Patent SM-GR and embellished with fully assay hallmarks.
Mordan ”Ladies Hand Holder”
Mordan & Co. produced many models of pen holders and whimsical as well as practice pencils.
The Mordan Ladies Hand Pen Holder
Marked MORDAN AUG 3 1842 No.
Mordan Ladies Hand Holder with Turquoise
The creative genius of Sampson Mordan saw beautiful results. Note the Turquoise Ring on the Mordan Hand nib holder.
Pique Inlay
Tiny holes were painstakingly drilled into the delicate ivory handle, then silver wire was used to embellish the pen holder handle, using the pique method.
The New Ladies Hand Holder
In this 1843 advertisement Mordan & Co. presented The New Ladies Hand Holder.
Early Mordan Pen/Pencil Combo
Another Mordan design rarely encountered.
The New Ladies Hand Holder
In this 1843 advertisement Mordan & Co. presented The New Ladies Hand Holder.
Francis Mordan
Sheffield Beginnings
Francis Mordan produced pen knives in Sheffield before he began producing Gold Pen nibs.
F. Mordan & Co.
Francis Mordan & Co. Sheffield
Magnum Bonum
The Francis Mordan Magnum Bonum Gold Pen nib was described as the flagship Gold Pen in his catalog.
This Gold Pen nib is a tubular type nib, and although many may have been produced, this item is rarely available for viewing.
This example was produced without tipping.
Magnum Bonum
The Francis Mordan Magnum Bonum Gold Pen nib is mounted in a bespoke Mordan & Co. pen holder.
F. Mordan
Various Quality Gold Pen nibs were produced.
F. Mordan
Various Quality Gold Pen nibs were produced.
F. Mordan
Note the Sword Hilt hallmark on the reverse of this Francis Mordan Gold Pen nib, perhaps an early production item.
F. Mordan’s Gold Pen
Francis Mordan, brother of Sampson Mordan, was a Sheffield quill pen knife maker.
F. Mordan Gold Pen
Founded in
F. Mordan Gold Pen
Founded in
James Perry
Perry & Co.
Depicted is a bimetallic Gold & Silver Pen nib .
Our History
Founded in 2005, Porte Crayons has been a cornerstone of the local art community for over a decade. We have hosted numerous successful exhibitions and events, featuring artists from around the world.
Our Gallery
Our gallery space is designed to showcase art in the best possible way, with ample natural light and open spaces. We believe that the right setting can enhance the beauty and impact of any piece of art.
J. Longmore & Co.
Longmore’s Patent Pencils
A pair of example Longmore patent pencils from London.
The sliding extension action enables the internal patented mechanism to operate . An external pin, visible in the leftmost example within the wall of the lower section, holds this part in position.
Patent Drawing with the Part
Depicted is Mr. Longmore’s 1843 patent drawing with the novel pencil part removed from one of the pencils and superimposed for clarity.
Longmore Hallmark
Both examples depicted have similar marks,
|J. Longmore &Co. Patent London|.
J. Longmore Bespoke
Bespoke Gold Pen/Pencil Combo
This J. Longmore & Co. London combination pen and pencil is a 6-sided exhibit of the owner’s passions; sailing, dogs, and hunts.
Approximately 4in./10cm. in length and crafted of 14k gold, the instrument is fully marked and equipped with a Francis Mordan Gold Pen nib.
Sailing
Floral Engraving
Hunting Dogs
Give chase to a Rabbit.
Hunting Dog
Mounted Gentleman Hunter
Hunting Dog
Marked J. LONGMORE & CO. LONDON 4 3/4
Charles Knight
Knight’s Patent Spring Pen-Holder
Charles Knight (15 March 1791 – 9 March 1873) was an English publisher, editor and author. He published and contributed to works such as The Penny Magazine, The Penny Cyclopaedia, and The English Cyclopaedia, and established the Local Government Chronicle.
Knight’s Patent Spring Pen-Holder
The ebony handle is hollowed to receive the patent adjustment bolt.
Knight’s Patent Spring Pen-Holder
The nib insertion is simply slide it in and begin writing. Adjustments of the feel are accomplished by turning the knurled end. Removing a nib is also quickly accomplished.
Knight’s Patent Spring Pen-Holder
The nib insertion is simply slide it in and begin writing. Adjustments of the feel are accomplished by turning the knurled end. Removing a nib is also quickly accomplished.
Advantage of the Metallic Pen
The invention was intended to take advantage of the metallic pen while maintaining the feel of a quill pen.
Correction of the Disadvantages of the Metallic Pen
The rod extending into the cavity of the pen-holder wood shaft provides a means to adjust the feel as a user pleases.
