Epic | Scriptorium Pens

Fountain pen people are picky. We are! And when it comes to choosing colors and materials for a custom pen, we can let that trait have free reign. Some of my customers often know exactly what they want right away, while others need a bit of guidance through the bewildering array of choices. Narrowing down the selection can take a while. Sometimes two favorite materials call out for attention, and rather than selecting one over the other, a client will resolve the issue by getting a pen in each color. And some order multiple pens in both colors. Four of this week’s pens fit that category, with the jewel tones of Conway Stewart’s Azure and Quartz Burgundy acrylics.

These designs are what we penmakers call a homage, or a clone of another style, often of a pen that is no longer available, with some specific modifications asked for by the client. In this case, the original models were the Conway Stewart Churchill and Wellington, but without the characteristic bluges or curves that Conway Stewart pens often have. For the Wellington, removing the cap and barrel bulges leaves a very different pen, one that is more classic in style. The acrylics used are original CS materials, a high quality Italian resin, deep and rich in color.

Custom Design in Azure – Small

Churchillized Epic in Quartz Burgundy – Medium

Another pen made this week also boasts a deep, rich, jewel tone color, but the transparency and swirls in the Topaz Water acrylic provide an entirely different personality. The pen is a Literati Dip Pen, fitted with a JoWo fountain pen nib and feed. They can be pulled out and replaced with a standard dip pen ferrule for use with other dip nibs. One customer likes the JoWo nibs in a dip pen for ease of testing new inks, and for ease of cleaning. This dip pen is about 7″ in length. A matching pen rest was requested to go with it.

Straight Literati Dip Pen in Topaz Water Acrylic

Several other pens and projects were begun this week, including a prototype, or two…or was it three? I’ve truly lost count of all the new ideas I’d like to make reality. Some will come to pass much more quickly than others. If only I could clone myself to get it all done faster!

New Pen Model — the Epic!

Epic in Illuminated Amber Acrylic (Large)

The Epic is pretty much exactly what I think of when I envision fountain pens, and this model started out as a pen I made just for myself this weekend, and I liked it so much, I decided to make it part of the regular offering. I rarely make pens for myself, and this is the first one in at least a year and a half.

Like its literary namesake, the Epic is big and bold. Long, clean lines create a pen that is strong and grand without being ostentatious. The barrel expands ever so slightly toward the end before making a sharp taper downward. Though similar to the expanding barrel on the Balladeer, the Epic’s barrel is much slimmer, with only a slight swell at the widest point of diameter. This design helps to keep the pen from slipping down in the hand. Check out the Epic page for more images.

New Clips

Classic Clip in Sterling Silver, Bronze, & Brass

Modern Clip in Sterling Silver, Bronze, & Brass

The new custom clips in Bronze and Brass are now available in both Classic and Modern styles, joining the Sterling Silver clips for a choice of colors to suit your pen material. These clips are hand cast using the lost wax method and are solid, not plated! My favorite is the Bronze. I love the patina it develops over time, adding unique character to a pen. These custom clips are available as an upgrade option to the standard clip offerings. See the new Clips page for details.

Site Updates

As mentioned above, there’s a new page just for Clips. Many customers have asked for a page with pictures of all the clips to choose from, so here it is! I’ve included both front and side angle views.

I’ve also updated the Pen Model Dimensions Chart to reflect the full Scriptorium model lineup to date.

That’s it for now. I hope to have a really cool announcement for you in a couple of weeks! 🙂