Article Written By: Kathryn Dawson
Usually, the fountain pen is used to write with, and when this is the case, the ink used is equally highly considered by the writer. When it comes to presenting such ink as a gift, quality is always going to be important. There is no less a desire to make it special. This is not hard to accomplish so long as a little imagination is applied. Ink is not a particularly expensive item itself, with ample amounts available on the market in a wide range of pigments. The black is, of course, the most popular but several shades of red and of blue are also common place. These are certainly capable of producing finely written letters and correspondence, but they are often functional in appearance as much as in practice. For some discerning writers, there is a greater sense of gift when the ink itself is something special, such as a special edition or a rare shade, or a brand that is amongst the highest in reputation. In fact, the rarer or more unusual it can be, the better. A perfect example is J Herbin, a brand name that has been synonymous with quality for 340 years and a favourite amongst fountain pen users around the world. Its special edition ink was released in a glass bottle that featured a wax seals on the cap and on the front of the bottle, to enhance the value of the piece. Of no less importance is easy access to the ink itself, with many fountain pen users preferring to hide away the common bottle, rather than display it. However, that issue can be easily addressed by using stylishly designed wells to hold the ink on a writing desk. These wells can be classical or contemporary in design, depending on the preferences of the owner, of course, but there can be a certain amount of liberty taken. For example, a well can be disguised as something else, with one of the more fancy options being a small bust, with the head tilting back to allow access to the ink. The bust can reflect the particular interest of the user, such as some historical figure for the historian, or a phrenological bust, mapping the measurements of segments of the skull, for the medical or scientific user. The bust can be made of any number of types of material, but the finer examples are made from porcelain This is not a modern idea, by any stretch of the imagination, with the Victorians liking to have some discreet fun with these items. In earlier days, the handmade ink pewter was of particular popularity, with the finest examples made by the finest silversmiths and artisans in metal creating impressively artistic metal work for the lids and trays of the pewter, with intricate European designs. Today, that same quality of work is available, with Kalamos a famed brand. The metal pewter trays can be distressed to round off the authentic look when on a writing desk, while the intricate designs are true to the old world models. While fountain pen ink may seem blandly ordinary, there are options to make it something more, even if it is necessary to purchase a wax seal kit and enhance the ink bottle yourself. Of course, that may even add more value in the eyes of the receiver, especially if it is a loved one who went to the effort.
This Article Has Been Published on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 and Read 212 Times