{"id":10084,"date":"2022-04-21T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T08:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=29241"},"modified":"2022-04-21T10:13:12","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T08:13:12","slug":"collecting-mordan-pencils","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/collecting-mordan-pencils\/","title":{"rendered":"Collecting Mordan pencils"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Jenny Oldaker\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 21 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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The name Sampson Mordan is so synonymous with the propelling pencil that it would be natural to imagine he was the inventor of what would become the must-have Victorian objet de vertu, yet there is evidence that lead propelling pencils were in existence some time before Mordan ever dabbled with the innovation.<\/p>\n

Examples of early sliding pencils have been found in various shipwrecks from the 18th century, including HMS Pandora<\/i>, which sank on the Great Barrier Reef in 1791. However, in 1822, it was Mordan who first patented the \u2018mechanical\u2019 pencil, alongside inventor Isaac Hawkins, his colleague at the time.<\/p>\n

And it was Mordan\u2019s shrewd business sense and deep-rooted dedication to his philosophy \u2013 \u2018make something of quality and people will buy it\u2019 \u2013 that drove him to create hundreds of superb examples of these pencils. Such was the workmanship, the pencils became one of the most fashionable accessories of the 19th century, cementing Mordan\u2019s legacy.<\/p>\n

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A 10-carat gold, c1860, Sampson Mordan pencil, \u00a3295, Steppes Hill Farm Antiques<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Mordan\u2019s \u2018Everpoint\u2019 pencil, which had an internal mechanism to propel the graphite shaft forward during use, was a huge improvement on existing pencils and the invention was quickly adopted by the middle and upper classes of the time. Wrought in precious metals, most commonly silver<\/a> or gold, the pencils made lavish gifts and were cherished by their owners.<\/p>\n

After a while, practicality gave way to novelty, and Mordan\u2019s company began creating pencils in every form \u00a0<\/span>imaginable, from animals to Egyptian artefacts, sporting accessories and even human figures. As one might expect, it is these whimsical forms that are among the most collectable today.<\/p>\n

\u2018The most expensive Mordan pencils are the novelty or figural examples produced in the latter part of the 19th century,\u2019 says David Buck of Steppes Hill Farm Antiques. \u2018Mordan described them as \u201cfancy pencils\u201d. They\u2019re usually of good quality cast construction and the prices for rare individual examples have exceeded \u00a33,000.\u2019<\/p>\n

You might also like<\/strong> how to collect antique pens<\/a><\/p>\n

Depending on their rarity and quality, novelty pencils can, however, be found for less. A good example of their wide-ranging value is the Woolley & Wallis auction of the \u2018KB Collection of Pencils\u2019 in January 2019. The collection, amassed by Kenneth Bull of John Bull Antiques Ltd, was made up of 464 items and thought to be the most comprehensive of its kind.<\/p>\n

Many of the pencils in the collection were made by Mordan\u2019s company, and novelty pencils at the sale attracted winning bids from the low hundreds to \u00a32,200 for a very rare pencil shaped like a soldier in a sentry box.<\/p>\n

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A Victorian silver quill pencil with a turquoise cabochon, \u00a3380, sold at Woolley & Wallis in 2019<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

More utilitarian and conventionally shaped Mordan pencils can generally be picked up for less. \u2018Standard Mordan silver, sliding, propelling pencils from the Victorian era can still be had for \u00a350 to \u00a3100, although not usually hallmarked examples,\u2019 suggests David.<\/p>\n

You might also like<\/strong> how to clean antique silver<\/a><\/p>\n

While not all Mordan pencils are hallmarked, most do carry his name or initials, and if you\u2019re interested in starting a collection, it\u2019s worth researching the various incarnations of marks as they can help to date and identify pieces.<\/p>\n

\u2018If the pencil is made of gold or silver there will usually be an assay mark with the Sampson Mordan maker\u2019s mark, the assay office (London, Chester or Sheffield for Mordan pieces) and the date mark,\u2019 says Fiona Young, valuer at Adam Partridge Auctioneers & Valuers.<\/p>\n

\u2018The maker\u2019s mark will be different depending on the assay office and the year. From 1823 he was using SM as his maker\u2019s mark. Other early examples may be assayed SM.GR, for 1825 to 1836 when Mordan was in partnership with Gabriel Riddle.<\/p>\n

A company was formed later on, so the maker\u2019s mark<\/a> became S.Mordan & Co, used after his death in 1843 when his sons continued the business.\u2019<\/p>\n

Fiona also points out that some silver pencils are marked \u2018Sterling Silver\u2019 rather than with an assay mark, but these and silver-plated examples will usually still bear the Mordan name. Sometimes the pencils are marked \u2018Everpoint\u2019, while \u2018Centennial\u2019 pencils were produced from 1922 to 1924 to mark the centenary of the first Mordan patent.<\/p>\n

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An early 20th-century 9-carat yellow gold telescopic pencil, \u00a3120, sold at Adam Partridge in 2019<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Such marks offer useful clues for identifying Mordan pencils, but what else should prospective collectors look for? \u2018In Mordan pencils, good workmanship and high quality is assured,\u2019 says Fiona. \u2018But as with most collectable antique<\/a> items, condition is very important. Only perfect examples will command high prices.\u2019<\/p>\n

Consequently, it is advisable to seek out pieces that are in a good state of repair, which includes the assay marks being clearly visible. There is also much greater value in pencils that can still be used today (leads can be bought to fit Mordan pencils), so avoid examples with missing parts or dents.<\/p>\n

\u2018A potential bar to the use of a Victorian pencil is if the mechanism is damaged, which is one of the reasons why it is better to see and try the pencil in person rather than relying on a website description,\u2019 advises Fiona.<\/p>\n

In addition, rare or novelty pencils tend to be the most desirable, while style of decoration can also affect price, as can material \u2013 gold pencils are predictably worth more than their silver-plated counterparts.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to see why collectors are so drawn to these items. Not only are they often still practical \u2013 allowing us to hold and use a pencil that has its own long story to tell \u2013 but they are also beautiful, from elegant and functional early examples to the elaborate and imaginative \u2018fancy\u2019 designs of the later 19th century and beyond.<\/p>\n

So whether you\u2019d like to find one perfect piece or assemble a diverse collection, Mordan pencils represent an utterly appealing field for antiques lovers.<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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