Tunbridge ware is an inlay woodcraft style produced in England during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, desktop storage boxes in this style from that time are fairly common - pencils not so much. Many months ago I showed my lone example - a four-sided Tunbridge ware pencil. All sides of this piece feature distinct mosaic patterns. Three new pencils have found their way into my stash. All are shown here. The new prize of the bunch is the rounded full inlay piece (second from the top). Pieces three and four use the Tunbridge ware inlay only on the tops of their caps. All are 3 1/2 to 4 inches in length. The time of production is the 1850 vicinity. The pencil third from the top was never sharpened.

Wikipedia elaborates on this type of inlay methodology: The decoration typically consists of a mosaic of many very small pieces of different colored woods that form a pictorial vignette. Shaped rods and slivers of wood were first carefully glued together, then cut into many thin slices of identical pictorial veneer with a fine saw. Whew!

 Three Parker Duofold flattop mechanical pencils. Circa 1920's. Great!

   Today's posting is a silver figural mechanical pencil produced by Sampson Mordan of England. The piece possibly represents Fagin, the Dickens character. Circa 1880 - 1890. The material is silver. The writing section pulls out telescopically from the base. Without the ring assembly, the piece measures 1 3/8 inches long in the closed position and 2 1/2 inches in length extended.

   I'm showing today a silver figural seal (animal), mechanical pencil. The pencil is marked MacMichael, (a known London jeweler, silversmith). The writing tip is simultaneously deployed from the mouth of the animal when pulling the rear section away from the body. People in the hobby refer to this deployment type as 'magic pencil'. It's actually just fancy internal gearing. Circa 1880'ish. The piece is 1 7/8 inches closed and 2 3/4 inches extended.

Scripto and Merry Christmas!

   From 1924 thru 1932 Parker produced mechanical pencils in the Duofold Flattop line (1924 thru 1929) followed by the Duofold Streamline line (1929 thru 1932). I'm showing today a small group of these pencils featuring the Parker named 'Mandarin Yellow' color. The Flattop models are pictured on the left and Streamlines on the right. The pencil 4th from the left is a transitional piece designed to help bridge the gap between old (Flattop), and new (Streamline). It had a very short life. The Parker Mandarin Yellow color began production in 1927. Other colors of both models were also produced during 1924 - 1932. For a size comparison, the Senior Flattop is 5 1/2 inches long. Matching fountain pens were also produced.

  I'm showing today an unmarked figural lobster claw mechanical pencil. The material is silver. Likely English in origin.  The working end is twist activated. The pencil was produced during the 1880 - 1895 period. The length is 1 3/4 inches long closed and 2 1/4" extended. Yes - diminutive.