Featured S. Mordan & Co. Sterling Silver Dip Pen & Propelling Pencil Set w/Box! Ca. 1880

These were on sale at a local antiques shop. They look like they've never, ever been used, and probably opened only a handful of times in their lives.








Marked: "S. MORDAN & CO".

Date: Ca. 1880-1910.
Material: Sterling Silver.

No hallmarks, but I have it on good authority from a friend of mine who collects these (and has done, probably for longer than I've been alive!), that they are definitely sterling silver, based on the company's production history.

They were also described as Sterling Silver in the original sale-ticket. I have no reason to not believe two separate opinions.

 

Ah, Lovely!

 

Gorgeous!! Great find too!

Mordan pieces are well sought after by pen collectors and this could be a rare set. The tiny English hallmarks are usually well hidden in the fussy hand chased designs of English silver items. If you look them over carefully, you'll probably find them.
http://collectorsweekly6.rssing.com/browser.php?indx=14804909&item=178

Don't know if you found this page, but it has some nice info. on the company.
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/S._Mordan_and_Co

Cheers,
FBR

 

I have searched EVERYWHERE on the pen AND pencil. Absolutely no hallmarks. The two gentlemen at the shop where I purchased it also scrutinised it. All three of us with loupes.

We all reached the same conclusion - NO hallmarks.

I'm well aware of the reputation of Mordan & Co., and how desireable they are. I've collected pens and antique writing equipment for over a decade. But I never thought I'd OWN one! Or a SET! In a BOX!

I have consulted a friend of mine who collects antique pencils. She dated the set to 1880-1910. Mordan did produce several pen & pencil sets which were sterling silver, but not hallmarked, because of...well...LOOK AT IT!! Where are you gonna find a space to mark on that thing!?

But she confirmed what the chaps at the shop said - no hallmarks, but more than likely, sterling silver. She said the heavy engraving wouldn't have been bothered with, if it was a cheaper pen and pencil set. Later sets produced by the company (after WWI) were silver-plated, but something this old was certainly solid.

I have to say that I agree with their assessment. It seems silly to go to ALL THIS WORK if it isn't solid. She said the company also produced solid gold pen-and-pencil sets like this, which likewise, were unmarked.

 

Oh, my, but you do find the loveliest things.

 

Wow, so beautiful!

 

You just love making us drool.

 

Nice find, Shangas! Beeyoutifull!

 

Hehehe...Thanks folks...I'm still getting over the shock that they're really silver. I'll be honest I had my doubts.

 

Hi Shangas,
You are going to have to start learning to use your nose. Literally some people can smell the difference between sterling and plate. I have about 80% record. I have one old friend of mine that has never made a mistake. She was amazing.
greg

 

I have heard of people saying that, but I never understood how it worked?

And apparently, taste as well?

 

I can smell if something is silver. Hard to describe why, though.

 

I wish I knew how it worked

 

Beautiful!

About the smelling of silver, I can understand how that would work but can also see why it would be hard to describe a smell in writing. Shangas, maybe you can take something that you know is silver and something that is plated and try smelling them to see what distinctions you can make?

 

Perhaps...Not sure how good that'll work, but I'll give it a shot...