{"id":13330,"date":"2024-07-31T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/?p=13330"},"modified":"2024-07-31T10:22:35","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T14:22:35","slug":"defining-pretty-ink-stick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racheldelafuente.com\/blog\/defining-pretty-ink-stick\/","title":{"rendered":"Defining “Pretty Ink Stick”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As I’ve mentioned a few times now, one of my rules for this year<\/a> is to not purchase any “pretty ink sticks” \u2014 which I’ve broken<\/a>. As the DC Pen Show has approached, “pretty ink sticks” have come to mind more, since I know I’ll see lots of them. But, recently, I’ve been considering, what qualifies as a “pretty ink stick?”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I really get into this post, I want to make clear that I don’t consider “pretty ink stick” derogatory in any way. It’s a classification of pen \u2014 along the lines of urushi, black pen, and painted \u2014 one which many<\/em> people love. I feel like many people, though, use “pretty ink stick” as an alternate term for “indie pen.” And that<\/em>, to me, is<\/em> derogatory. So I want a better definition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Focus is the material<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I think this was the thought from whomever is quoted as saying “I don’t want another pretty ink stick,” on episode 15<\/a> of the Gourmet Pens Club podcast<\/a> at around the 19 minute mark. But \u2014 there are a lot of buts in this post \u2014 what about pens that are made from “boring” materials?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s imagine a pen maker who makes basic, flat-top, cylindrical pens. The focus is 100% on the materials, so, “pretty ink sticks”, right? But, what happens when this theoretical pen maker creates a pen out of a plain black resin? Is it still a “pretty ink stick?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what about pens that are an interesting shape? Like Black Robin Pens’ Ophelia<\/a>, or Mayfair Pens Eowyn<\/a>? Are they<\/em> “pretty ink sticks” even though they aren’t just about the material? You can see why my brain has been mulling this over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nib holders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If we expand the definition to cover the “not-so-pretty” materials and uniquely shaped pens, we get to nib holders. You know the ones, pens that hold Bock or Jowo nibs. But, that made me wonder what makes those two nib brands different?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can imagine some would say that it’s because they’re easy to buy replacements for. A quick Google search, though, show you can also easily buy nibs by Schmidt, Lamy, TWSBI, Kaweco, Pelikan, Vanishing Point, Visconti, Aurora, Waterman, Parker, Graf von Faber Castell… The list goes on. But I don’t think anyone would call Pelikan, Visconti, Aurora, etc. pens “pretty ink sticks.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Filling System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, perhaps we can narrow it down some by filling system. Are pens only “pretty ink sticks” if they have cartridge\/converter or eyedropper filling systems? Maybe, but what about pens that most would think of a “pretty ink sticks” that have other filling mechanisms? Think Edison pens, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And does that mean we have to expand the category to include Sailor pens, for example, since they have cartridge\/converter filling systems and are often bought for the materials?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, where does that leave us? Ultimately, I think you’ll have to come up with your own definition. But, I’ve come to a decision for myself. Here are my “pretty ink stick” conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n