Style is, for me, a lot more than simply what you wear. Sporting a beautiful writing instrument is up there with wearing a good wristwatch in saying something about its owner's taste and discernment. I was thinking about this again recently when I visited Yard-O-Led in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter to see their exquisitely crafted silver pens and pencils.
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| Hand-chased silver pencil by Yard-O-Led |
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| Engine-turned fountain pen from Yard-O-Led |
The business has been around since 1934, but has its roots in the nineteenth century when the propelling pencil was developed and patents registered which formed the basis of the present Yard-O-Led's products when all the intellectual property rights came into the same ownership in the 1950s. The business has been through a few owners, but is now in the hands of an enthusiastic businesswoman whose love for the products is palpable - and it's easy to see why; these are practical objects of great beauty.
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| Hand-chasing (left) and engine-turning silver pens and pencils at Yard-O-Led |
Why a yard of lead? Each pencil holds twelve three inch leads cunningly stored in the barrel (12 x 3" = 36" = 1 yard for the mathematically challenged or hopelessly decimalised). But the company also makes fountain pens.
All are silver and are decorated by hand. It was this workmanship that I visited Birmingham to see. Each is decorated either by hand-chasing (hammering decoration into the silver) or by engine-turning a geometric design into the silver. It was a privilege to see younger crafts people working on the designs, although older hands bring years of expertise to the production process.
All are silver and are decorated by hand. It was this workmanship that I visited Birmingham to see. Each is decorated either by hand-chasing (hammering decoration into the silver) or by engine-turning a geometric design into the silver. It was a privilege to see younger crafts people working on the designs, although older hands bring years of expertise to the production process.
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| A pen after final polishing (right) |
Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter has for centuries been the centre of a metal and jewellery trade. Although now a trendy area of the city, many such businesses survive there and old skills continue, as vividly shown at Yard-O-Led.
Because the designs are applied by hand each is different; no two are exactly the same. This adds an artistic element to the decoration and real interest to each product. Many all-machine decorated pens and pencils from other manufacturers cost as much or more, making Yard-O-Led's products particularly attractive. As ever, when I see objects made so skilfully by hand, I want to own one particularly when, like these, they are beautiful yet practical objects which represent good value and will easily outlive their owners.
Because the designs are applied by hand each is different; no two are exactly the same. This adds an artistic element to the decoration and real interest to each product. Many all-machine decorated pens and pencils from other manufacturers cost as much or more, making Yard-O-Led's products particularly attractive. As ever, when I see objects made so skilfully by hand, I want to own one particularly when, like these, they are beautiful yet practical objects which represent good value and will easily outlive their owners.
You can visit the Yard-O-Led website to find out more and to buy. Their prices start at under £300 for an engine-turned or hand-chased silver pencil.
Note: this is an unsponsored post. I asked to visit and Yard-O-Led were kind enough to pay the larger part of my travel expenses. All views are mine; I was not compensated in any way.
