Omas Arte Italiana Wood Collection

[OMASsimo]

Some time ago I got this really nice OMAS wooden, faceted fountain pen shown below. Unfortunately, the dealer couldn't tell me much about it. What I could find out is that this piece from the Arte Italiana Wood Collection was considered a Milord although it's almost as large (massive to be honest) as a modern Paragon. What is not clear to me and what the dealer didn't know either is the kind of wood it is made of. It is a very dark brown with hardly any visible grain. The surface is satin polished and there are only a few visible grooves and dimples. What could it be, cocobolo, some sort of palisander, grenadill, ebony, rosewood? Does anybody here has any information about the types of wood OMAS used for this series?

 

Well, regardless which wood, this is a lovely pen with a surprisingly flexible 18 k medium gold nib and it's a fabulous writer.

 

Peter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2017 by OMASsimo

[mk2579]

Beautiful pen- I saw this for sale recently as well as the light/tan colour one and was very tempted- sorry can't help re: wood question.

[billy1380]

The cocobolo one looks a little more orange... to me this looks more like the "violet ebony of madagascar".

[FriendAmos]

The cocobolo one looks a little more orange... to me this looks more like the "violet ebony of madagascar".

 

+1 for some kind of violet wood.

[OMASsimo]

I agree that cocobolo should be brighter and more reddish/orange than this wood. I included it in the list because I've seen at least one reference to it in connection with OMAS pens. The wood is sort of reddish brown but very dark with no discernible grain. Is the "violet ebony of madagascar" something that was used by OMAS?

 

For the brighter woods I've seen references to olive and cherry. I also recall limited editions in oak from barrels of Charles Krug and Chateau Lafite but that's a different story probably.

 

Peter

[billy1380]

Had my eye on this one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00X776E7G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=8E2LVL0H79N1&coliid=I3GEOBL15Y14DS

 

but ended up getting this instead

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00X7764P8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

Edit:

There are at least a couple more

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Omas-Italiana-Woods-Cocobolo-Fountain/dp/B003S79IA0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1486340696&sr=8-5&keywords=OMAS+Arte

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Italianamilord-Brazil-Piston-Filled-Fountain/dp/B00X776RLY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1486340696&sr=8-7&keywords=OMAS+Arte

Edited February 6, 2017 by billy1380

[OMASsimo]

Thank you for the links. What is called "Violet Ebony of Madagascar" on Amazon seems to be my model. I tried to find OMAS catalogues but had no success, though this must be a very recent production.

 

Well, let's try to list what models seem to exist:

 

Ebony (Violet Ebony of Madagascar)

Cocobolo

Rosewood (Rose Ebony of Brazil)

Olive

 

Would be interesting if there were any other woods as well (excluding limited editions)

 

Peter

[FriendAmos]

Thank you for the links. What is called "Violet Ebony of Madagascar" on Amazon seems to be my model. I tried to find OMAS catalogues but had no success, though this must be a very recent production.

 

Well, let's try to list what models seem to exist:

 

Ebony (Violet Ebony of Madagascar)

Cocobolo

Rosewood (Rose Ebony of Brazil)

Olive

 

Would be interesting if there were any other woods as well (excluding limited editions)

 

Peter

 

The old OMAS website is still up, and you will find the pen described here:

 

http://www.omas.com/creations-boutique/arte-italiana-icon-en/milord-ebony-wood-o02a0072/

[OMASsimo]

Thank you for the link, which I couldn't find. I know the OMAS web page but imo it's virtually impossible to find anything specific on that page. Well, at least there is a catalogue online listing three out of the four woods listed above.

 

Peter

[jmccarty3]

Thanks for the photos of this elegant pen!

[Tinjapan]

It is not olive wood, that is certain. I just got this pen in Olive wood and it is much lighter. The fittings on mine are sterling silver though I am not sure about the clip and cap band. Your's also have sterling silver?

 

Mine also has an inscription under "Italy" on the cap which seems to have been done in the factory. Does yours also have a cryptic inscription?

 

Lovely pen you have.

 

Here is mine, again, in olive wood.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/uploads/imgs/fpn_1488168556__img_2057.jpg

[OMASsimo]

Thank you for your reply and congratulations to your olive wood pen. I'm sure it is as lovely as mine. I'm pretty certain by now that my model is the "violet ebony of Madagascar" version.

 

Yes, the section is Sterling and is stamped "925" plus another imprint I'm not sure about what it means. On the cap band is and imprint of two letters, dash, three digits beneath "ITALY". The OMAS catalogue states "Harmonious shapes, trim in solid silver, elegant and contemporary design renew the OMAS’ institutional style of the Arte Italiana Milord Collection." So, it seems that at least the cap band is silver, the clip I'm not sure about because it might be a little soft.

 

Anyway, it's a great, beautiful pen and a marvelous writer that I'm very happy with.

 

Peter

[manhha]

I got two, in Rose Wood and Olive one.

 

[Ghost Plane]

Love the rose

[Tinjapan]

Thank you for your reply and congratulations to your olive wood pen. I'm sure it is as lovely as mine. I'm pretty certain by now that my model is the "violet ebony of Madagascar" version.

 

Yes, the section is Sterling and is stamped "925" plus another imprint I'm not sure about what it means. On the cap band is and imprint of two letters, dash, three digits beneath "ITALY". The OMAS catalogue states "Harmonious shapes, trim in solid silver, elegant and contemporary design renew the OMAS’ institutional style of the Arte Italiana Milord Collection." So, it seems that at least the cap band is silver, the clip I'm not sure about because it might be a little soft.

 

Anyway, it's a great, beautiful pen and a marvelous writer that I'm very happy with.

 

Peter

Thanks! That is exactly the info I was looking for. The seller of the pen I bought thought it was personalization under "Italy" on the cap band but as it is the same font and size as "Italy" and a number that would be hard to think of as a date, I doubted it was. Mine is stamped W I - 046 . Any ideas as to what that may mean?

[Tinjapan]

I got two, in Rose Wood and Olive one.

2016-11-24 15.02.07.jpg

2016-11-24 15.01.23.jpg

 

Lovely pens both! The rosewood looks much smaller, is it?

[mr2txaggie]

 

I, too, adore the Rosewood. I think it is gorgeous!

[manhha]

Lovely pens both! The rosewood looks much smaller, is it?

Actually they are in the same size (new Milord). The Rosewood comes with Extra Flexible Medium nib, which I found too wet, whereas the Olive comes with factory Stub nib in extremely wet side.

[OMASsimo]

This is indeed an interesting optical illusion and I wonder how you achieved it. Anyways, both are lovely pens and I think that each of the woods they used has it's individual charm. Many people would smack their lips if they could get hold of an extra flessibile nib from OMAS. In my experience, all modern OMAS nibs tend to be very wet due to the combination of a modern nib with an ebonite feed. Although, I don't think this is exclusive to OMAS because many of my high quality pens, vintage as well as current, show this behaviour. The big nuisance is for me that current papers are not made for this.

[youstruckgold]

Had my eye on this one

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00X776E7G/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=8E2LVL0H79N1&coliid=I3GEOBL15Y14DS

 

but ended up getting this instead

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00X7764P8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

 

Edit:

There are at least a couple more

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Omas-Italiana-Woods-Cocobolo-Fountain/dp/B003S79IA0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1486340696&sr=8-5&keywords=OMAS+Arte

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Italianamilord-Brazil-Piston-Filled-Fountain/dp/B00X776RLY/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1486340696&sr=8-7&keywords=OMAS+Arte

I have the Olive as well. Although not a fan of silver sections, this is truly a beautiful pen!