Jacques Herbin Bouqet d’Antan

[yazeh]

Jacques Herbin Bouqet d’Antan

Ink Review # 236

 

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🧾 Description

Bouquet d’antan translates to Bouquet of Yesteryear.

 

All classic J Herbin inks are now marketed as Jacques Herbin. 

This belongs to original La Perle des encres series (now 40 inks). 

 

It’s a lovely, legible pastel pink with gentle shading. The ink behaves wonderfully on copy paper. While lubrication is below average, the writing experience was surprisingly pleasant.

 

A wonderful surprise. 

 

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🧪 Chroma

 

 

 

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✍️ Writing Samples (scan & photo)

Quotes: 

Translations from the original French are provided for reference only. They are unofficial and may differ slightly from published translations.

 

Rhodia
“Perfume heralds a woman’s arrival and prolongs her departure.”
— Coco Chanel

Iroful
“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking together in the same direction.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Midori
“Memory is the perfume of the soul.”
— George Sand

Tomoe River 68gsm
“Nostalgia is the desire for we know not what.”
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Hammermill 20 lb
“Time does not protect you from love, but love, to some extent, protects you from time.”
— Jeanne Moreau

 

- Pens Used: Pilot F3A, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ stub 1.1), Kanwrite with a FPR Flex. 

JEF denotes Japanese EF, roughly equivalent to a European extra-extra-fine.

 

Rhodia 

 

 

 

Iroful

 

 

 

 

Midori 

 

 

 

Tomoe River 68gsm

Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews.

 

 

 

 

Hammermill 20lb  

 

 

 

Closeup

 

 

 

 🔍 Comparison

Col-O-ring swatch cards. Scans are approximative. 

 

 

 

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 💧 Water Test

 

 

 

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 🎨 Artwork

INKTOBER 52, Day 10: Lift 

Mouse is terrified at the option of a lift off. 

Kitty Inkpot Unstoppable Snake, Jinchen Lantau Dream, Jacques Herbin: Vert Pré, Bleu Azur, Bouquet d'antan, Orange Indien, Uniball Signo White Gel, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.

 

 

 

 

Covered

Cat & Mouse take their first shower together. Cat wears its wellingtons and grabs an umbrella. I wonder if, 20 years later, Cat will get used to water and take a shower instead of grooming itself, while Mouse adapts  to  Cat’s grooming.

 

Jinchen Purple Forest, J. Herbin Bouquet d’Antan, Uniball Signo, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.

 

 

Great Maiden’s Blush

Inspired by my love of Old Garden Roses, in this instance Great Maiden’s Blush, known since 1593.

 

When Mouse kissed Cat for the first time, she blushed and saw pink.

 

Lennon Tool Bar Bixi, J. Herbin Bouquet d’Antan, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.

 

 

 

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- What I Liked: Muted dusky colour, legible. 

- What I Did Not Like: I’m still thinking about it. 

- Writing Experience: Quite good.

 

 🧷 Ink Characteristics

- Shading: Subtle. 

- Ghosting: Only with a primed flex nib. 

- Bleed Through: Same as above. 

- Flow Rate: Average.

- Lubrication: Below average, but nice to write with. 

- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice

- Start-up: No problems. 

- Saturation: No. 

- Sheen: No.

- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only when the flex was primed.

- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.

- Staining (Pen): No. 

- Clogging: No.

- Cleaning: Relatively easy, but it’s a pink dye, so maybe overtime it’ll take more time to clean. 

- Water Resistance: Decent. 

 

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 🛒 Availability

 

- Available in 10, 30 ml bottles worldwide. Cartridges and 100 ml bottles in select stores. 

 

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 💬 Closing

I was pleasantly surprised by this elegant rose colour and enjoyed writing and drawing with it. The pastel colour softens the soul and is a balm for those seeking inner peace in turbulent times.

 

No fountain pens were harmed in preparing this review.

 

Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.  

 

[inkstainedruth]

Pretty color!  I may have to try a sample of this ink at some point, although it appears that it may be more legible in a broader (or wetter) nib.  The ink also seems a bit more water resistant than some other inks in the Herbin lineup.

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review, and especially the fun artwork.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[yazeh]

4 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Pretty color!  I may have to try a sample of this ink at some point, although it appears that it may be more legible in a broader (or wetter) nib.

Scans are misleading. It's legible with almost all nibs. I think Japanese Ef is the least legible. 

4 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

 The ink also seems a bit more water resistant than some other inks in the Herbin lineup.

Surprisingly it was.  

4 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review, and especially the fun artwork.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Most welcome and thanks for your kind comments.

 

[LizEF]

The color is a bit too pastel for my preference, but then, we're here for the review, not the ink!  

 

Good quotes. That last one is supported by data (about love protecting you from time). Some of those swatches require sunglasses! 😎

 

Very sweet water test sketch.  

 

"Lift" is still fun!   "Covered" is still hilarious!   (That would be Klaw. He runs when the water turns on. Smoke on the other hand, would be trying to "catch" the water with his paws.)  And "Great Maiden's Blush" is sweet - and a lovely play on the flower's name.  

 

Thanks for another wonderful review, @yazeh!

[yazeh]

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

The color is a bit too pastel for my preference, but then, we're here for the review, not the ink!  

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Good quotes. That last one is supported by data (about love protecting you from time).

Love helps us bear the weight of time together. 🙏

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Some of those swatches require sunglasses! 😎

Scans often overexpose colours. I'm avoiding scanning more and more. 

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Very sweet water test sketch.  

Thanks. 😺

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

"Lift" is still fun!   "Covered" is still hilarious!   (That would be Klaw. He runs when the water turns on. Smoke on the other hand, would be trying to "catch" the water with his paws.) 

Would Klaw be running towards water or away from it? 

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

And "Great Maiden's Blush" is sweet - and a lovely play on the flower's name.  

Thanks. I've been dreaming if growing this beaury.

57 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Thanks for another wonderful review, @yazeh!

Most welcome. 🙏

[Sailor Kenshin]

I have this!  An old bottle but I do love the color.  And the artwork.  Many thanks, @yazeh, for these ink-splorations.  💝

[LizEF]

40 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Would Klaw be running towards water or away from it?

Away.  He seems to fear running water. Standing water is OK (such as his water bowl or sometimes I fill the guest tub with a little bit of water so he can approach it like a lion at a watering hole).  Smoke's the opposite - he likes playing with running water.  

[yazeh]

22 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I have this!

22 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 An old bottle but I do love the color.  And the artwork.  

Thanks! 

22 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Many thanks, @yazeh, for these ink-splorations.  💝

A pleasure. 🙏

[yazeh]

2 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Away.  He seems to fear running water.

It makes sense. Ours is afraid of the sound of paper bags. She once got caught her head in a handle was running all over the house. I caught her in time. But since then if she annoying, I shake a paper bag and off she goes.

 

2 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Standing water is OK (such as his water bowl or sometimes I fill the guest tub with a little bit of water so he can approach it like a lion at a watering hole).  Smoke's the opposite - he likes playing with running water.  

Oh, so she jumps in the bathtub and kicks a bit. Ours never goes in the bathroom when we're around. 😺

[inkstainedruth]

48 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Away.  He seems to fear running water. Standing water is OK (such as his water bowl or sometimes I fill the guest tub with a little bit of water so he can approach it like a lion at a watering hole).  Smoke's the opposite - he likes playing with running water.  

The only cat we ever had that liked playing with water was Byron, the Maine Coon.  

Of course, at one point, we had one of those electronic litter boxes that would automatically scrape the stuff left into a trough at one end, and one of the torties was absolutely astounded by it and would sit there watching it work.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[yazeh]

@inkstainedruth cats! 

[inkstainedruth]

Yup....  

I wish we could still have cats, but a few years ago I developed an allergy to cat fur and cat dander.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[yazeh]

13 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

Yup....  

I wish we could still have cats, but a few years ago I developed an allergy to cat fur and cat dander.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Sorry to hear that. You can always get a sphinx cat, though they are not that pretty.  (not to be mistaken with @LizEF Makhabesh.  )

[LizEF]

37 minutes ago, yazeh said:

... (not to be mistaken with @LizEF Makhabesh.  )

Who is, of course, a very handsome fellow.

[yazeh]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

Who is, of course, a very handsome fellow.

That goes without saying. 😺🐍

[Baggins]

23 hours ago, LizEF said:

Good quotes. That last one is supported by data (about love protecting you from time). Some of those swatches require sunglasses! 😎

Spot on 🎯

 

Thank for yet another ink review with very good art!

the color seems readable at F. Thinner nibs not really. Curious to know LizEFs opinion.

 

Except for art, can’t see where this ink would be used. For writing this would quickly strain the eyes of the reader. However diversity is very important 🤗

[LizEF]

50 minutes ago, Baggins said:

the color seems readable at F. Thinner nibs not really. Curious to know LizEFs opinion.

In the scans, I agree.  Under LED, even the Japanese EF seems readable to me.  But reality (in person) is a different question.

 

50 minutes ago, Baggins said:

For writing this would quickly strain the eyes of the reader.

If a very long block of text (more than a paragraph), you're probably right - and more right the finer the nib. (I consider "readable" to mean "I can read it" - a separate question from whether I'd want to try reading a letter written with it.  )

 

ETA:

50 minutes ago, Baggins said:

However diversity is very important 🤗

Absolutely!   Every letter I write uses a different ink every paragraph change.  

[knarflj]

4 hours ago, Baggins said:

 

the color seems readable at F. Thinner nibs not really. Curious to know LizEFs opinion.

 

 

I'm not Liz, but I owned a bottle of this once upon a time (don't remember why), and gave it away because although I liked the colour, I found it just a little too pale to be practical for the EF nibs I mostly use.

 

Thanks for the review and art, @yazeh!

[yazeh]

7 hours ago, Baggins said:

Thank for yet another ink review with very good art!

Most welcome! 

7 hours ago, Baggins said:

the color seems readable at F. Thinner nibs not really. 

As @LizEF said ignore the scans, focus on the photos. Color is legible. The Pilot F3A is a semi-flex nib. If I'd flexed it, it would have been more legible. A page of this in J EF with a light touch would not be pleasant to read, but the same goes with a very bright neon color written tightly.   

7 hours ago, Baggins said:

Except for art, can’t see where this ink would be used. For writing this would quickly strain the eyes of the reader. However diversity is very important 🤗

It's a nice colour with wider nibs for journaling or letter writing. It's very soothing to write with.  

[yazeh]

2 hours ago, knarflj said:

 

I'm not Liz, but I owned a bottle of this once upon a time (don't remember why), and gave it away because although I liked the colour, I found it just a little too pale to be practical for the EF nibs I mostly use.

Yeah, this is best for wet and wider nibs in general.  

2 hours ago, knarflj said:

 

Thanks for the review and art, @yazeh!

Most welcome and thanks for sharing your experience. 🙏