Parker 1930s Carltonware Desk Pen and Base (July 2023)
Parker 1930s Carltonware Desk Pen and Base
I have been active in my search for Fountain pens and its accessories after joining the FB fountain pen and revisited the Fountain pen network forum.
Recently, I have notice that there are some collectors collecting vintage pen desk set. Previously, I wasn't interested as it occupied too much space. However, when I saw the desk set made by Carltonware using Chinoiserie design, I fell in love with them. After much searching, I have finally found a superb Parker Junior Duofold Lucky Curve in mandarin yellow on a Carltonware desk base. It comes with a Parker Junior Fountain pen. The pen has a fine nib marked Parker, Duofold, Pen, and a 'P'. There are several designs available namely in Mandarin Yellow, In Lapis Blue, in black, and one in deeper red. These ceramic bases are late 1920s and they were made for the Parker Pen Company England by Carlton Ware, a pottery manufacture from Stoke-on-Trent, England.
According to Roger W from Fountain Pen network: Parker did some very nice work. This could have been part of the Pen Desk Set Company work in that Sheaffer never did Carltonware. For those that don't know The PDSC was a collaboration between Sheaffer, Parker and Wahl combining their many patents and probably arranging ways in which they didn't step on each other's toes. It also allowed them the ability to control the desk set industry from 1929 until 1950 when desk sets were clearly past their prime. It was Sheaffer's idea and it is clear from the incorporation that Wahl was acting as the neutral party between Sheaffer and Parker. What I mean by that is that Parker and Sheaffer were clearly the leaders in desk sets and got along well to form this collaboration and it played well for Wahl to be the third Midwest partner. It was very much a Midwestern concern leaving out the other member of the big four Waterman in New York. The corporate papers show that Sheaffer was to remain the driving force in this arrangement with their people ultimately dissolving the corporation in 1950.
There are many desk sets throughout the 1920s-70s. I think the most beautiful are the ones from the 1928-1935 made by Carltonware. The 1930s Vacumatic sets are also beautiful but is no longer using ceramic. It is best to find the base together with the fountain pen as it requires a good fit to ensure that the fountain pen don't dry out.
This is a Parker Desk base with the Mandarin yellow fountain pen
The pen tail has a 9ct solid gold band.
The imprint on the barrel is crisp
Following the Mandarin yellow desk set, I have found two more. One in Lapis blue and another in black/red. as below. The black/red one comes with the Duofold red pen, while the blue one comes with Duofold Lapis blue. I think there are 2-3 more colours to collect to complete the diamond shaped Parker Desk set. There are rectangular desk set made by Carltonware for other fountain pen brands.
Carlton Ware ceramic desk base with tulip-form pen holder, decorated in red, black and other colors, depicting two Chinese pagodas, a bridge, water and foliage. With Parker button-filler desk fountain pen, red barrel and black taper,
Carlton Ware ceramic desk base with tulip-form pen holder, decorated in blue, depicting Chinese pagodas, a bridge, water and crane. With Parker button-filler desk fountain pen, lapis blue barrel and black taper,
I think tere are three more colours missing from the lot namely Red, Orange and dark yellow
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