Models

The Jabulani model

This is a gently curvaceous model, with a relatively wide girth of 16 mm (0,6″) narrowing to a 10,5 mm (0,4″)  grip section. It has our logo on the finial, and the finial is ever-so-slightly rounded, rather than dead flat, which adds to the pen’s elegance.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

Jabulani means rejoice in the Zulu language, which is exactly what we feel about this model.

The Thuli model

This is a long, slender pen, with black finials and bronze rings at either end, and a double bronze and resin ring at the start of the cap. The cap is not a flush fit which means a) we have been able to make a smooth transition between the barrel and the grip section with hardly any ‘step’ in between and b) when you screw the cap on it automatically seals against the end of the section and in doing so creates a little sealed compartment for the nib which prevents the nib drying out.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

This model is named in honour of Prof Thuli Madonsela. She is an icon of courage, integrity and grace and is widely admired for the work she did as South Africa’s Public Protector for seven years, during which she gave meaning to the saying an iron fist in a velvet glove. (Thuli is pronounced Tuly.)

The Ghost's Breath (Spookasem) model

This is a medium-length but wide pen. It has a gentle taper on both cap and barrel. The finial on the barrel is conical and the one on the one on the cap is almost flat. The cap is a flush fit and does not post on to the barrel.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

In South Africa we have rather a special name for candy floss or cotton candy: spookasem. That translates into ghost’s breath.

The Whitney model

The Whitney Model is a large pen which is gently tapered at both cap and barrel ends. It has slightly conical finials. The cap is a flush fit with the barrel.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

The Whitney Model is named after a superhero who inspires us, Whitney Dafoe. He has ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome). Whitney is on the severe end of the ME/CFS spectrum and can neither eat nor drink nor speak, yet he advocates for ME/CFS research through his blog and his posts. Here is a link to his blog and his Instagram account is @whitneydafoe.

African Miyuki Magic model

This model is a beaded pen that we make in a number of different variations in terms of the areas that can be beaded: either the cap or the barrel, or both cap and barrel. It is a wide pen with sides that appear parallel, however this is a slight taper between the beaded areas and the finials. The finials are very slightly conical and the cap is a flush fit with the barrel.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

The arrival of traders (including slave traders!) into Africa began the era of African/foreign interaction and one of the results was the introduction of coloured glass beads. Since then many African tribes have developed exquisitely patterned beaded body adornments that have become deeply ingrained in their cultural heritage. Beading has also developed further as an African art form that continues to evolve and excite, as well as being one of the iconic mementoes that tourists often take home with them.

The Miyuki part of the name comes from Di using tiny Miyuki Delica beads and Miyuki rocailles. The Miyuki brand from Japan is one of the most highly prized among beaders and has the well-earned reputation for making beads that are the most consistent in size and in a range of intense colours.

The ‘Magic’ part of the name …. well, that goes without saying!

The Heirloom model

This model has a very slight (1 degree) taper for 80% of the barrel and cap, and a 70 degree taper at the finials. It has slim bronze bands near the ends of the barrel and cap, and a wide brass band at the mouth of the cap. The Heirloom model has a bronze inner sleeve which extends beyond the barrel where it has a threaded area on to which the cap fits. As with the Heritage model, the bronze sleeve provides additional strength and seals the inside of the pen to protect against leakage. The cap is a flush fit and does not post.

This pen feels hefty in the hand. Surprisingly, it weighs 57g (2 oz) capped or 33g (1.1 oz) uncapped which is only 4g heavier than one of our smaller pens in a resin and wood hybrid.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

We called this The Heirloom Model as it is built to last.

The Heritage model

This model has parallel sides with gentle curves on the barrel and the cap, and a very thin inner sleeve of bronze. The sleeve extends beyond the barrel and has a threaded area on to which the cap fits. This sleeve provides additional strength, which allows the pen to be made much thinner than most hybrid pens, and also seals the inside of the pen against ink leakage that might mark the wood. The Heritage model has a bronze band at the opening of the cap. The cap is a flush fit and does not post.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

The Heritage model was named when we created our Wilderness Collection and signals our intention to embody qualities that the African wilderness holds for us: raw, rugged, wild, often breathtakingly beautiful.

The Dafoe model

The Dafoe model is relatively long and curvaceous. We wanted to create a pen that has flowing lines and a feminine shape, hence the barrel is curved and narrows towards the section, flowing into the tapered section. The cap is also tapered. The finials are very slightly conical.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

This model is named after one of the bravest and strongest heroines in the world today, Dr Janet Dafoe. She is the mother of Whitney Dafoe, (we named our first model The Whitney), and stays out of the limelight yet works hard behind the scenes to support others suffering from ME/CFS and to advocate for funding for research into this disease.

The Dainty Dafoe model

As the name suggests, this is a feminine, dainty pen. The nib end of the barrel curves in toward the section, which is tapered to follow the shape of the barrel. The gentle curves on both the cap and the barrel lead to a narrow waist in the middle.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

Janet Dafoe is a respected psychologist with a PhD, and an activist raising awareness about ME/CFS. In addition to caring for her son Whitney, who is bedridden, she is also seen as the mother of the ME/CFS community and is always offering support and encouragement to people with this disease. Here is a link to a well-written article about the family’s journey.

The Beaded Dafoe model

This shape of Dafoe model has been specifically designed to allow for woven beads to be embedded in the barrel of the pen.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

As with the other Dafoe models, this one is named after Janet Dafoe: mother, carer, health care professional; activist working to help find a cure for ME/CFS. Warm, compassionate, witty. Determined. Looks like a granny (which she is!). Acts like a Superhero.

The Susan model

The Susan model is a full length pen, with a cap that is slightly wider than the barrel. Both the cap and barrel have a gentle taper.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

The Susan model is named in honour of an angel-on-earth who has been the most amazing friend to our chronically ill son. They have never met, yet ever since she found out that he is housebound and has hardly any contact with people outside of our family, she has sent him an LoD (Laugh of the Day) every single day for nearly a year now. The LoD might be a card she has painted for him, or a funny meme, a joke, a photo, or a short message.

The Octaplume model

This is a faceted pen with eight sides. At 132 mm (5,2”) it is relatively short compared to many of our other models, and also quite slim. It has rounded ends, a compact feel and lovely balance. (It also involves a lot of polishing!)

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit a Jowo #6 nib (and is a bit too slim for a Bock #6).

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

Octa refers to the eight facets on this model. Stylo à plume means fountain pen in French.

The Milky Way model

This pen model has an aero- or hydrodynamic shape (in the sense of a submarine or torpedo) with gently tapered sides, a flush-fit cap and rounded ends.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

We developed this model for The Milky Way series, which features stars and planets spiralling around the pen’s length.

The African Bushveld model

African Bushveld is a longer pen (152mm / 6″) with a flush fit cap and a slight taper on both the cap and the barrel. The bottom of the barrel is rounded and the top of the cap is almost flat (with rounded edges) and with our logo medallion embedded in the top.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

This model was named after the material from which the first pens were made … mixtures of typical bushveld colours – tawny gold, ochre, molten copper and charcoal.

The Thandi model

This is a relatively long, slim model with a cap which is slightly wider than the barrel. It has thin rings at the ends of the cap and barrel and in the middle. The cap finial has our logo medallion embedded in it, and slightly rounded edges.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

Thandi, pronounced Tandy and short for Thandiwe, is a favourite name in South Africa. It is a unisex name meaning Loved one or Beloved in Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele. One of the most famous actors with this name is Thandi Newton.

The Feather model

Also known as a Pocket Pen, the Feather Pen is so light and tiny one hardly notices it is there … until the cap is posted on to the barrel and voilà, it turns into a full-size pen - converting from a mere 96 mm (3.8″) when closed to 137 mm (5.4″) when posted!!!

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit a Jowo #6 nib (and is a bit too slim for a Bock #6)

Refill type:

Fountain pen cartridge only (not supplied) as the barrel is too short for a standard fountain pen converter.

How this model got its name:

Light as a …

The Off-piste model

This is a one of our longest models: slim, slender, one might even say svelte. It has a longer than usual section and can be made with or without a clip. The cap is a flush fit and does not post on to the barrel.

Dimensions:

The section can be made to fit either a Bock #6 or a Jowo #6 nib.

Refill type:

Standard international fountain pen converter (supplied) or ink cartridge.

How this model got its name:

Every now and then one of us goes off-piste, so when Dave brought me this pen that he had created, there was only one name for it.