Description
Dating from around 1910, this remarkable example of a Salz fountain pen is stamped “STERLING” and “SALZ FOUNTAIN PEN at the lower end of the barrel. Imprinted with the SALZ name. This eyedropper filled pen is 5.8 inches long and weighs 15 grams.
Salz Brothers, founded in New York City in the early 20th century, was a pen company known for producing stylish fountain pens through the 1920s and 1930s. Salz pens—often marked under names like “Salz” or “Roma”—gained popularity for their imaginative designs and accessibility to a broad market.
The later silver filigree patterns of fountain pens generally feature fewer curves and adopt a more restrained, static design. This early example, however, reflects Art Nouveau influences, with flowing, nature-inspired forms enhanced by hand-engraved lines cut directly into the silver.
Less common than the comparable Waterman sterling silver filigree pens of the same period, it is distinguished by the refinement of its thinner filigree work. The craftsmanship demonstrates a level of detail and artistry that became less apparent in the heavier, more standardized designs that followed.
The remarkable Salz Sterling Silver Filagree fountain pen is from the Mottishaw collection.