Introduction

Sampson Mordan was born around 1790 and was an apprentice with Joseph Bramah, inventor of patent locks. On the back of the success of the propelling pencil S Mordan and Co's range of products expanded; by 1838 the firm listed smelling bottles, ink stands, locks, letter balances and many other small high quality items. In 1851 at the Great Exhibition, they displayed ‘Bright steel, fire proof jewel box, decorated with ormolu ornaments, carved ink stands, inlaid with pearl and gilt ink glass attached', as well as gold pens. Sampson Mordan died in 1843 and the business was carried on by two of his sons Sampson and Augustus.


This blog is intended to look, from a collector’s point of view, at the history of the company and their diverse range of products.







Mordan Propelling Pencil

Mordan Propelling Pencil

Tuesday 25 January 2011

Mordan Internet Resources


There are many entries on the web for Mordan – often with items for sale but I will pick out a few which have more historical details of the firm.
The otherwise accurate Wikipedia entry for Sampson Mordan, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sampson_Mordan  is marred in that it has merged the dates of Sampson Mordan the elder and his son Sampson the younger - "Sampson Mordan (1790 - May 9, 1881)" . Sampson Mordan the elder was born around 1790 and died in 1843.
There is also a useful entry in Mark Hill's blog on Mordan,
http://markhillcollects.blogspot.com/2009/04/sampson-mordan-pencils.html
with further details to be found on Wheathill's "A List of Silversmiths' Hallmarks & Silver Makers' Marks",  http://www.wheathills.com/pages/silversmith-hallmarks_2.aspx this is complemented by an entry on the silvercollection.it site with specific examples of Mordan hallmarks
http://www.silvercollection.it/ENGLISHSILVERMARKSXS3.html
Even more detailed accounts can be found on the Koopman Rare Art, http://www.koopmanrareart.com/Mordan-Sampson-DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=45&tabindex=44&artistid=8563 and the Heirlooms Antiques sites http://www.heirloomsantiques.com.au/sampson-mordan-a-47.html

Perhaps one of the most useful sites for general information about the company and their products, and for specific information on individual items is the Silver Forums, http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=8569
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