Rare 1930s ZENITH EXTRA Italy 18K 750 Gold Plated Guilloche Pattern & Turquoise Tassel Push Button Lady Fountain Pen in Box Item ID: VAR-062

ZENITH Extra 1938 - Italy

Manufacturer/Model: Zenith Italy/ Extra 
Year of production: 1930s
Filling system: Push button bladder filling, new sac installed  
Nib: Steel, stub calligraphy nib, (Pen's original nib) 
Material: Hard rubber base; Metal overlay with thick 18K gold plate  
Length (pen closed): Very compact pen at only 116mm length; Posted at 137mm 
Condition and information:

Offered here is a very rare, special Zenith Extra pen, made in the late 30s by the famous Milan pen shop founded by Mr. Giuseppe Morandino in 1929. They were first customizing various pens in their shop, which later became a trademark under its own brand. Recognized by their intricate overlays with amazing and delicate patterns. Almost all of their pens are 18K gold overlaid, with extremely delicate handwork. All of the overlays were made by hand only.
Unfortunately, the company existed for just a little over two decades, but they left behind a treasure of handmade pens, most of which can be still found today in Italy. Some Italian brands even used Zenith services to decorate their special edition pens.

The pen here features a full body and cap thick 18K gold plate "Laminato Oro 750" in Italian, hand engraved with a gorgeous guilloche pattern.
Unlike modern thin gold electro-plate, handmade gold plating techniques of this era are still hard to match, goldware off is unlikely, and even after nearly a century, the pen looks as it was just made.
The design is the familiar “torpedo” shape form factor, however since this is a small compact Ladies pen, it features a unique turquoise blue tassel. This tassel is the original one, not a post-production add-on. The pen features a well-constructed push button filling mechanism, perfectly functional and easy to use. Even though small, due to the weight the pen feels balanced and right in the hand, posted or not posted. The front section is made out of hard rubber, ebonite midsection, and feed, with great ink flow.

The nib is the original one, a rare "Corona" steel nib, similar to a calligraphy stub nib. It has decent flexibility, but due to its being fully hooded nib, the flexibility range is limited by the section's tip. In today's scale, it will rate at EF to F nib, but it will produce wide and thin lines depending on the pressure, and wide lines on the side strokes. Entirely enclosed within the front section, helps prevent damage to the nib if the pen is dropped.
Absolutely amazing pen, a work of art that says a lot of how pens were made and perceived in the past.

It's in absolute mint condition, not a single scratch or a dent, ready to be used. It comes in its original box.