Handmade Perfection in Writing Instruments
The Art of the Pen
from PenMaster David Lee
David Lee has been a dedicated pen turner for over a decade following a successful career as a high-tech entrepreneur. "Turning wood is a long way away from the sterile, climate-controlled environment of the IT professional" he says about his change of venue.
His personal preferences for pens fall into the more complex woods and materials. "Not all woods cooperate when turning at 2400 RPM and the highly figured and multi-grained pieces fluctuate in their firmness and stability".
"It's impossible to describe how it feels to be turning a piece, knowing that even the smallest false move can destroy a potential masterpiece. You have to find your Zen Space to make it work. It is actually quite relaxing - except for when the pieces explode!"
David Lee views all his works as One-of-a-Kind pieces as well. Since none of his woods can ever be exactly alike - each piece is unique.
The creation of the Thrylos pen was inspired through a conversation with a good friend who is the boot maker for Her Majesty's Private Guard in the UK. After the visit, David realized that there are people who want the rarest and "un-reproducible" item on the planet.
Some exclusive versions of products limit themselves to several hundred or a thousand in numbers produced. So, with the rarest piece of wood available, Thrylos pens will be created, slowly, on-by-one, over time. And, when they are all done, there will only ever be 6. This claim is made by David since he views thousands of pieces of wood from all over the world week after week - always looking for the most unique. Add that up over a decade and you have a guy has looked at a lot of wood. So, when David says that its a 1 in 100,000 piece of wood, he is probably right, and when it's only the size of a dinner plate, there are only so many pens that can be made from it.
"Collectors can purchase any pen they are drawn to, but you have to ask yourself how hard it would be to find a copy or replace any pen you have. If there are only, ever, 6 pens made - and you own one of them, you truly belong to a distinctive group."
I hope all my customers absolutely love their David Lee Writing Instruments and use them, display them, and share them.
- DL