How does one find the color of the Emperor's ink - a color known to be the original royal color, a tinge of purple with deep blue hues, the color that later was also called "royal" in France (as well as Rome)? Though clothing for the Emperor stressed royal Mandarin Yellow and the French court stressed blue/white and purple, the original royal ink was indeed this ink color. The precious remnants of the original ink stones were just enough physical and documented information for the color and the characteristics of the inks, so that Noodler's Ink could offer a sample of the Emperor's Ink - as close a replica to that royal ink as ever offered.
The ink is specifically designed for fountain pen use, but is also used by artists, calligraphers and other craftspeople. It does require a more rigorous cleaning and maintenance regime or it may have a tendency to clog.
A note on the label art and ink name from Noodler's Ink:
The ink used by the Emperor of China during the age whereby Confucius was most recognized for his greatness intrigued the ink maker of Noodler's Ink. The quotes: "The weakest ink is mightier than the strongest memory." and "The four precious necessities - pen, ink, paper, and ink stone" were also fascinating as they are attributed to Confucius.
What ink remnants and/or colors were on the ink stones of the Emperors of China? The preference was for a blue purple - a prime based purple as opposed to the more western violet/magenta and red/blue non-prime mixtures. The information has been limited and all the more so due to the distance of time and the difficulty in getting museums and collectors to cooperate in this quest. As a manner of extending gratitude and thanks for the assistance Noodler's Ink has received, the ink is named in honor of the 77th lineal descendent of Confucius, Mr. Kung Te-cheng.
Technical Specs
- Condition
- New
- Brand
- Noodler's
- Type
- Bottled Ink
- Color
- Purple
- Bottle Material
- Glass
- Bottle Opening Diameter
- 23.6mm (0.93in)
- Fast Drying
- No
- Fluorescent
- No
- Shimmer
Whether or not the ink contains glittery particles.
- No
- Freeze Resistant
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to better withstand freezing temperatures.
- No
- Volume
- 3oz
- Iron Gall
Ink made from iron salts and tannic acids. Though quite permanent and waterproof, these inks are typically known for causing chemical corrosion to metal pen parts (especially the nib) and should be used sparingly or with less-valuable pens.
- No
- Lubricated
Whether or not an ink is specially formulated to increase flow in your pen.
- No
- Pigmented
Whether or not the ink contains finely-ground solid particles in liquid suspension.
- No
- Scented
- No
- Water Resistant
Whether or not the ink, once dried on the paper, will resist being washed away with water.
- Yes
Reviews & Questions
FAQS
Which pens can accept this ink?
Any of these fountain pens will work with bottled ink. Typically, as long as the pen can be filled with a converter, has a built-in filling mechanism like a piston, or can be eyedropper-filled, it can accept bottled ink.
What is shading, sheening, or shimmering ink?
Shading - A common (and often desired) result of a fountain pen ink pooling in certain parts of a letter when writing, so that the color and saturation of the ink appears different within a single letter or word. This characteristic cannot be achieved with ballpoint or rollerball pens and is a very appealing aspect of fountain pen use for those particularly drawn to all the pretty ink colors.
Sheen - Characteristic of a fountain pen ink where when ink pools another color can be seen on top of the ink, especially when looked at in different light angles using certain paper types.
Shimmering - Fountain pen ink that has small particles of glitter mixed in. There is no way to guarantee an ink will sheen, but using a larger nib on a pen will help obtain sheening results in your writing.
Is shimmering ink safe to use in fountain pens?
Yes! Shimmering ink is a great way to add some flare to your writing. We have found that a larger nib will showcase more shimmering particles while writing, but you can use any nib size and shimmering ink. All the ink we sell is safe for use in fountain pens.
My ink smells funny, is it safe to use?
Yes! Ink does not smell good- it usually has a chemical smell, along with other scents such as sulfur, rubber, chemicals or even paint. However, as long as you’re not seeing anything floating in the ink, it is safe to use.
It’s cold and my ink froze, is it safe to use?
Yes, frozen ink will not hurt your pen (after it’s thawed of course!) The issue with ink freezing is a concern because certain glass bottles could break as the water-based ink expands, and then you’d have a mess!
What is your return policy?
We do not accept returns for ink that has been used. Otherwise, we accept returns on unused ink products for up to 60 days from purchase. You can read all our Return Policies here.
To initiate a return, please submit a request at the Return Portal. Our Customer Care team might reach out to you for more information.
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