Les Quatre Couleurs

Les Quatre Couleurs is the seventeenth in the David Oscarson™ series of Limited Edition Writing Instruments. Produced in four color variations, each will be limited to production of 88 pieces (including Fountain Pen and Roller Ball styles).

Translated, “Les Quatre Couleurs” means The Four Colors, and / or The Four Suits.

While origins of playing cards can be traced to China, Indiaand Persiaas early as the 7^th century, it wasn’t until the fourteenth century that they were introduced to Europe. The “pique” and “spade” can be traced the sword of the Italian suits. The Spanish replaced queens with mounted knights (caballeros) and the Germans modified some suits, using bells, hearts, leaves and acorns as symbols. Improvement in French production, however helped propel the more simplified French design to eventually become the standard for most of Europe. The French had originally included family names on court cards, but this practice came to an end with the French Revolution in the late 18^th century.

The four suits now used in most of the world – Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs – originated in France about 1480. The Spade represents Nobility or Aristocracy; the Heart represents the Church or Clergy; the Diamond represents Merchants or the Wealthy and the Club represents Peasantry with its reference to clover, or the food of swine.

The Quatre Couleurs Collection incorporates multiple levels of Guilloché engraving and a combination of translucent and opaque Hard Enamel. The entire body of each pen is first cut down to the level of the background, leaving the outer and inner lines of the four suits and decorative filigree motif in high relief. Translucent and opaque Enamels are repeatedly kiln-fired and filed by hand, resulting in the beautiful and enduring finish of true Hard Enamel.

‘Les Quatre Couleurs’ with its double meaning is an appropriate play on words as the four-suited collection will be available in four color variations, each portraying all four suits on the cap and barrel.

Les Quatre Couleurs will be produced in four color variations:

Opaque White, Opaque Black and Translucent Ruby Red in Gold Vermeil

Translucent Grey, Translucent Ruby Red and Opaque Black

Translucent Azure Blue, Translucent Ruby Red and Opaque Black

Opaque Black and Translucent Ruby Red in Gold Vermeil

Please email for price  and availability- info@Bittner.com

Any Birthdays or Anniversaries ahead? This is a great opportunity to give the Gift of Writing Always!

1.888.BITTNER
1.(831)626.8828
info@bittner.com

From Myles Kusaba 

“Friends:

When last I visited the shop, you mentioned launching a new website and posed the possibility of me writing something about Bittner.  Below, you will find a somewhat long-winded but heartfelt description of my opinion of your shop.

- Myles

My birthday was a few days ago.  I am NOTORIOUSLY difficult to shop for, and thus I usually ask my loved ones if they MUST buy me something, to either make something or get me gift cards.

My Mother, ever wanting to see me happy, always goes out of her way to do something special.

The morning of my birthday this year, I unwrapped my gift, and was quite shocked, to see a beautiful Don Quijote Pen from Delta.

Anyone who knows me would know that I am an avid pen collector, but also that I only buy pens at ONE place and that is Bittner in Carmel.

Knowing this, my mother apparently called the shop and spoke to two gentleman, one being, “…a smart-sounding man with an accent…” as she put it, and the other a “…rather amusing and witty gentleman…”  I’m assuming that was Detlef and Bob, respectively.

She said the people she spoke with were very helpful, respected her budget and recommended something that they felt I would like.  Fantastic.  

Let us rewind the clock nearly a decade.  I was working my first job in Carmel and with my very first paycheck I wanted to indulge in a nice pen.  There is something about handing your customers a BIC pen to sign for something expensive that just seems distasteful to me.  I wanted elegance, sophistication, but also fun and function. 

I got all of that at Bittner.  

My first proper writing instrument was a beautiful black Omas 360.  This model has a triangular shape, feels good in the hand, and most importantly, made everything I wrote feel important.

I used to love reading the old Ian Fleming James Bond books, and the way he describes the typical pocket repertoire of a gentleman always seemed to include an elegant pen.

Now I was a gentleman.

But the world of fine writing is more than just elegant pens.  It can be eccentric pens.  Over the top, bejeweled pens.  Understated subtle pens.  And not just pens.  Fine papers and vellums, hand laid engraved stationary.  The list goes on.  That first pen introduced me to a world that I now love and I will never leave. 

I have, over the years now, traveled to many exotic locations and have yet to find a boutique like Bittner.  I am convinced it is without parallel.  

Fast forward back to my birthday.  I was very happy to receive such a beautiful pen.  Clumsy as I am I never hesitate to use the pens that I own, no matter what they cost.  I don’t believe in owning anything that I don’t intend to ever use. 

Rest assured, if I was to ever purchase a Namiki Emperor Urushi pen, I would use it.  Look one up on the site.  Far too beautiful to hide in a drawer in the dark. 

I am pleased to see that Bittner is celebrating twenty years of business.  I’m sure another twenty years is just around the corner.”  

Myles

Have something to say about your experience with Bittner, email us at info@bittner.com and we’ll post it to our Bittner Blog!

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