262 - A pair of fountain pens: “Duofold Senior” and “45 Custom.” PARKER. United States, ca. 1928–1929, and the second half of the 20th century.

A pair of fountain pens: “Duofold Senior” and “45 Custom.” PARKER. United States, ca. 1928–1929, and the second half of the 20th century. “Duofold Senior” in black Permanite with gold-plated metal accents and a nib marked “PARKER DUOFOLD PEN”; “45 Custom” in black synthetic material with a cap and gold-plated metal accents. They show signs of wear on the metal finishes. Measurements: 14 cm in length Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. The Parker Duofold Senior is one of the seminal models in the history of the American company. Originally introduced in 1921, the Duofold line adopted the two narrow cap rings visible on this example in 1928, prior to the redesign featuring streamlined lines that began in 1929. By then, Parker was already using its material known as Permanite, gradually replacing the ebonite used in the earliest models. The Parker 45 Custom, introduced several decades later, represents a more modern and functional design for the fountain pen, featuring a semi-concealed nib and a cartridge or converter system. Its combination of a black barrel and a fluted gold cap was characteristic of one of the higher-end versions within the extensive Parker 45 family.