Fountain Pens

Mr. Cypress Eggshell E09 Review: A Fountain Pen Wrapped in Duck Eggshell

A hand-finished urushi-and-eggshell fountain pen from Taiwan, with a 14k gold nib option, one-of-a-kind patterning, and fast fulfillment at a surprisingly accessible price.

Published: 10/1/2026 Updated: 10/1/2026

Mr. Cypress Eggshell E09 Review: A Fountain Pen Wrapped in Duck Eggshell cover image

Introduction

Fountain pens finished with eggshell lacquer have long held a certain fascination, but they tend to come with a price to match. The labor-intensive handcrafting process behind these pens makes them rare and expensive, which is exactly why the Mr. Cypress Eggshell E09 stood out. Mr. Cypress is not a person but a company based in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Its parent firm is a technology company, and founder Apple Liang leads the research and design work, with a team of craftsmen executing each pen by hand. The company began by producing pens from wood, which is where the cypress name originated.

This particular model was purchased at full price and used as a daily writer, so this review reflects a genuine buyer’s experience rather than a loaner first impression.

Unboxing and Packaging

The pen arrives in an outer cardboard box containing warranty information and a business card, with the inner box made from bamboo. The magnetized lid lifts off to reveal a thick, soft-lined pen sleeve, a protective tube, and a felt sleeve holding the pen. The bamboo box includes padding and an elastic closure that keeps the pen from rolling around.

Fountain pen unboxed alongside a bamboo pen box, felt sleeve, and paperwork

It is a genuinely nice presentation for the price bracket, and the thicker-than-usual sleeve feels well suited to protecting a hand-finished surface.

Design and Materials

The E09’s appeal starts with its duck eggshell finish. While much eggshell work on pens uses quail egg, this model uses duck eggshell, which is relatively thick and must be painted and polished repeatedly until it sits completely flat on the pen. The base material is ebonite, and the resulting patterning is dense on the cap and the beginning of the barrel, then gradually falls away toward the flat, unadorned end. That transition gives the pen an illusion of movement, a sense of life that a static design would lack.

Close-up of a fountain pen barrel covered in white eggshell lacquer fragments fading toward the end

Because it is a natural material, small imperfections are part of the charm. Some shell fragments show slight discoloration, and every pen is unique in fragment size and the visible fault lines between pieces. Places where two fragments sit side by side with matching edges feel intentional rather than random, which rewards a close look. The cap is clipless, which suits the design; a clip would only distract from the lacquer work. There is no cap band and no branding anywhere on the pen, and the cap twists off with two rotations. The barrel is straight before tapering over its last inch and a half.

Nib and Writing Performance

Under the cap sits a 14k gold nib, an optional upgrade from the standard number six stainless steel nib. The nib is completely blank, with no engraving or stamping of any kind. That is the most significant drawback of the pen: years from now, nothing on it identifies who made it. A small nib stamping or interior engraving would have gone a long way.

Fountain pen section and nib detail with blue ink flowing on paper

The section is concave and covered in lacquer fragments, and the outer lacquer leaves it slightly pitted. That texture cannot be felt while gripping, but it helps maintain a solid hold. The pen takes standard international cartridges, and a converter is included. Because of the solid barrel and minimal metal, it could technically be converted to an eyedropper, though that is not recommended for this finish.

The broad 14k gold nib is very pleasant to write with. Line variation is easy to achieve, the flow is reliable, reverse writing is smooth, and fast writing is supported by a nice amount of feedback while the feed keeps up without issue.

Pricing and Availability

The Eggshell line ranges from $425 to $640 depending on the model, and the stainless steel nib comes standard. The gold nib upgrade adds $170. The pens are available through the Mr. Cypress website, and fulfillment is notably fast: this pen arrived within a couple of days of ordering, where comparable artisan pens often take weeks, months, or even years due to production backlogs.

Fountain pen resting beside an open ink bottle on a writing desk

Buying Advice

If you want a pen that looks like nothing else on the market, the E09 makes a strong case. Accept the lack of any branding, decide whether the gold nib upgrade is worth it to you, and resist the urge to eyedropper it. Anyone considering the wider lineup should know there are nine eggshell models combining roden and eggshell in different patterns, plus maki-e pens, unique resins, woods, and striking modern roden designs laid out like circuit boards.

Conclusion

The Mr. Cypress Eggshell E09 delivers a genuinely one-of-a-kind hand-finished material, thoughtful design transitions, and a pleasant writing experience at a price that undercuts much of the eggshell-lacquer market. Fast fulfillment and careful packaging round out a very good buying experience. For anyone drawn to pens with real artisan character, this one is easy to recommend.

Product link