Papier Plume The Faceless Lady: A Limited Edition Ink with Chicago History Behind It

Introduction

Papier Plume has built a habit of releasing interestingly themed inks over the years, often in conjunction with pen shows. The Faceless Lady is the latest limited edition, set to be released at the Chicago Pen Show, and it carries one of the more charming backstories we have come across.

The name refers to a statue perched atop a Chicago skyscraper. Sculpted by artist John Storrs for the top of the Board of Trade building, the figure depicts Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain crops, which seemed fitting for a building where those items were traded. Though the model used for the statue reportedly had a very pretty face, the sculptor chose to leave it faceless, reasoning that the building was so tall no one would ever see it. Completed in 1930, the Board of Trade building was Chicago’s tallest until 1965, and a good view of the statue can be had from around the 66th floor of the nearby Willis Tower.

The Ink Itself

The Faceless Lady is a coppery greenish gray with a bit of shimmer, and it genuinely evokes the metal of the statue itself. The bottle presentation is also worth noting: Papier Plume does a good job incorporating a unique label with their limited editions, and the traditional wax seal on top adds a nice touch.

In terms of comparisons, it sits between some familiar neighbors. It leans more toward green than Sailor Yamadori, which runs bluer, and it is lighter than Papier Plume’s own Iron Lace, which runs blacker. It is fairly close to Taccia Sabaimadori, though that one is a bit more green, and it is grayer than Papier Plume’s Chicago-themed Cloud Gate.

Performance and Testing

On 52 gsm Tomoe River paper, the ink shows decent shading and a medium level of shimmer. It is really not a heavy shimmer ink, so those expecting dramatic sparkle may want to temper expectations. That said, at higher saturation, such as with an eyedropper application, a lot of that shimmer comes out.

On Rhodia 80 gsm paper, ghosting and bleed are both very low, with virtually no bleed-through even under heavier application. On the Tomoe River sample, a heavy dosage did show bleed-through, but that is expected at that saturation level. The ink is wet, the shade reads medium to high, and sheen is low.

Water Resistance

This ink does not claim to be waterproof, and the test held up okay. It did not dissolve immediately, which is good news, but it is not going to survive a spill unscathed. If it gets wet, expect some movement, though it should not be disastrous.

Pens Used for Testing

The ink was tested with three pens, and it behaved well across the range. An extra fine Diplomat Nexus showed off the finer side, while a Papier Plume x Herbert Pen Company Wetland Cypress in medium, made with reclaimed cypress wood and featuring a remarkably unique clip crafted by a New Orleans artist who makes jewelry inspired by maps and local geography, gave a broader, wetter line. The third pen was a Tom’s Studio fountain pen with an architect grind.

Dry time leaned slow: the architect grind took between 15 and 30 seconds, and actually ran a bit longer than 30 seconds on one pass. If fast-drying notes matter to you, plan around that.

Pricing and Availability

The Faceless Lady will be available at the Chicago Pen Show, and if it does not sell out there, Papier Plume will likely make it available on their website afterward. The brand’s inks generally sell for around $10 to $14, making this a very reasonably priced limited edition. Papier Plume consistently does well with these show releases, and this one appears to be no exception.

Conclusion

The Faceless Lady is a well-priced limited edition with a genuinely evocative color, decent shading, and a restrained shimmer that suits the theme. If you like coppery greenish-gray inks with a story behind them, it is worth seeking out at the Chicago Pen Show or on Papier Plume’s website if stock remains.