Exclusive local pen manufacturer launches limited edition of pre-designed pens

After years of producing personalised pens, a local company is looking to appeal to a wider customer base.

Turning Point Pen Co. this week released a limited edition of 33 finished fountain pens to complement its core business of producing one-offs or small batches of custom products.

The new set is based on the painting “Horizon Bliss” by New Jersey artist Joanne Rafferty. It is intended to appeal to collectors and expand its customer base in a way that stays true to Turning Point’s vision of creating special keepsake items, said company owner Michael Kahwajy-Hyland.

“I think it’s a stronger foundation for the brand because we can share our work with a wider audience at the same time. It’s going to be much more public. It’s going to be much more accessible,” he said.

While the new line is considered a more accessible product, Kahwajy-Hyland said the limited edition is still intended to provide a sense of exclusivity.

“It’s our way of delving into a whole new side of what we do and what we can do,” he said. “For many years, we did just custom stuff, and that was great. This is kind of an extension of what we do.”

“Horizon Bliss” is a semi-abstract work of art depicting a sunset. Kahwajy-Hyland designed the barrel of the pen to echo the blues, yellows, and greens of the painting, with the burst of orange largely hidden beneath the cap.

“When you unscrew the cap of the pen, it reveals a sunset. It’s like having an epiphany or seeing something in a new way,” he said.

The pens are made of resin and sterling silver with 18-karat gold nibs. They retail for about $3,400 each and are sold on the Turning Point website.

The company signed a licensing agreement with Rafferty to use her work in pen designs, with Rafferty receiving a percentage of sales.

Kahwajy-Hyland designed the pens. Turning Point contracts with artisans across the country to produce its pens, a model the company introduced in 2022. Kahwajy-Hyland selected artisans from its network to make the limited-edition series.

Prices for personalized pens from this company start at $1,000. They differ from pens produced in limited series in that the production of personalized copies is preceded by consultations between Turning Point and the customer and personalization using a wide range of colors and materials.

Turning Point intends to continue offering personalized pens, Kahwajy-Hyland said, though there are also plans to introduce new, limited-edition pens similar to the “Horizon Bliss” collection.

The company, which is based in Kahwaja-Hyland’s Hanover home and was founded in 2017, has historically focused primarily on designing off-the-shelf projects but has gradually shifted its focus to creating custom pieces.

Kahwajy-Hyland and Rafferty met about a year ago through a mutual contact, a curator at an art gallery in Sarasota, Florida. The curator thought they could meet and collaborate.

“Joanne and I got together and said, ‘OK, let’s see what we can do.’ She chose the painting, and I designed a pen inspired by that painting. It’s not just about the painting itself, but the message in it,” Kahwajy-Hyland said.