The history of writing ink production has a long tradition in Dresden, the capital of Saxony. Its beginnings date back to 1826, when August Leonhardi developed the first alizarin ink in his ink factory, which he successfully patented in 1855. 

After the Second World War, VEB Bürochemie Dresden took over production and supplied the entire territory of the former GDR with robust everyday inks under the brand name "Barock". Its legal successor, Barock Bürobedarf GmbH, continued the ink business after reunification, but was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2011. In order to keep the ink production in Saxony, the current company Octopus Fluids was founded together with a former chemist.

We are proud to continue the legacy of Barock inks and bring new life to this traditional brand with innovative collections.

The tradition of Barock Inks lives on

With our Barock ink collections, we invite you on a journey through time. Each collection captures the spirit of a decade from the 20th century – in harmoniously coordinated colors that combine classic values with modern demands. True to the old Barock tradition, we present reliable inks that will be trustworthy companions in your writing routine. In the classic ink bottle, without frills, without glitter, but with the best writing properties.
Each ink color flows smoothly from the pen, dries quickly on paper, does not bleed through, and creates a beautiful and interesting writing appearance with its lovely shading.

Our first collection, Barock 1910, is dedicated to the artistic period of Art Nouveau. The artists of this era sought to harmonize people and their environment in their works. This was expressed in bold colors meant to imitate nature. Our Barock fountain pen inks Umbra, Jade, Marine, and Caviar stylize the connection between people and nature. We capture the heavy daily life of people during this time, which was shaped by factory work, with our deep grey fountain pen ink in Anthracite.

Our latest collection, Barock 1920, takes you into the dazzling world of the Roaring Twenties – an era of artistic awakening, defined by the characteristic elegance of Art Deco. Six vibrant colors embody the optimism and energy of this era: Sepia evokes the patina of old photographs, bold Cobalt Blue exudes confidence, and golden-yellow Charleston captures the elegance of glittering nights on the dance floor. Erika, a smoky violet with subtle pink nuances, adds a creative touch, while Mint, with its fresh lightness, and vibrant Coral reflect the joy and optimism of this time.

We warmly invite you to join us on our journey through the decades of this century and experience how we reinterpret them in ever new ink colors.