With the annual Patron of Art Edition Montblanc celebrates the contribution of historical patrons of arts since 1992. For 2021, that patron is one of history’s most influential figures to date, who conquered most of Europe in the 19th century – none other than French military leader and emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821).
Bonaparte was and still is one of the most celebrated leaders in history due to his cultural and political legacy. Napoléon Bonaparte’s era is regarded as the “Golden Age of French Craftsmanship (Metier D’Art)”.
Bonaparte devoted a lot of his time to Neoclassicism, reviving the Classical styles of ancient Greece and Rome in the European continent.
Napoleon Bonaparte was the emperor of the French. He reigned from 1804 to 1814 AD and regained power in 1815 AD. He was then exiled and died in 1821 AD. Napoleon was not only a powerful military leader and politician, but also an art promoter. He initiated the revival of decorative arts, and the Napoleon era was also regarded as the “golden age of French craftsmanship.” Napoleon especially admired neoclassicism – a movement that blended visual art, literature, music, theater, and architecture, drawing inspiration from the classical art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Napoleon commissioned artists, craftsmen and architects to express the so-called “imperial style” in various designs and buildings, such as the famous Madeleine Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe, imitating the majestic buildings of the Roman Empire.
The Montblanc Patron of Art Homage to Napoléon Bonaparte collection presents four limited-edition writing instruments dedicated to the memory of the French Emperor, who’s attributed to the revival of decorative art in France, marking his rule circa 1804 to 1814 as the “Golden Age of French Craftsmanship.”
The Limited Edition of 4810 units has a body and cap in blue lacquer inspired by Napoleon’s uniform and in the throne room of the Fontainebleau Palace. Both on the body and on the cap, the motif of the bee appears, separating it from the Bourbons and linking it to the Merovingians – the gold lacquer bees a symbol of France’s first royal dynasty. At the top of the cap are various decorative elements related to Napoleon’s reign: the laurel crown of the coronation, the imperial crown and the eagle. The clip is inspired by the blade of a sword and the red stone in homage to the ring that Josefina wears on the day of the coronation. The engravings on the end of the body are inspired by Napoleon’s bee and the Egyptian palm pattern in the imperial style.
The 888 fountain pen features a solid yellow gold skeleton spiral to cover the lacquer barrel and cap. The Au 750 solid gold spiral features oak leaves (from his consul uniform) to represent strength and longevity, olive leaves (from his uniform of the French Academy) as a symbol of strength and victory, wisdom and faithfulness, immortality, hope, wealth and abundance and bees as a symbol to disconnect from Bourbons and link to Mérovingiens.
Commemorating the consecration of the Colonne Vendôme as a historical monument, the Edition 92 is an ode to Napoleon’s coronation. It uses red jaspis over a gold net on the barrel to pay respect to the colours of imperial power. Adorning the solid gold cap is a hand-engraved bee in solid white gold, surrounded by the stars and completed with a mother-of-pearl crown. Unlike the previous two editions, this comes with an engraving of Napoleon’s crowning sword on the solid gold nib – a symbol of absolute power.
The most exclusive piece in the collection, the Edition 8 embodies Napoleon’s might and opulence through the representation of his coronation garments. Dressed in Au 750 solid yellow gold with red and white lacquer, the barrel glistens with diamonds embellished on the spiral evoking the beauty of the Colonne Vendome.
The cap is arguably the most arresting component of the masterpiece, highlighted by a handcrafted cameo portrait of Napoleon. It is elegantly decorated with 3D hand engraved Acanthus leaves that once again nod to the Empire style, topped by the Montblanc emblem on the crown. Rhodium coated embossing completes the sword-hilt on the gold nib. Only 8 of these pieces are available worldwide.
Launch 2014
Limitation:
Fountain Pens 4,810
Fountain Pens 888
Fountain Pens 92
Fountain Pens 8
Fountain Pen 4,810
Fountai Pen 888
Fountai Pen 92
Fountain Pen 8
