With this spectacular High Artistry Limited Editions Montblanc pays tribute to the Venetian merchant, explorer and writer, who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road in the 13th century. Through an elaborate design and fine craftsmanship, the details of its Four Editions in the series give life to the personality, achievements and inspiration of the pioneer who showed that even the most remote corners of the world can be reached.
Two centuries before Columbus, Marco Polo had “navigated” thousands of miles of desert and steppes on the Silk Road, and met the lavish and powerful Kublai Khan.
Many people believed that his stories were pure fantasy, ideas of a rambling mind. But it was true, Marco Polo, born in 1254, spent 24 years away from his native Venice. Travelling with his father and uncle, the adventurer crossed the Mongol Empire, reaching Kambalai (now Beijing), where he served at the court of Emperor Kublai Khan.
His travels are described in the memoirs he dictated, while imprisoned in his hometown under the title “Il Milione” (or Marco Polo’s Travels). The detailed chronicle introduced Europeans to the culture and cartography of Central Asia, and China became a reference for many future travellers.
“The Silk Road” Limited Edition 69
With a limitation number honoring the 69 years of life of the traveller, filled with outstanding achievements, the shape of the Limited Edition Fountain Pen 69 evokes one of the bamboo forests that Marco Polo discovered during his passage through southern Tibet.
For the first time ever, Damask steel has been incorporated into the cap of a Montblanc writing instrument. This choice of metal is reminiscent of the mysterious history behind Damascus steel made in the Middle East from steel shipped from India, as featured in the fascinating story “Il Milione“.
Contrasting with the Damask steel, the barrel is made of precious rosewood, the exquisite material that the ancient Chinese used to create the most fascinating wood furniture pieces.
The gold bars on the side of the cap represent Marco Polo’s journey, as written in his book: 28 stops from Venice to Quanzhou, 10 stops back to Venice. The deep blue lapis lazuli stone in the cone symbolizes the globe. The clip bears the replica “paiza” set with a diamond.
Mother-of pearl Montblanc emblem crowns the unscrewable cap top with Marco Polo’s coat of arms engraved on underside. Compass rose can be revealed beneath the cap top. The handcrafted Au750 champagne gold nib is engraved with Marco Polo’s image on horseback.
“The Great Khan” Limited Edition 9
The limitation number of the Homage to Marco Polo “Great Khan” Limited Edition 9 refers to the nine gates of Dadu, today’s Beijing, where Marco Polo first met the great Khan when he arrived in China in 1266. At that time, Dadu was the political and economic centre of the Mongol Empire and one of the biggest cities in the world, and the gates of Dadu symbolized the cultural and economic exchange between the West and the East.
For this version of the Limited Edition, the map of the world on the barrel combines skilled “Tremblage” hand engraving with gem-setting, with the Au750 solid gold, delicately set with rubies. The Au750 solid champagne gold barrel is hand-engraved with steps of his journey. The precious ruby ball inside the skeletonized champagne gold cone represents the globe. Crowning the cap top of the edition, the Montblanc emblem is made of pavé-set diamonds.
“L’azzuro” Limited Edition 3
According to his writings in “Il Milione”, Marco Polo crossed Bactria in Afghanistan – a historic region in central Asia, famous for having the oldest lapis lazuli mine in the world. One of the earliest references of the lapis lazuli in Western literature, the exquisite stone made an impression on the explorer, and its exotic beauty is the inspiration behind the Homage to Marco Polo “L’azzuro” Limited Edition 3.
With similar design, the “L’azzuro” Limited Edition 3 features to the first edition. The cap is set in blue sapphire revealing a barrel underneath with the world map crafted in full pavé of diamonds, blue sapphires and rubies. The blue theme extends to the cone of the writing instrument with its blue sapphire.
“Il Milione” Limited Edition 1
Mirroring the extravagance and riches of the imperial Mongolian court, the Homage to Marco Polo “Il Milione” Limited Edition 1 , is a dazzling display of gem-setting virtuosity on one of the most elaborate writing instruments created by Montblanc.
The design takes its inspiration from the years Marco Polo spent trading precious stones while serving the great Khan, the most powerful king on earth at that time. The rich colours and the shape of the extended cap draw inspiration from the typical Coromandel lacquer folding screens made by the finest artisans in the Orient. When removed, the cap set with a full pavée of dark red rubies and cognac tone diamonds, reveals a barrel that features a diamond-set world map inspired by Marco Polo’s travels.
The pen’s clip is shaped like the golden pass (paiza) given to him by Kublai Khan that guaranteed he was given safe passage throughout the Khan’s expansive kingdom. The cap ring displays various creatures from the wild and fantastic world he experienced, as told in “Il Milione”. A reference to one of his most important navigation tools, a compass rose is depicted into the cap top under the Montblanc emblem, revealing itself thanks to a special mechanism.
On the other end of the writing instrument, the skeletonized gold cone is set with a majestic 6,12ct diamond. The Au750 solid champagne gold nib is a representation of Marco Polo crossing the desert, taken from the most important map of the medieval period: the Catalan Atlas.
Launch 2016
Fountain Pen 69
Fountain Pen 9
Fountain pen 1
