Montblanc has always been committed to art, literature, and culture and this time their craftsmanship meets the fine Japanese artistry of Chiso. The Montblanc Homage to Kyoto Artistry Limited Edition 55 features a specially-created Kimono pattern in honor of the centuries-old Chiso tradition and its 460-year history as the sole luxury kimono company.
Chiso founded in 1555, has been making kimono for mostly royal and noble classes. Chiso has continued its business in Kyoto as it was Japan’s capital for 1200 years from late 8th century to mid 19th century. Chiso team drew the design motif specifically for this project, paying tribute to the hundreds of years of its history and tradition. As mentioned, Kyoto has been and still is the center of Japanese culture. Having been the capital of the country for so long, it has attracted great artists, craftsmen, as well as academics.
The main motif of the design is from “The Tale of Genji”, authored by Murasaki Shikibu more than 1000 years ago, and a very long (54 volumes) love and political story of Genji, a noble class young gentleman. The pen design is based on two of those volumes illustration.
The kimono by Chiso uses the style called “Kyo-Yuzen”, which is made through many processes including drawing with pencil on the silk textile, dying along with the drawing, washing, and drying, etc. In addition, some partially use embroidery. Also, notice the law of perspective which emphasizes the bottom part – so that you would look taller. The same perspective is used for the pen, too.
Limited Edition 55
For those unaware, the artistry of Chiso allows its designers to tell the most elaborate stories on silk. In this Limited Edition Fountain Pen, two scenes from the “The Tale of Genji” decorate the edition. The cap features the palace and bird from the famous Wakamurasaki scene in the fifth chapter, while the barrel depicts Imperial carts or Gosho Guruma that accompany Genji through the various stations of his life.
Montblanc artisans used a new surface technique to apply the intricate designs to the 925 Sterling Silver cap and barrel that are firstly fine engraved, then refined with a very unique sandblasting process. A final polish embellishes the silver with partly matt and partly shiny surfaces accentuated with solid gold inlays of spring cherry blossoms and autumn leaves.
The champagne gold cone is delicately engraved with a traditional Hanabishi pattern, and the cap ring that separates the upper from the lower part of the writing instrument is decorated with Genji-ko, a line pattern derived from Kodo. The nib design is inspired by the traditional Kosode, a basic Japanese robe for both men and women worn during the Japanese Edo Period between the 17th and 19th centuries. The cap top is decorated with Montblanc emblem in mother-of-pearl.
The writing instrument comes in a box with a silk inlay, hand-painted by Chiso artisans using the Kyo-Yuzen technique of painting and dyeing silk along with elaborate artwork.
The Fountain Pen is limited to 55 pieces in reference to Chiso’s founding year, 1555.
Launch 2017
