With this futuristic Limited Edition creation Montblanc honors the Taipei 101, the striking and monumental new emblem of Taiwan. Limited to the height of the Taipei 101 as a homage to one of the highest buildings on Earth, carrying the spirit of the “axis mundi”: the connection of the Earth and the Universe, the link between tradition and a a belief in progress.
The Axis Mundi and Taipei 101
The Axis Mundi, the cosmic axis, has for millennia symbolised mankind’s goal of climbing one step closer to the heavens and the gods. At the same time, it is an expression of the connective power of the world and the cosmos. Since time immemorial, the peoples of the world have assumed that their own native land was the centre of the world and that it rotated on its own axis. This cosmic axis was originally trees, hills or mountains which were worshipped, sanctified and scaled to be nearer the gods and the heavens. In the course of cultural history, structures wrought by human hands superseded these natural elevation: pyramids, towers and temples climbed heavenward and embodied worldly power alongside the spirit of axis mundi. Fascination with this cosmic axis striving towards the heavens continues even today. No other contemporary object expresses the ancient myth of the axis mundi more boldly than Taipei 101, the new emblem of Taiwan (ROC). A breathtaking monolith that seems to touch the sky and thus carries the spirit of the axis mundi into the XXI century: the connection of the earth and the universe.
The Montblanc Axis Mundi Limited Edition 101 pays homage to Asian culture and its creative power, a power which has reached its zenith in the Taipei 101 – the fascinating cosmic axis of the XXI century, which towers 508 meters into the sky and combines Asian tradition with visionary thinking in its 101 floors.
Both the façade and the interior of Taipei 101 have been conceived to follow the rules of Feng Shui to allow the Qi, the energy of life, to flow into the architecture. The four colossal antique coins on Taipei 101, vertically tapered plinth symbolise luck and prosperity – on the Limited Edition Axis Mundi, they grace the intersection between the barrel and the cone.
Limited Edition 101
The Montblanc Axis Mundi Limited Edition 101 is inspired by the façade and construction of Taipei 101. The 18K solid white gold skeleton “chassis” of this pen echoes the form of the famous structure.
In Taipei 101’s eight gigantic pagodas, each with eight levels, the Asian lucky number 8 is represented twice. It also determines the design of the fountain pen made of Au750 solid white gold: with 8 ornately skeletonised elements, inspired by pagodas of Taipei 101 and eight engraved rings on the cone / blind cap.
The “Ruyi” – (as you wish) symbol is embodied on the skeleton frame as well as on the clip and promises a successful future. The cap top is inspired by the 660 tonne steel ball, which is positioned in the uppermost floors as a shock absorber, making this bold testimony to Asian architecture resistant to typhoons and earthquakes.
The 30 small diamonds that are set on the writing instrument symbolise the dragon figures on the façade of Taipei 101, which protect the tower from invisible dangers. The joints are decorated with brilliant-cut white diamonds, and the larger diamonds circle the cone (0,34 ct).
The 18K rhodium-plated gold nib is enriched by the “Ruyi” – (as you wish) symbol as well as a Taiwanese dragon, the legendary beast symbol of Asian mythology. The Montblanc emblem is in mother-of-pearl.
Launch 2009
Limitation:
Fountain Pens 101
