Montblanc pays tribute to one of the most magnificent museums in the world, The Louvre – the world’s most-visited museum, and a historic landmark in France. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, in the centre of Paris, originally built in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II.
Talking about the greatness of architecture and art in France it is inevitable to take as absolute point of reference the Louvre Museum, the iconic monument and the greatest museum in the whole world. This magnificent structure, which was originally born as a fortress in the 12th century to protect the city from Vikings’ attacks, became later on home of an extensive art collection as well as a royal residence for a limited period of time. The palace was altered many times through the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, Charles V converted the building into a residence. Eventually, Francis I, would renovate the residence and convert the Louvre in French Renaissance style.
The Louvre became object of many changements and renovations, especially under Napoleon I. It was during the French Revolution that the National Assembly finally decided to decree the Louvre as public museum and to open his gates the 10th of August 1793, with an exhibition of 537 paintings. Later on, under president Mitterrand commission, the iconic glass pyramid designed by architect leoh Ming Pei was added to the original building becoming the symbol of the museum itself.
As well as being an interesting architectural structure itself, the Louvre museum features important works of art from all over the world, among them we can certainly mention the “Venus de Milo”, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”, the “Winged victory” by Samothrace and Albrecht Durer’s “Self-portrait”.
Limited Edition 89
This tribute to the world’s foremost repository of art and culture is one of Montblanc’s most ambitious designs. In fact this instrument incorporates modern and classical elements, just like the museum itself.
The skeleton body is linked to the bricks and pattern in the façade of the building itself, and in addition the design is inspired by the elements from the new symbol of the Louvre, the Ieoh Ming Pei’s pyramid. Made of Au750 solid white gold, in occasion of the 2009 celebration for the 20th anniversary of the iconic pyramid glass.
The cap features the 18K white gold skeleton lattice, echoing the glass pyramid “façade” in the Louvre yard. The clip detail is again inspired by the pyramid and is symbolised by the black hematite stone (pyramid cut) set on it. The cone of the barrel, rings and cap top are decorated with Renaissance and Baroque patterns.
The Limited Edition Fountain Pen is completed with a lustrous mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem on the cap top and the 18K rhodium-plated gold nib, engraved with artistic motifs.
The limitation of 89 pieces pays tribute to the year in which the pyramid – the new symbol of the Louvre – was built, 1989.
Launch 2009
