Montblanc has always been committed to art, literature, and culture and this time, the brand has created the Montblanc Meisterstück Calligraphy Collection to pay tribute to the art and culture of writing by combining newly developed nibs and craftsmanship.
Inspired by the fine Japanese artistry of Chiso, Montblanc released a limited edition fountain pen: the Meisterstück Calligraphy Maki-e Limited Edition 88, as part of the collection and flagship of the line.
The pen brings together the centuries-old artistic heritage of Chisō, a leading Yuzen kimono atelier that created elaborate silk kimonos for the Imperial Court, using the Japanese craft of maki-e lacquer.
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. As the former imperial residence, Kyoto attracted great artists, craftsmen, as well as academics. Its inspiring atmosphere of tradition and culture, contemplation and dignity generated great works, which became famous far beyond Japan.
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 of kimono – so that you would look taller. The same perspective is used for the pen, too.
Limited Edition 88
Truly a heirloom in the making, the cherry blossom design of the Meisterstück Calligraphy Maki-e Limited Edition 88 takes three months to complete. Montblanc’s artisans use the ancient “urushi” lacquering technique on the cap and barrel of the pen, applying, smoothing, sanding and polishing many paper-thin layers of blue semi-transparent lacquer by hand. Gold powder and tiny particles of cracked abalone shells (Raden) are then skillfully interspersed between the layers, creating a delicate mosaic effect.
Inspired by the Autumn moon and Japanese traditional symbol of cherry blossom, the cap of the Edition is decorated with Au750 white gold inlay in the shape of the full moon and delicate hand-painted blossom twigs made of Au750 gold powder. The barrel is embellished with yellow gold inlay representing the skull, symbol of vanity.
The design of the limited edition pens aim to capture the Japanese philosophy of the eternal beauty of calligraphy, standing in opposition to vanity, a symbol of inescapable mortality. The cherry tree blossom is one of the most important symbols in Japanese culture, and signals both the beginning of spring and represents youth, awakening into life and budding love.
The Au750 two-tone flexible gold nib is engraved with the cherry blossom. The cap top is crowned with Montblanc emblem crafted from Diamond.
The nib of the fountain pen is equally intricate, as Montblanc’s master craftsmen have created the innovative Flex Nib, a hand-sculpted mechanism created from solid gold. The process takes thirty-five careful steps, and the end result allows for more elaborate and more expressive calligraphy, with vertical lines varying from just 0.3mm to 1.4mm thick, depending on the pressure applied to the pen.
The Fountain Pen is limited to 88 pieces as a reference to the Lucky number 8.
Launch 2019
