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.
The artists at Chiso have developed a custom design for Montblanc, uniting the centuries-old Chiso tradition with another renowned Japanese craft: maki-e lacquer. Montblanc celebrated this remarkable collaboration for the second time with the Meisterstück Maki-e Calligraphy Tribute to Kyoto Fine Craftsmanship Limited Edition 88.
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 important artists, craftsmen and scholars for over a thousand years. 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
The high artistry of Maki-e is done purely by hand, exactly as it was hundreds of years ago, applying urushi, a resinous tree sap that resists moisture and damage. The entire process consists of several steps: the application, smoothing, sanding and polishing of multiple layers of paper-thin black and translucent lacquer.
The Meisterstück Calligraphy Maki-e Limited Edition 88 represents the traditional maiko, an apprentice geisha in Kyoto, in all her beauty, wearing a colourful kimono representing the themes. The detailed miniature portrait of the maiko is delicately complemented by a subtle blossom decoration sprinkled with gold powder. The fittings, made of Au750 solid gold with a black finish, are decorated with a special pattern.
The design of the writing instrument is based on the themes of “Void” and “Calligraphy”, the former symbolizes the inevitable philosophy of death, while the latter symbolizes life, beauty and buried deep memory, meaning that the traditional maiko will end its life. A lifetime of beauty, and echoes the theme of writing instruments with colorful kimonos. Handmade with raw lacquer technique, the flower pattern on the maiko kimono is decorated with mother-of-pearl with a micro-mosaic technique, and then sprinkled with gold powder for decoration.
Details of delicate blossoms that occupy and enhance the kimono is based on the painting by Japanese master Chikudo Kishi, who served as a painter/artist for the Imperial Palace.
The top of the cap is set with a Montblanc diamond. The handcrafted Au750 two-tone gold nib is engraved with a kimono pattern embellished with delicate flowers, a tribute to the masters of art.
Meisterstück Maki-e Calligraphy Tribute to Kyoto Fine Craftsmanship Limited Edition 88 is not only unique in terms of design and execution but also function. The 45° angle curved nib is particularly made to easily create lines of different thicknesses at various angles used in character languages as well as for sketching and graphic design.
The Fountain Pen is limited to 88 pieces as a reference to the Lucky number 8.
Launch 2020
