Victoria & Albert – Empire of Love and Art
The Montblanc Patron of Art Limited Edition collection “Victoria & Albert” was designed and produced in honor of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their passion for music and the arts. This couple’s edition of the Patron of Art will bring to an end an era of Montblanc’s creativity and honor for employees who have been instrumental in art sponsorship, which began in 1992 and ended nearly in 30 years.
As Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901, then Empress of India (1876-1901) – her reign was one of the longest in British history, and the Victorian Age was named for her. Queen Victoria and her husband, Consort Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, ruled not only an empire but an era. The name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha came into the British Royal Family in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to her first cousin Prince Albert, son of Ernst, Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha. Queen Victoria herself was the last monarch of the House of Hanover.
Their names were deeply ingrained in the subconscious of the people at that time. The Victorian Era, the term that defined Victoria’s reign for 63 years, is so distinctively influential and eponymous for its influence and reflection. Together with Prince Albert, she ushered in a new era of technology, economic and cultural power in the Empire.
The culmination of this period of innovation was marked by the Great and Legendary Exhibition of 1851 at London’s Crystal Palace. The Great Exhibition was a symbol of the Victorian Era. They founded a number of cultural institutions in the South Kensington area such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal Albert Hall and have remained as outstanding leaders of the cultural world.
The idea of the Great Exhibition originated with Henry Cole, an artist, and inventor. But the man who ensured the event happened in spectacular fashion was Prince Albert, the Queen’s husband.
The design of the Montblanc Homage to Victoria Limited Edition 4810 was inspired by the fence surrounding the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens. It can be seen beneath the mint green matte lacquer on the cap of the Montblanc Victoria 4810, one of Victoria’s favorite dress colors. The cap top of the Victoria version is adorned with a royal blue precious resin crown, reminiscent of the small tiara associated with Queen Victoria.
The Victoria & Albert Limited Edition 4810 pen’s body is coated with pearl white lacquer, which is luxurious and regal. It represents a symbol of chastity and youth. The words “I will be good” are delicately engraved on the cap ring of the exclusive “Victoria” version edition.
The clip of the pen is designed with a mini replica of Queen Victoria’s scepter on both Victoria & Albert versions. It is highlighted with a stone set at the end of the clip. The stone is green in the Victoria version, red in the Albert. They are reminiscent of the engagement rings of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The nib of the fountain pen 4810 Homage to Victoria is entirely handcrafted in solid 18K champagne-tone gold and is engraved with stylized rose as a homage to Queen Victoria, who is still remembered today as “England’s Rose”.
The Limited Edition 4810 Homage to Albert Fountain Pen’s barrel is made of pearl white lacquer and the cap is covered with a noble burgundy matte lacquer reflecting the colors of a British Field Marshall’s uniform that Prince Albert wore to his wedding to Victoria. It is decorated with geometric patterns, the stairs hidden beneath the lacquer recall the distinctive gable of the Schloss Rosenau palace, a place Victoria remained attached to all her life.
The cap design of the Limited Edition “Albert” 4810 is inspired by the Crystal Palace. A place to create and celebrate Prince Albert’s influence and vision for the first World’s Exhibition. The cap ring of the pen is engraved with the phrase “treu und fest” mistakenly reminiscent of the motto engraved on the national coat of arms of Prince Albert.
The handcrafted 18K champagne-tone gold nib of this version is adorned with the state coat of arms of Saxony, showing respect for Prince Albert. The iconic Montblanc logo is made of precious resin.
Both versions of 4810 Fountain Pens are engraved with two interlocking AV letters. This is a symbol of the union of this British royal couple. The initials of their names are found mostly in the furniture and decorations in Victoria’s bedroom at Kensington Palace.
The body of the Victoria Limited Edition 888 fountain pen is made of translucent red lacquer. The exterior is surrounded by monograms made of Au750 champagne-tone solid gold, inspired by the dress Queen Victoria wore on her coronation day, and the outfit representing her three great kingdoms.
As with the Victoria & Albert 4810 versions, a small replica of the queen’s scepter is designed into a pen clip on both versions. The clip is again studded with stones at the end – a tsavorite in the “Victoria” version and a garnet for the “Albert” version – referring to Queen Victoria’s engagement ring, decorated with green and red gems .
The cap top of the Victoria version is decorated with royal blue lacquer. The crown is reminiscent of the small tiara associated with Queen Victoria. The Prince Albert version is a sepia inspired by the Crystal Palace, which pays tribute to Prince Albert’s visionary influence on the first World’s Exhibition.
The cap and body on the Albert Limited Edition 888 version are decorated with Au750 champagne tone gold pattern on a matte gray lacquer background. This color is inspired by the original Balmoral Tartan designed by Prince Albert in 1853.
The nibs of the fountain pens of both Victoria & Albert 888 versions are handcrafted in solid Au750 two-tone gold – rhodium-coated and the accents, champagne-tone gold. A rose is engraved on the Victoria Limited Edition version in honor of Queen Victoria, still remembered today as the “Rose of England”, and the coat of arms of Saxony on the Prince Albert version. The cap top is crowned with mother-of-pearl Montblanc emblem.
The cones of the pens Homage to Victoria & Albert Limited Edition 888 are engraved with their intertwined AV initials along with symbols, inspired by the decorations in Victoria’s bedroom at Kensington Palace.
Limitation:
Fountain Pens 4810, each of them
Fountain Pens 888, each of them
Fountain Pen 4810 (Vicoria & Albert versions)
Fountain Pen 888 (Vicoria & Albert versions)
