by Nancy Olson
Upon first hearing about Montblanc’s recently released Tribute to the Great Wall of China High Artistry pen collection, I concluded that the company had taken on a particularly imposing task. The structure after all dates back to the seventh century BCE and spans thousands of kilometers and numerous dynasties, each with its own particularity.
Montblanc has taken on equally ambitious topics in past High Artistry collections such as the Taj Mahal, Chinese Emperor Kangxi, and, in 2020, Ancient Egypt. These, too, offered up potentially overwhelming creative opportunities. But with some thoughtful editing and keen imagination, the perfect design chord was struck every time.
Not too much and not too little, but just right
Commemorative limited edition writing instruments can sometimes be overdone, in my opinion, with well-meaning designers aiming to include just about every known detail referencing the person, place, or event celebrated. The result is a pen with no focal viewpoint and little cohesive style.
Coco Chanel said it best in her now-famous quote: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.” The same goes for the design elements of a limited edition pen.
I asked Montblanc’s then-creative director Zaim Kamal how he determined what to include and what to “take off” when designing the Tribute to the Great Wall of China. His answer was simple: “It’s all about the story,” he said.
And the arc of this year’s adventure focuses on the ancient art of calligraphy, the Ming Dynasty, and the legendary Silk Road.
Behind the scenes
But there are other less visible themes running through Montblanc’s annual High Artistry pen collections, one being the opportunity it offers the maison to expand its boundaries of design and production. This year, for example, the use of miniaturization (note the music box and hand-done embroidery) and tactility (note the rotating jasper ring, hinged cap crown, movable clips, and more) bringing the drama to life.
These métiers d’arts played roles in past collections, but here they take center stage.
According to Montblanc CEO Nicolas Baretzki, the High Artistry collection (which debuted in 2014) is, “The best we can deliver in terms of quality, craftsmanship and value.” And that “best” to which he refers builds on itself each year, causing new insights, opportunities, and capabilities to evolve.
Montblanc High Artistry Tribute To The Great Wall Of China pens
Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 1 Imperial
Only one unique piece was created in this design and it’s easy to see why. Inspired by traditional Ming Dynasty artwork, the labor-intensive pen features an 18-karat yellow gold cap and barrel providing the backdrop for a magnificent sculpted dragon. Sapphires, rubies, tourmalines, and diamonds are hand-set on the cap and barrel.
Montblanc High Artistry Heritage Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 1 Imperial
Taking this over-the-top design even further, a 4.69-carat brilliant-cut diamond held in place by a dragon’s claws crowns the pen. A Chinese guardian lion is engraved on the 18-karat movable clip, and a miniature music box resides within the cone.
Ornate cap of the Montblanc High Artistry Heritage Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 1 Imperial
Referencing the music box, Kamal shared he was looking for nothing less than just the right size, sound, intensity, and, of course, melody. Montblanc’s stature in Swiss watchmaking proved helpful here, and after much research and discussion a Swiss automaton craftsman fulfilled the exacting requirements.
I heard a recording of it; and the sound quality is excellent and the melody is mesmerizing.
Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 5 Imperial
This pen also draws attention to the Ming Dynasty, a period during which Chinese art and culture unfolded. Cloisonné and champlevé enameling techniques are evident in the vivid decorations on the cap and barrel, reminding me of painted vases from that era. The skeletonized and hand-engraved cap top opens to reveal a brilliant-cut diamond – weighing about 1.8 carats.
Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 5 Imperial
I think the rotating barrel ring, crafted from Kalahari jasper, is a nice touch. It adds to the tactility of the pen, and its natural wood construction is an unusual counterpoint to all that color on the instrument’s body.
Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 5 Imperial
Here’s where it gets really interesting: the pen’s cone holds a calligraphy brush produced by Chinese craftsmen, which is stabilized by translucent lacquer so it will retain its shape. It may be exchanged for the functional calligraphy brush provided, thereby bestowing dual purpose to the pen and emphasizing the importance of calligraphy to Chinese culture.
This is one of several examples of the collection as “a bridge between East and West,” according to Kamal.
Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 10
Silk embroidery is the focal point of this champagne-tone gold variation in recognition of the storied Silk Road connecting China to the Mediterranean Sea.
Paris-sourced handcrafted needlework decorates the barrel depicting the Great Wall from the Han Dynasty. This miniature embroidery – a truly amazing art form – reminds me of the ladies’ watch dials from Chanel introduced about eight years ago.
Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 10
Mother-of-pearl, which was transported along the Silk Road, decorates the cap crowned with Montblanc’s interpretation of a calligraphy inkpot. This miniature vessel is filled with a liquid semblance of ink and covered by sapphire crystal. Inside, the Montblanc emblem in white Teflon – yes, Teflon – is visible. East-meets-West-meets-science.
Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 10
Here, too, the cone holds a calligraphy brush, this time encircled by black sapphires and diamonds. The 18-karat champagne-tone gold clip features a wood inlay decorated with Chinese symbols, reminiscent of the narrow bamboo strips scribes used to write or draw on.
Each of the pens shown here is fitted with a curved nib, its tip angled at 45 degrees so it can create lines of different thicknesses at various angles. This important detail speaks to Montblanc’s competence in nib making and its standing as one of a very few manufacturers that produces its nibs in house.
There are two other variations within the Great Wall Collection: a Limited Edition 88 and a Limited Edition 333, not shown here.
The future
The Montblanc Great Wall Of China Pen collection has a note of poignancy for me since it is the last from Kamal, who has been creative director at Montblanc since 2013. He was always a fascinating interviewee and an interesting gentleman of great insight. I think many of the brand’s limited edition pen collections have flourished under his direction, and this, Kamal’s final High Artistry, is a notable tribute to his dynamic vision.
He is succeeded by Marco Tomasetta, who has worked for such well-known fashion brands as Givenchy, Prada, Chloé, and Louis Vuitton.
Quick Facts Montblanc High Artistry Heritage Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 1 Imperial
Edition: fountain pen
Nib: 18-karat gold, angled
Cap and barrel: 18-karat yellow gold set with sapphires, rubies, tourmalines, and diamonds
Limitation: unique piece
Price: $1,978,500
Quick Facts Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 5 Imperial
Edition: fountain pens
Nib: 18-karat gold, angled
Cap and barrel: 18-karat gold with cloisonné and champlevé enameling
Limitation: 5 pieces
Price: $558,000
Quick Facts Montblanc High Artistry Tribute to the Great Wall Limited Edition 10
Edition: fountain pens
Nib: 18-karat gold, angled
Cap and barrel: 18-karat champagne-tone gold with silk embroidery and mother-of-pearl
Limitation: 10 pieces
Price: $203,000
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The Montblanc Great Wall Of China Pen collection has a note of poignancy for me since it is the last from Kamal, who has been creative director at Montblanc since 2013. He was always a fascinating interviewee and an interesting gentleman of great insight. I think many of the brand’s limited edition pen collections have flourished under his direction, and this, Kamal’s final High Artistry, is a notable tribute to his dynamic vision.
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Where can I find the full collection of the Chinese wall pens