Montblanc pays tribute to one of the great cultural figures of the 19th century, patron of Richard Wagner and builder of fantasy palaces
As part of its ongoing support of arts and culture worldwide, Montblanc has been recognizing the exceptional contributions of today’s patrons of the arts since 1992 with the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award. Every year to coincide with the Award, a unique Limited Edition writing instrument inspired by a historical patron of the arts is commissioned to honour the contemporary ones. The latest Montblanc Patron of Art edition celebrates the extraordinary life and cultural legacy of Ludwig II of Bavaria (25 August 1845 – 13 June 1886), referred to as the “Swan King” or the “Fairy Tale King”. As a patron of Richard Wagner, he facilitated the creation of the composer’s greatest works including Tristan and Isolde, Die Meistersinger and Parsifal. In addition to his support of music and theatre, King Ludwig dedicated himself to the construction of extraordinary palaces such as the fairy tale Schloss Neuschwanstein, a dramatic romantic fortress decorated with scenes from Wagner’s operatic masterpieces.
A recurring motif throughout the king’s life, the swan is a central design theme of the Patron of Art Homage to Ludwig II Limited Edition 4810 with a cap made of translucent lacquer with a special guilloche design underneath that emulates the white feathers and a champagne gold-coated clip shaped like the long curved neck and head of the graceful water bird. Contrasting with the cap, the blue of the translucent lacquer barrel mirrors the blue of Ludwig’s official royal portrait as well as the blue of the pillars inside the throne room at Neuschwanstein. The regal crown shape on the cap top and the engraved lettering on the gold cone draw inspiration from the royal seal of the Bavarian monarch. In homage to the opera that set the young Ludwig on his journey of patronage, the champagne gold coated cap ring is engraved with “WWV 75”, the code of Wagner’s Lohengrin about the Swan Knight sent in a boat pulled by swans to rescue a maiden, with the ring set with a round-cut red synthetic stone. The Au750 solid gold nib of the fountain pen is decorated with an engraving of the fairy tale Neuschweinstein castle.
Ludwig’s passion for creating paradises and poetic refuges where he could escape from the real world earned him his “Fairy Tale King” moniker. With its birds and floral motifs, the skeleton design of the Patron of Art Homage to Ludwig II Limited Edition 888 is inspired by mural paintings of the lavish throne room at Neuschwanstein. The intricate Au750 solid gold overlay features a cut out design that allows the translucent white lacquer to show underneath, finely paired with a platinum coated swan-shaped clip and fittings decorated with engravings. Evoking the opulent surroundings the king created in each of his palaces, the cap ring is set with a round cut ruby and the Montblanc emblem at the top of the cap is made of precious mother of pearl.
As lavish and elaborate as King Ludwig’s spectacular fairy tale castles, the Patron of Art Homage to Ludwig II Limited Edition 40 pairs the technical virtuosity of the métiers d’art with some of the most precious materials. With a limitation of number of just 40 pieces in reference to the age at which Ludwig died in 1886, the fountain pen is made from solid Au750 champagne-coloured gold. The cap of the writing instrument features a guilloché under a white lacquer surface masterfully decorated with a hand-engraved gold inlay of a lion motif, symbol of Bavaria. The barrel features an inlay of miniature feather work under a sapphire glass created by a skilled artisan leaning on the near-forgotten art of plumasserie, or the craft of preparing and applying feathers by hand. The feather art is surrounded by a guilloché pattern on the solid gold barrel inspired by the grandiose architecture of Neuschwanstein. To add to the precious quality of the writing masterpiece, the cap top is set with a Montblanc diamond and a ruby baguette, the cone is embellished with a line of rubies above the engraving of the king’s initials and two rubies sparkle as the swan’s eyes on the pen’s clip. The intricate design engraved on the gold nib of the fountain pen recalls the one of the flying machines that Ludwig II dreamed of journeying in to his castle.
With a limitation of just five pieces to commemorate the date of 5 September 1869 when the construction of Neuschwanstein Castle began, the Patron of Art Homage to Ludwig II Limited Edition 5 is an elaborate tribute to the lavish world of the king. The solid AU 750 champagne gold of the fountain pen is paired with sparkling diamonds set with full pave. The barrel is embellished with a Romanesque motif reminiscent of the castle’s opulent interiors, and adorned with an inlay of miniature plumasserie surrounded by a guilloche pattern. The ruby baguette set on the cap top ring is inspired by the rich red sash worn by Ludwig II in his royal portrait. The engraving on the castle tower shaped cone is taken from the seal of the monarch, while the precious gold royal crown on the cap top is set with a Montblanc Diamond fit for a king.
A precious notebook featuring textured swan feathers inspired by the rare plumasserie technique complements the Patron of Art Homage to Ludwig II writing experience. A trompe l’oeil printing technique gives the feathers a 3-dimensional lifelike appearance on the gold lined pages with silver cut edges. A special ink has been created to accompany the writing instruments, in a grey colour inspired by swan feathers.
An enigmatic and inspired king that still fascinates 130 years after his death, Ludwig II has left an indelible legacy on culture. From his patronage of Richard Wagner and his great operas that still enthral audiences today to the fantastical castles of Bavaria that continue to attract visitors from around the world, Montblanc remembers with artistry and technical virtuosity a man who spent his life in pursuit of beauty and artistic excellence.
It is a very special honour for my family to see the legacy of King Ludwig II
being manifested so wonderfully in this outstanding masterpiece of art and craftsmanship.
The creators of this unique writing instrument truly succeeded in capturing the essence of
King Ludwig’s exceptional personality.
H.R.H. Luitpold Rupprecht Heinrich Prinz von Bayern.
About Montblanc
Guided by the pioneering spirit since 1906, Montblanc revolutionized the culture of writing with breakthrough innovations. Today, the Maison continues to push boundaries and evolve the expression of fine craftsmanship across each of its product categories: the pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, timepieces, leather goods, accessories, fragrances and eyewear. With every innovation, Montblanc offers new functionalities and groundbreaking designs imbued with the Maison’s heritage of sophistication and crafted to the highest standards through the skills of its artisans in each of its manufactures whether Hamburg, Germany for its writing instruments, the Swiss Jura in Le Locle and Villeret for its timepieces or Florence, Italy for its leather goods. Reflecting its ongoing mission to create fine lifetime companions born from the most pioneering ideas, the iconic Montblanc Emblem has become the ultimate seal of performance, innovation, quality and expression of style. With its origins deeply rooted in the culture of handwriting, Montblanc continues to assert its cultural commitment around the world with the creation of wide-ranging initiatives to promote arts and culture in many forms, while honouring the modern day patrons who support the advancement of the arts.
how much do the cost? are they even for sale? they do look priceless, you know 🙂