Earlier this week, Montblanc unveiled a series of limited-edition High Artistry writing instruments celebrating the Orient Express.
Through the High Artistry line, Montblanc seeks to turn useful items into the greatest of objet d’art using its unique métiers d’arts to combine exceptional stone setting, engraving, and gold nib making.
In turning to the majestic Orient Express for inspiration, the maison capitalises on the Art Deco lines and styling of this symbol of extravagance and elegance that made its first journey from Paris in 1883 and epitomised luxury travel of the late-19th and 20th centuries.
Entitled “A Journey on the Orient Express”, this new collection stretches the boundaries of technical mastery and creativity to turn a writing instrument into a priceless work of art. The imaginative designs interpret historical and cultural themes through ancient craft techniques.
An 83-piece limited edition is a nod to the year the train took its first journey on 4 October 1883. A further 333 pens pay tribute to the midnight blue, ivory and gold livery of the famed train and 1,883 numbered pieces in blue resin are decorated with an ivory-coloured Montblanc emblem and a yellow gold-coated cap ring.
Beyond these are four writing instruments that incorporate timepieces powered by high-grade Minerva movements.
The piece unique Montblanc High Artistry A Journey on the Orient Express Limited Edition 1 with Case is a tribute to René Prou’s marquetry designs in solid gold. Historical routes from 1930 are depicted on the hand-engraved gold forepart in diamonds, rubies, and blue sapphires.
The cap top’s diamond-studded grid is reminiscent of the ironwork comprising the roof of Gare de Lyon in Paris, where travellers frequently boarded the Orient Express. The cap top is crowned by a blue sapphire, and the gold nib features a nostalgic engraving of a steam engine and is set with a single brilliant-cut diamond.
Celebrating the industrialisation that accompanied the steam age, the cap opens at the press of a button, while the wooden marquetry travel case incorporates a mechanical watch, which is a nod to the relevance of precision timekeeping to safe and reliable rail travel.
Another one-off piece is the oval-shaped Orient Express Limited Edition 1 Papillon. When a windowed door is opened, a plique-à-jour enamelled butterfly spreads its delicate wings, its silhouette a reminder of the Orient Express’s glasswork by René Lalique. The body of the pen is in gold studded with diamonds and rubies.
The train’s early routes are represented in diamonds, rubies and blue sapphires and the nib is again adorned with a steam engine set with a ruby. The grid-covered, hinged cap top opens to reveal a miniature automaton watch with mechanical movement and butterfly motif.
The High Artistry Orient Express Limited Edition 5 reflects the upholstery design of the original train and embodies the beautiful aesthetic of the early 20th century with an abstract pattern composed of gold and hand-carved red chalcedony stone.
The gold nib features an etching of a magnifying glass and fingerprint, a reference to espionage related to Mata Hari, a frequent traveller on the Orient Express. In a further tribute, a window in the barrel reveals a miniature painting of the famous exotic dancer, courtesan and spy.
The train’s routes are engraved on the gold cone, framed by diamonds and topped with white chalcedony. The cap top again opens to reveal a miniature mechanical watch with enamel dial.
The final ‘timely’ piece is the Journey on the Orient Express Limited Edition 10, a tribute to world-famous author Agatha Christie and her 1934 novel Murder on the Orient Express.
The cap and barrel of the watch are in sycamore wood inlaid with gold-leaf and crystal flowers that represent the work of both Prou and Lalique. The push opening mechanism is decorated with diamonds and the white chalcedony cap top features a gold and diamond version of the Montblanc emblem.
Beneath the cap is a miniature clock, its time permanently set to 01:15 – the time the fictional murder happened. The nib is engraved with a dagger, the forepart with a floorplan of Cabin 2 and 12 stones adorn the cap ring – all subtle references to the book’s plot.
