The Dragon by MONTEGRAPPA

A fantasy you can actually hold.
Fact or fantasy? ... Both. The Creation of the DRAGON (1995 Limited Edition) fountain pen draws upon MONTEGRAPPA's rich history and reflects the vision and resilience of a legendary manufacturer. MONTEGRAPPA was established in the tranquil village of Bassano in 1912 when an Italian industrialist, Alessandro Marzotto, and a German engineer, Heinrich Helm, joined in partnership to form Italy's oldest pen factory. Early production was concentrated mainly on gold nibs and the manufacture of ebonite pens. In WWI, MONTEGRAPPA kept soldiers in touch with loved ones as a supplier of piston fed fountain pens. During WWI, the production of celluloid pens began and gained grate recognition in the domestic market.

Celluloid production continued until 1946, when a fire destroyed the celluloid store which prompted a decisin to abandon its production and concentrate efforts on precious metals. This was a logical shift since Bassano is located in the Veneto region which, to date, is among the world's most prominent producers of sterling silver and gold products. Today, MONTEGRAPPA is a world leader in precious metal writing instruments and is celebrated for their intricately etched Reminiscence Collection. Artisans and innovators, MONTEGRAPPA is the only pen maker to date to apply low relief engraving to the industry, as evidenced by the 80th Anniversary and Roses Collections.

The DRAGON is a highly significant introduction in MONTEGRAPPA's history. Combining the old with the new the DRAGON is made from celluloid, the first to be produced by MONTEGRAPPA in almost 50 years. It is then lavishly adorned with a high relief dragon motif in sterling silver - the perfect marriage of two techniques and two eras which have shaped MONTEGRAPPA's success.

As part of an exclusive arrangement with MONTEGRAPPA, world-renown sculptor, Federico Mont was commissioned to create the dragon molds. His genius is enjoyed by royalty and heads-of-state through the many famous private collections he was commissioned to create. The molds, which took then months to complete, are minutely sculpted on seven different planes and are wondrous achievements in their own right.

MONTEGRAPPA's artisans further enhance the casts by hand engraving. The resulting 3-dimensional images, which have a relief of 1.5 mm., are so intensely detailed that, even after close examination, one continues to discover new characteristics.

After antiquing and polishing the finished overlays, the dragons are brought to life by the shimmering gaze of individually set ruby eyes. The DRAGON, unlike anything seen before, possesses a power all its own. One is compelled to gaze upon its splendor…to indulge in the sensation of 75 grams of sterling silver… to experience the fluid touch of the platinum plated 18K solid gold nib. The absolute symbiosis of precious metal and celluloid; it is at once a magnificent work of art and a supremely fine writing fountain pen.

The Chinese dragon, which is depicted on the pen, is one of the most popular motifs in Chinese art.

In China, the dragon is the embodiment of good spirits such as peace, courage and wisdom and was turned into an auspicious symbol. The Chinese emperors liked to describe themselves as the real dragon emperors. And the word for dragon was associated with other words to describe the emperor virtue, appearance, clothes and carriage. Indeed, it was their national emblem until the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty in 1912 which is curiously the year MONTEGRAPPA was born.

Though only a myth, this mighty and mysterious creature has endured through legend and fantasy. MONTEGRAPPA brings legend to life with the DRAGON pen…a fantasy you can actually hold!