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Visconti ROMANICA Limited Edition Fountain Pens

All along their history European populations have always been united but divided, continuously struggling or competing against each others, searching for their common roots and goals.Although we have recently celebrated the European Constitution, we always need myths to bind us together.  For this reason Visconti has thought about getting back in time and find a common beginning for everyone, a symbol representing all Europe.  So we asked ourselves why European towns are so similar to each other, why are they so often placed on hills, with winding small roads, and why are there the same religious symbols, churches and cathedrals, what is at the origin of such a “European” lifestyle?

All European forms of art that developed between year 1000 AD and the end of the XII century are conventionally defined as belonging to the “Romanic” tradition according to the massive presence of “Roman” elements in their manufactures.  Although Roman art is more homogeneous in its nature, Romanic art has developed different features depending on the various geographical regions, economical situations and cultural diversities present in the single towns.

After year 1000 AD Europe witnessed a consistent repopulation of towns due to the lack of pressure by the barbarian tribes and to the new economical growth and flourishing of trade. Thus in this period we see a new development towards innovation involving art too.  The renovation of towns brings with itself the restoration of already existing Roman structures, i.e. the construction of new urban centres through the elaboration of the Roman castrum or the rebuilding and widening of ancient monasteries and feudal castles. Indeed towns were built also according to specific defence criteria: they were surrounded by walls or linked to isolated fortresses.

A European Pen

We thought about our towns, our cathedrals, our bridges, our aqueducts and about our backed brick walls that make not only all Italian landscapes, but also many other villages in Europe look beautiful.  We chose two chromatic contrasts: metal/black and copper/ivory in order to recall a common form of art to all.  We have used the most refined engraving techniques in order to reproduce those arches, bricks and windows of an architecture leading to a new scenario, i.e. the passage from the Middle Age to Renaissance.  Visconti hopes this pen to witness a new beginning for Europe, as the entire Romanic art did. We expect it to represent a common route to all European populations, in order to recall all the reasons that unite them, despite of all the ancient and sometimes too strong individualistic waves.  The bridge-styled clip is a symbol for this intent.

Characteristics

Romanic Limited Edition: 1000 platinum plated Silver; 1000 in red vermeil
Artistic work:                 Chisel engraving and openwork
Metal Parts:                   Silver 925 and Vermeil Gold
Filling System:                Double Reservoir Power Filler®
Nib:                               18 kt two-colours Gold