Soaring to New Heights: Montblanc's High Artistry Collection
Every shrine has its inner sanctum, and for
decades at Montblanc this was the world of their limited edition creations. To
the initiated, these pieces tell the story of a person, a body of work which
defined our culture or a legendary lifetime of patronage. Now, however, Montblanc
invites its most ardent collectors to journey further in, and peer behind the
veil of its most skilled ateliers, where the traditions preserved over ages and
the innovation of today meet in the rituals of design and craft: the sanctum
sanctorum.
Founding
this new tradition for the Maison is Montblanc’s High Artistry, A Celebration of
the Taj Mahal collection of limited edition precious writing instruments. The
most exclusive of these, the Black Myth, the Insignia of Power and the Tears of
the Moon, being limited to only one piece each, making each a true pièce
unique. These exclusive objets d’art are followed by the Celebration
of the Taj Mahal editions of five and ten pieces, respectively, whose precious stones
accent elaborate gold work utilizing the traditional granulation technique or inspired
by the arabesques and flower garlands found on the façade of the Taj Mahal. And
finally, a dark red lacquer and solid Au 750 champagne-tone gold edition, with a
mother-of-pearl emblem inlay in black onyx, made in 76 pieces.
Honouring
the legacy the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, who ruled during a golden age when
the dynasty’s art and architecture had reached their pinnacle, the Celebration
of the Taj Mahal collection pays tribute to the edifice constructed by the
Emperor in honour of his wife Mumtaz. The Black Myth edition, crafted from
solid Au 750 white gold, entirely jewelled in pavé-set black sapphires and brilliant
cut diamonds with a 6.24 ct., FL round brilliant cut diamond as its centre
stone, is an homage to the Emperor’s plans to build a mirror image of the Taj Mahal
for himself, but in black, on the opposite bank of the Yamuna River.
The
Insignia of Power edition references the symbolism of a dagger, whose shape
inspired the curved form of the entire collection. Used as an insignia of
authority, Shah Jahan was given his own personal dagger by his father upon his coronation.
Made from solid Au 750 yellow gold and adorned with uncut rubies in cabochon
settings, in the style of Kundan stone setting, the Insignia of Power has a
6.42 ct., F VVS 2 old mine diamond as its centre stone and a detachable 2.45
ct. cabochon ruby which can be removed to reveal a daisy, painted in enamel, beneath.
Often
inscribed with sacred texts, worn as personal talismans and passed down as
dynastic heirlooms, emeralds were called, “Tears of the Moon.” Crafted from
solid Au 750 yellow gold and set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds, the Tears
of the Moon edition has a 6.10 ct., step-cut emerald as its centre stone. As
with the entire collection, the Tears of the Moon edition has no clip, but
rather features a peacock feather motif, with a detachable rose cut diamond on
this edition, which conceals a miniature enamel painting of a bird.
Uniquely,
these limited editions feature solid Au 750 yellow gold nibs adorned with two
birds and set with precious stones. Carrying on Montblanc’s tradition of
limited edition tribute pieces, each edition tells a story of love, empire and
honour. Destined to obtain legendary status, themselves, these rare collectors’
pieces raise the bar of creativity and craftsmanship in the world of ultra-exclusive,
superlative writing instruments.
Montblanc’s High Artistry precious
writing instruments are exclusively available on the West Coast from the
Montblanc boutique in Vancouver.
Montblanc
1055 Alberni Street
Phone: (604) 235-1770
1055 Alberni Street
Phone: (604) 235-1770