Montblanc Writers Edition Fountain Pen Tribute to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Limited Edition 8 (M)

At the center of the intellectual awakening of the 18th century, the writings of one man in particular have stood the test of time: those of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Polymath, giant of German literature, lawyer, minister, theater director as well as a prodigious collector and naturalist, he was in every way a revolutionary, eager to push the boundaries of perception and learning. The philosophical depth of "Faust," the lyrical subtlety of his poetry, and the extent of scientific exploration behind his theory of colors and his botanical treatises have had historical significance and testify, through their variety and considerable influence, to Goethe's genius. Poet and statesman, advisor, friend, and lover, he left an indelible mark on the world around him and remains today a source of inspiration and vision. With the support of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar and the Goethe National Museum it houses, Montblanc dedicates its Writers Edition Homage to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Limited Edition 8 to this universal genius, emphasizing his achievements as a scientist. The historical silhouette of the edition is inspired by Goethe's favored writing instrument, with which he put all his knowledge, ideas, and the fruits of his seemingly limitless poetic imagination on paper. Writing was his raison d'être. The largest edition of his works and writings today comprises 40 volumes, containing about 3,000 poems. His play Götz von Berlichingen was published anonymously in 1773, but a year later, The Sorrows of Young Werther, written in less than four weeks, propelled the young 25-year-old lawyer to overnight fame. His reputation did not go unnoticed in Weimar, where he was no longer considered just a renowned poet and philosopher, but also a statesman and a reformer of the economy and finance. But Goethe was not willing to compromise to reconcile his roles as poet and politician. Dissatisfied due to a feeling of creative stagnation, he decided to embark on a tour of Italy in 1786 - incognito. It was there that he felt a new sense of spiritual freedom, different from anything he had known in his country. He discovered the ancient treasures of Rome and natural phenomena he had previously ignored. During his 18-month journey, which he would later describe in his Italian Journey, Goethe climbed Mount Vesuvius several times, a still-active volcano, and collected many items for his studies on nature, including a pine cone which he kept both as a wonder of nature itself and as a reminder of the ancient four-meter-tall bronze pine cone located at the Vatican. The modest beauty and harmony of its natural form are strikingly evoked in this edition, as the cap and body are slightly tapered. The similarity is reinforced by the skeleton milled in solid gold at 750/1000. With consummate skill, Montblanc's master craftsmen inserted inlays of ebony wood, white and pink mother-of-pearl, lapis lacquer, and jasper lacquer into the skeleton to symbolize Goethe's rich collection of minerals and stones. One of Goethe's most ambitious projects was his Theory of Colors, published in 1810. In its approximately 1300 pages, he examined the phenomenon of color in a way that fundamentally differs from established practices. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, he tackled a wide range of subjects, from physics to the psychology of colors, opening an entirely new perspective on the essence of color. He was convinced that colors existed only in the mind of the beholder and that they exerted a considerable influence on that individual's emotions. Goethe's Theory of Colors is represented not only in the general color scheme of the writing instrument but also in the lacquer inlay band that surrounds the cone, with colors inspired by those Goethe observed during his experiments with glass prisms. His empirical research in the field of optics is also highlighted in the rock crystal inlaid between gold rings at the conical end of the cone bearing his engraved signature. The base of the cone is made of granite, one of the hardest rocks known to man and the substance most prized by Goethe as evidence of the planet's origin. Like the cone, the dome-shaped cap top is made of rock crystal framed in gold and crowned by the hand-engraved Montblanc emblem as well as a hand-painted gold serpent. The coiled serpent motif is reminiscent of the drinking glasses ordered by Goethe in Karlsbad, with which he demonstrated the astonishing effects of color. The slightly curved shape of the cap, resembling a glass jar of a chemist from centuries past, is a tribute to Goethe's achievements as a scientist and collector. The leaf-shaped clip pays homage to his studies in the field of morphology and particularly to his proposal of an archetypal plant form. He even transposed this idea into verse in his didactic love poem "The Metamorphosis of Plants." Goethe himself praised a series of lithographs by the painter Eugène Delacroix, commissioned to illustrate the French translation of the work. His depiction of Faust in his study is taken up in an elaborate scene engraved in relief on the solid gold nib at 750/1000, while the engraving of swirling lines on the front part in rhodium-plated solid gold at 750/1000 is a nod to Goethe's studies on optics and the maps he designed to illustrate them.

Ident: 131448
Clip: Leaf-shaped clip
Body: Inlays of ebony wood, white and pink mother-of-pearl, lapis lacquer, and jasper lacquer in the skeleton
Size: M
Mechanism: Fountain pen
Physical weight: 162.1 g
Dimensions: 147.8 mm x 18 mm x 18 mm
Color: Yellow Gold