Since
1912, Montegrappa manufacture has stood in the same historic building
on the bank of the River Brenta, in one of the most picturesque areas
of the historic town of Bassano del Grappa in the prosperous north-eastern
part of Italy. Located in the Vicenza district, one of the most ancient
and prestigious areas for the goldsmith's tradition, the region is also
home to “fair Verona,” setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo
and Juliet, and Venezia (Venice), “city of water,”
“city of lights,” home of the gondola. This Italian
heritage is an important value for a Brand that was the first Italian
pen manufacturer: it is, at once, the goldsmith’s heritage and
legacy. Since 1912 Montegrappa pens have embodied the Italian flair.
Founded as a "Manifattura pennini d'oro e penne stilografiche”
(Maker of gold nibs and fountain pens), the Bassano factory found
itself in a key position during World War I. In addition to the many
soldiers who used Montegrappa pens (then known as Elmo) to write letters
home, there were also two celebrated American writers, Ernest Hemingway
and John Dos Passos, who were both volunteer ambulance drivers at
the front.
Montegrappa's pens are reserved for those who can't live without
the emotions inspired by the feel of a finely crafted writing instrument
between their fingers, responding to their delicate movements. As
they guide the Montegrappa pen across the paper, the eye follows the
ink as it seeps in. Such demanding chirographers long ago learned
that, “the instrument with which one writes, greatly
influences what one writes.”
Whether it be the colors reminiscent of the master painters, or the
ornaments of Baroque palaces, it is all part of Montegrappa's Italian
heritage. In the land known for drama and love—where the Montagues
and Capulets feuded—where writers especially have come
to get a taste of romance, no object is too small or too practical
to strive for beauty. To display the depth of this rich, cultural
lineage, Montegrappa employs an equally ample array of artisanal techniques.
But a few are the following:
Montegrappa craftsmen are bound to the refined art of low relief
engraving, introduced in 1992 with the commemorative fountain
pen for the Eightieth anniversary of the company's foundation.
The magnificent achievement of hand etching begins with
the artist's design, reduced exactly to the finished size.
Vitreous Enamelling:
Enamel is a vitreous substance used since the 6th century B.C. in
goldsmith's and silversmith's crafts as decorative material much
appreciated for its color range and excellent conservation.
Acquired in 2000 by one of the great world leaders in the field
of luxury goods, the Richemont group, based in Switzerland, Montegrappa
today continues its tradition of artistic innovation, supreme excellence
of craftsmanship, and total commitment to satisfying the most educated
and discriminating of patrons. Freely inspired by great moments of
history, and the most ancient passions of mankind, Montegrappa produces
a regular range for those who wish to indulge in a daily luxury. Examples
are the Privilege,
the Symphony,
the Micra.
These and other "every day" Montegrappa pens and pencils,
could well be compared to special and limited editions of other brands.
Its own limited and special editions preserve the creative standards,
and the value of product, that were part of Montegrappa’s formation,
and have been essential to its evolution and developement. A few of
these upon-issue, exceptional collectors’ items are the Sophia
Limited Edition, the Vatican
2000 Papal Limited Edition, and the Living
Harmony Limited Edition.
