After the launch of the first edition, which enjoyed great success among collectors, Montegrappa has expanded the collection dedicated to the father of the Italian language and his famous poem with a brand new limited edition which, this time, captures in detail the journey of the poets Dante Alighieri and Virgil through Purgatory. Let’s discover what makes this masterpiece so special and what you should expect if you plan to add it to your collection.
We were already used to Montegrappa’s incredibly creative spirit, but they seem to have outdone themselves with Purgatorio. Accurately illustrated details beautifully adorn every part of the pen, and it’s hard not to wonder how laborious the manufacturing process of each pen was. As the story of Dante could only be told with extravagance we believe that there is no better narrator than Montegrappa to capture all the details very well.
Now let’s take a look at the pens that come in two different finishes: one in sterling silver and the other in gold, both limited and numbered. In contrast with Inferno L.E., in which Montegrappa illustrates the descent through the nine circles of Hell, the Purgatory edition recreates the journey in reverse – ascending to earthly Paradise through the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory. To beautifully highlight every detail, Montegrappa chose a modelling technique based on lost wax casting, which has already been used in previous editions such as Inferno and the latest, Harry Potter: Hogwarts.
Handcrafted from precious metals and a special magma batch of Montegrappite resin, from blind cap to top disc, every intricate element recounts Dante and Virgil’s ascent of Mount Purgatory. The clip of gold and silver keys marks their passage through Peter’s Gate. For Dante to ascend, angels must absolve him of Peccatum (sin) – a detail marked in fine relief. Earthly Paradise and the cleansing waters of the river Lethe are depicted using cloisonné technique. Here, Dante is reunited with Beatrice, and is prepared for his ascent to heaven.
Both sterling silver and 18k gold fountain pen editions are equipped with a piston filling mechanism and an 18k gold nib finely engraved with Dante’s profile. The sterling silver edition is available as a fountain pen and rollerball and is produced in only 333 pieces while the 18k gold version comes in only 9 pieces – an homage to the Divine Comedy’s obsessive numerical structure. As art objects need proper packaging, each writing instrument is presented in a debossed leatherette case steeped in antique-bookshop ambience.
This limited edition collection is available on montegrappa.com but you can also find it at any authorised retailer.
Montegrappa Dante Alighieri: Purgatorio Fountain Pen Sterling Silver – EUR 5,050
Montegrappa Dante Alighieri: Purgatorio Rollerball Pen Sterling Silver – EUR 4,450
Montegrappa Dante Alighieri: Purgatorio Fountain Pen 18k Gold – Price on request
Montegrappa Dante Alighieri: Purgatorio Rollerball Pen 18k Gold – Price on request
Wonderful article