It was back in 2018 when Montegrappa first introduced the Warriors series, a concept that fused writing, sculpting, and action figure charm opening up new horizons for the world of fine writing instruments and collectibles. Six years later, Montegrappa launched the edition dedicated to gladiators, carrying on the tradition. In today’s article, we’ll delve into the details of this spectacular objet d’art.
The first edition that marked the debut of the series was inspired by the legendary warriors of medieval Japan, followed by the ‘Vikings’ collection in 2019. For this year’s edition, Montegrappa revisits Ancient Rome to build a breathtaking edition that pays tribute to one of history’s most beloved combatants – the Gladiator.
The new Montegrappa Warriors Gladiator is part writing instrument and part working miniature, offering owners action-figure functionality to complement lavish craftsmanship. It is handcrafted from precious metals and armed with first-class writing componentry, and according to the Italian brand, the whole design was perfected over a period of nearly five years – almost as long as it would take to make a simple watch movement. Spending almost 5 years to perfect a pen takes not only passion but also a great commitment to the art of pen making, but for Montegrappa, it’s already a habit, with the brand proving many times that it is a strong pioneer in the industry.
At first glance, you’d think it’s just an action figure, and you wouldn’t be wrong: the edition has a detachable torso, with articulated arms and a hinged visor that reveals both man and fighting machine. On its most accessible iteration, vermeil detailing highlights symbols of imperial pomp including the Aquila Romana and SPQR motto, lending glamourous accents to the silhouette’s gritty, burnished silver finish;
The mechanical bravado of Gladiator is matched by its internal engineering. As with the manufacturer’s other advanced models, this edition is equipped with the innovative Power-Push filling system – a hydraulic charging system that offers owners revolutionary one-step filling.
Although the edition was built as a writing instrument for regular use, the Gladiator serves equally well as an objet d’art for office or studio exhibitions. Each copy is accompanied by a grandiose, 32 cm model of Rome’s fabled Colosseum, with display plinths supplied for each component. As with the previous Warriors editions, a replica Gladius sword is included for opening correspondence, and a pen roll made of vegan leather is provided for transport to other arenas.
To mark the year 105 BCE, recorded by historians as the beginning of Rome’s public Gladiator Games, the collection is offered in 105 copies in sterling silver and 5 in 18k gold. Enormously popular in their day, the empire’s ludi were extravagantly expensive affairs – featuring as many as 10,000 fighters and 11,000 beasts at their peak.
Priced from €17,995, Gladiator can be purchased from department stores, fine stationery boutiques, and via montegrappa.com.
Overall, I like this edition. It’s luxurious, imposing, and definitely not one to buy for regular use, but rather to collect. Personally, I have doubts about the handling and comfort while writing due to the pretty thick barrel. While I’m not an expert in design or engineering, I would have liked the pen to somehow detach from the decorative elements and be used more easily, then attached back. Otherwise, it probably only serves as a signing tool and a piece of art, of course.
Nevertheless, it is an impressive creation for which Montegrappa deserves all praise.
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