Great collectible pen for an avid Montegrappa fan!!!

~LIMITED EDITION~

MONTEGRAPPA ORIENTAL ZODIAC COLLECTION 2000 LIMITED EDITION DRAGON SILVER FOUNTAIN PEN - MEDIUM NIB

The majestic creature with its bearded horned head and fish-tail and its four limbs with eagle claws treading the clouds and riding the foams of the seas, chasing that flaming pearl; that is the striking image of the Chinese Lung. Lung, the mythological Heraldic creature of the East, known as the "dragon" to westeners. It is represented on the barrel's sterling silver (or 18K gold) overlay in its most traditional image. Symbol of good augury and luck, the dragon seems to fly over the marbled red background characterising the body of the pen made of a special resin being the result of an elaborate composition created and formed to best suit the pen's design. The original Montegrappa signature clip like all the trim is made of sterling silver (or 18K gold) and is etched with an oriental tyle design. It holds the traditional revolving sphere that for the occasion is made of cornelian, whose colour perfectly matches the pen's. Lung is the fifth of the Zodiacal Animals.

Spec:

Year: 2000

Features a sterling silver hand embellished die-cast dragon overlay on the barrel.

18k platinum plated gold nib ensures effortless writing (Medium grade point).

Brass constructed piston ink filling system

Overall length 130mm

Piece: 0048 of 1998

Country of origin: Italy

The collection

This series of writing instruments utilizes our unique hand embellished overlays, a technique perfected with the introduction of their limited editions. The outstanding features of Montegrappa writing instruments incorporated with the hand embellished die-cast overlays creates a unique combination of 3 dimensional art with a perfectly balanced writing instrument, an heirloom to be cherished now and forever.

The fountain pens of the Oriental Zodiac collection are endowed with the Montegrappa's celebrated 18K platinum-plated solid gold nib that ensures smooth effortless. The hand-made ebonite feed provides a regulated and consistent ink flow. Each fountain pen features a brass construction piston filling system for a pleasurable writing experience.

The oriental zodiac is the oldest in the world. Like Western astrology, it divides all people into 12 personality types that are identified as animals. Oriental astrology is rooted firmly in the shifting patterns of the life on earth, the seasons, the weather, and of course, complex oriental philosophy. The fundamentals of Eastern wisdom are derived from Taoism, which perceives the universe as an eternal ebb and flow of the two principles of the male and female, otherwise known as Yin and Yang, represented by the Sun and the Moon.

The oriental astrology has five elements that are representations of the five visible planets of old, Water which is ruled by Mercury, Metal ruled by Venus, Fire ruled by Mars, Wood ruled by Jupiter and Earth ruled by Saturn.

The Sun and Moon are not regarded as planets because they are the primal forces of Yin and Yang. All the 12 oriental signs are governed by the five elements.

Thus the Chinese calendar is based on a 60-year cycle, considering that each element's sign only appears every 60 years - calculated by multiplying the 12 signs by the five elements.

As a result of the Yin-Yang polarity, each element would manifest itself in either a destructive or constructive manner.

For instance Fire could burn your house down or be tamed to light your house and give out warmth as well. The five elements having been doubled in this fashion are known as the ten element mothers and they gave birth to 12 children.

These 12 children represent the 12 animals of the oriental zodiac, and in sequence they are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. According to another story, the Buddha asked all the animals that inhabited the Earth to visit Him to celebrate a Chinese New Year. Somehow, it seems, His request was not widely circulated and only 12 animals arrived in time for the festivities. In order to honour the animals that had turned up, He decided it was only fair that they and they alone should be awarded a year of their own. The oriental astrological system is based upon lunar cycles. The Chinese year is 12 lunar months. Each lunar year is ruled by one animal alone.

It looks great, very elegant, stylish and modern.

Lenght 13.0 cm (approx). Made in Italy.

Complectation: ONLY PEN, NO BOX/PAPER.

P.S. NEW condition (never inked) (see pictures carefully)!!!