HOMAGE TO JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
WRITERS EDITION
This Writers Edition traces the life of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe beyond his literary achievements, recognising his impact as a scholar, playwright, philosopher, naturalist, and statesman. The overall shape of the collection has been crafted to commemorate the key areas of Goethe’s work, while each writing instrument features meaningful design details that reference different periods in his life.
1. Limited Edition
The Limited Edition writing instrument celebrates Goethe’s contribution to world literature. The textured cap and barrel mirror the description of marble in his novel, “The Sorrows of Young Werther“, which also serves as the inspiration behind the delicate engravings featured on the barrel ring and cone. In a special tribute, the soft blue echoes the colour of the Juno Room walls in Goethe’s home in Weimar.
2. Limited Edition 1808
Goethe’s years as a statesman saw him shaping Weimar’s cultural and intellectual landscape. The patterns in the Limited Edition 1808 reflect this period: the barrel is inspired by the “House Order of Vigilance”, which Goethe received for his special services to the Weimar court, while his court uniform served as the inspiration for the intricate details of the cap top and cone ring.
3. LIMITED EDITION 88
Goethe’s travels to Italy affirmed his appreciation for collecting rare and beautiful objects, a sentiment that is captured in the Limited Edition 88. The barrel’s pattern is inspired by Goethe’s own collection cabinets, and features a gold-casted bust modelled on the bust of Juno Ludovisi, which is on display in Goethe’s home in Weimar. The limited edition of 88 marks the year 1788, when Goethe returned from his Italian adventure.
4. LIMITED EDITION 8
The Limited Edition 8 is dedicated to Goethe’s achievements in science. The nib features a hand-engraved spiral in a nod to the deck of cards he created to illustrate his optics theory, while fan-shaped inlays decorate the barrel in a variety of colours and materials, reminiscent of Goethe’s Theory of Colours. Complementary lacquer inlays encircle the cone, inspired by the colours seen in his experiments with glass prisms.
PRODUCT INSPIRATION
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CLIP
Goethe saw plants as living expressions of transformation – an idea captured in his work "The Metamorphosis of Plants”, and reflected in the curved leaf-shaped clip.
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CAP TOP
The cap top takes the form of a globe – a tribute to Goethe’s status as one of the most important writers and thinkers in world literature.
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CAP
To commemorate Goethe’s achievements in research and botany, the cap is shaped like a historical experimental glass.
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CONE
The barrel and cone are modelled on a historical writing instrument that Goethe is pictured holding in one of his portraits painted by Carl August Schwerdgeburth.
Goethe saw plants as living expressions of transformation – an idea captured in his work "The Metamorphosis of Plants”, and reflected in the curved leaf-shaped clip.
The cap top takes the form of a globe – a tribute to Goethe’s status as one of the most important writers and thinkers in world literature.
To commemorate Goethe’s achievements in research and botany, the cap is shaped like a historical experimental glass.
The barrel and cone are modelled on a historical writing instrument that Goethe is pictured holding in one of his portraits painted by Carl August Schwerdgeburth.
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HONOURING GOETHE’S PATH AS A POLYMATH
Goethe’s timeless works and wide-ranging interests earned him lasting recognition beyond Germany, establishing him as one of the world’s most important writer and thinker. Today, relics from his personal collection are on display at his residence - The Goethe House - in Weimar, Germany, which served as inspiration for many design details in this collection.
Alongside the launch of this Edition, Montblanc is sponsoring the work of the non-profit public law foundation Klassik Stiftung Weimar, one of the largest cultural institutions in Germany.
