2021 MB WE & Patron of the Arts

[ljz]

On 2/7/2021 at 11:39 PM, MacJ said:

Also, the second version of the calligraphy nib (which was supposed to be similar to an architect grind) that was set for 2020 has been scrapped and they will continue with the flex calligraphy nib on other pens in that series.

my understanding is that there'll be a resin 146 with flex nib coming out later this year, and supposedly no more curved nib as special edition, on the other hand the solitaire legrand with gradient burgundy attribute in standard nib was already available to purchase since last November, I noticed it during my last visit to the local pen store just before complete lockdown in Germany

 

 

22 hours ago, admmarcos said:

Me too. The last new WE didn't look good for me. I remain with the old editions (Wilde, Voltaire, Kafka, etc).

from the real life photos I reconnoitred, my verdict is that the low-tiered and mid-tiered Doyle pens are utterly underwhelming and unprepossessing

 

in addition, starting from this year, the low-tiered writer's edition will be relegated to special edition, meaning that there will be no more limited number engraved/laser-etched on the pen

[jagwap]

3 hours ago, ljz said:

my understanding is that there'll be a resin 146 with flex nib coming out later this year, and supposedly no more curved nib as special edition, on the other hand the solitaire legrand with gradient burgundy attribute in standard nib was already available to purchase since last November, I noticed it during my last visit to the local pen store just before complete lockdown in Germany

Really? The 146 gradient burgundy not on the website yet. Maybe you saw an early sample for regular customers to see?

 

I want to see it if it is, but my new infactuation with my 149 flex means I will wait for it to come with the fles nib.

[Uncial]

Google is your friend. The Solitaire gradient was meant to be released in September 2020 so there are quite a few images of it around. It's a gradient in lacquer. Nice looking pen but it comes with an eye watering price tag.

[jagwap]

11 hours ago, Uncial said:

Google is your friend. The Solitaire gradient was meant to be released in September 2020 so there are quite a few images of it around. It's a gradient in lacquer. Nice looking pen but it comes with an eye watering price tag.

I have seen those, and that is why I'd like to see it in the metal. They are not exactly high resolution pictures, but if it is already released as said above, there should be more pictures available, and can be shown here. However it is not clear yet.

[Uncial]

See it in the metal? It is metal; lacquer over metal. Have you maybe confused it with the Planets one from the LPP series? The due date for the burgundy solitaire gradient was Sept 2020 but its been delayed and I haven't heard of any new date announcement. Montblancs own advertising bumph can be seen on the web and it was posted here but removed.

[jagwap]

1 hour ago, Uncial said:

See it in the metal? It is metal; lacquer over metal. Have you maybe confused it with the Planets one from the LPP series? The due date for the burgundy solitaire gradient was Sept 2020 but its been delayed and I haven't heard of any new date announcement. Montblancs own advertising bumph can be seen on the web and it was posted here but removed.

I know.

 

I am reforing to ljz's post that said the non caligraphy nib version in gold and gradient burgundy resin has been in the boutiques since November 2020. I also suspect some confusion, but hoped I can actually see it soon.

[Uncial]

I'm confused! I didn't know there was a burgundy gradient resin version at all.

[Michael R.]

Sorry, there is no "gradient resin version" but only LePetit Prince Planet/Rose series of pens in burgundy resin.

 

The announced 2020/2021 Calligraphy curved nib collection was the black resin 149 & Solitaire Le Grand (brushed metal with translucent degrade burgundy lacquer. #125331 for the curved nib Solitaire and #125338 for the regular nib Solitaire. Announced name was Calligraphy Solitaire Degradé Lacquer Le Grand.

 

However this pen was only announced so far any maybe shown on early private demonstration events.

 

Cheers

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

 

 

[The Mustard]

I’m disappointed to hear that the writer’s edition will be produced with a special edition at the lowest end, I guess this reflects the reducing limited edition volumes of recent years and mirrors the Characters, but it feels like a regressive step. I still haven’t seen an image of Napoleon or Conan Doyle, I can see how Napoleon may be a divisive choice but in principle Conan Doyle seems worthy and potentially intriguing..., looking forward to seeing them.  
 

Any idea who the Character might be this year or is it too early for the stores to have had a heads-up on that issue? That is a series of pens that started really strongly with some of my favourite pens In Gandhi, Hitchcock, JFK (1917) Einstein and Dean (LE) but latter versions are no where near the same quality in my opinion. 

[Cyrille81]

10 hours ago, The Mustard said:

I’m disappointed to hear that the writer’s edition will be produced with a special edition at the lowest end, I guess this reflects the reducing limited edition volumes of recent years and mirrors the Characters, but it feels like a regressive step. I still haven’t seen an image of Napoleon or Conan Doyle, I can see how Napoleon may be a divisive choice but in principle Conan Doyle seems worthy and potentially intriguing..., looking forward to seeing them.  
 

Any idea who the Character might be this year or is it too early for the stores to have had a heads-up on that issue? That is a series of pens that started really strongly with some of my favourite pens In Gandhi, Hitchcock, JFK (1917) Einstein and Dean (LE) but latter versions are no where near the same quality in my opinion. 

Maybe it could be a racing driver who founded a company with a prancing horse... but from what I saw it would be the same level as the last ones, not as the first editions....

[ThierryfromFrance]

Hi everyone, to keep closely within the subject of the thread, the Napoleon Bonaparte POA 2021 has been launched today and a presentation video should soon be available on the net. There are four versions, the cheapest being the 4810 edition...

 

[Toll]

2 hours ago, thierrysalem said:

Hi everyone, to keep closely within the subject of the thread, the Napoleon Bonaparte POA 2021 has been launched today and a presentation video should soon be available on the net. There are four versions, the cheapest being the 4810 edition...

 

You are so right — images of the 4810 and 888 editions of the Bonaparte are up on the Montblanc website. The 4810 version is appealing, but not to the $3,000 plus dollars. 

[ardene]

Napoleon was indeed a major patron of the arts, especially architecture. He also created a lot of museums so that art would be available to the public rather than held in private collections. https://study.com/academy/lesson/napoleon-s-patronage-of-neoclassical-art.html

 

In addition, he pioneered major legislative reforms of huge influence internationally. I would take the newspaper-style commentary on Napoleon, especially in English-language journalistic sources, with a very large pinch of salt. See e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon#Long-term_influence_outside_France

 

On the pen: Having had a chance to look at the 4810 Patron of Art, I must say that I find Napoleon’s bee motif tasteful on a (historically Roman) imperial crimson background.

 

The N topped by the (again originally Roman) imperial eagle is a nice detail. These symbols, N alone or in laurels and the (always Napoleonic) imperial eagle of France are mostly the military symbols of the first French empire and the hard-working and honey-producing bee the all-encompassing one. So, the predominance of the bee on the pen is suitable.

 

I must say that I do not very much fancy the nib design, N’s portrait; but I confess that it may have been harder to make from a technical point of view.

 

The shape of the pen looks good to me, although I suspect that it will also be girthy like most recent MB special edition offerings.

 

[The Mustard]

My first impressions are positive of the 4810 Napoleon, it has similar characteristics to the Elizabeth which is one of my favourite POA. It looks like it has a big step down which will bother some but is never an issue to me.
 

I’ve got mine on order and can’t wait to get my hands on it but it will no doubt take a month or two to arrive in the UK. Any sight of the ink yet anyone? 

[Cyrille81]

Yesterday evening Montblanc organized a preview of the new PoA 2021 collection in streaming with historic information on Napoléon's life. The video is available here (in French)

https://player.vimeo.com/video/531866705

[Toll]

31 minutes ago, Cyrille81 said:

Yesterday evening Montblanc organized a preview of the new PoA 2021 collection in streaming with historic information on Napoléon's life. The video is available here (in French)

https://player.vimeo.com/video/531866705

Thanks for sharing the video — the 4810 is even more appealing than the website images suggest. The blue barrel is exceptionally nice. I will look forward to seeing it at a MB Boutique. 

[Toll]

21 hours ago, The Mustard said:

My first impressions are positive of the 4810 Napoleon, it has similar characteristics to the Elizabeth which is one of my favourite POA. It looks like it has a big step down which will bother some but is never an issue to me.
 

I’ve got mine on order and can’t wait to get my hands on it but it will no doubt take a month or two to arrive in the UK. Any sight of the ink yet anyone? 

La Couronne du Comte is now displaying the blue ink on its website. 

[The Mustard]

So they do, many thanks Toll, looks like a nice greeny blue or dark teal, worth a go! 

[ia123]

I found pictures of this year's PoA. I attached them. The price is eur 2900,00 on the official Montblanc site.

Edited April 5, 2021 by ia123

[Cyrille81]

Some photo on Instagram of the 4810 and 888 editions:

 

And the 2 Artisan editions (LE92 and LE8) :