[NO RESERVE] MONTBLANC | POPE JULIUS II, REF.35577, A LIMITED EDITION PINK GOLD, DIAMOND AND GEMSTONE-SET FOUNTAIN PEN, CIRCA 2005

Footnotes

NO RESERVE
不設底價

The Montblanc Patron of Art Pope Julius II Limited Edition 888 Fountain Pen stands as a pinnacle of luxury writing instruments, released in 2005 as part of Montblanc's esteemed Patron of the Arts series. This collection celebrates historical figures who profoundly influenced cultural and artistic legacies. Pope Julius II (1443–1513), often dubbed the "Warrior Pope" or "Fighter Pope," is immortalized here for his transformative patronage during the Renaissance. As pontiff from 1503 to 1513, he fortified the Papal States militarily while commissioning masterpieces that reshaped Rome into Europe's artistic epicenter. Key achievements include laying the cornerstone for the new St. Peter's Basilica, enlisting Michelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling and sculpt the Moses statue, and tasking Raphael with frescoes in the Vatican's papal apartments. Raphael's iconic portrait of Julius II, housed in London's National Gallery, even adorns the pen's presentation box, underscoring the instrument's deep ties to this era of creative zenith.

Crafted with opulent materials and intricate design, the pen evokes the grandeur of Gothic architecture and papal regalia. Its body and cap are forged from solid 18-karat yellow gold—boasting a subtle rose-gold warmth from its copper alloy—featuring delicate fenestrations reminiscent of Gothic cathedral windows. These cutouts reveal an underlying deep claret (burgundy-red) wavy guilloché enamel pattern, left unsealed and unlacquered for a tactile, textured contrast against the high-polish gold surfaces. The cap's dome replicates the historic Papal Tiara (last worn by Pope John XXIII in 1963), adorned with five marquise-cut rubies symbolizing the Pope's dominion over earthly and spiritual realms; a mother-of-pearl Montblanc snowcap star crowns the top, nodding to the brand's Alpine heritage rather than a traditional cross-bearing globe. The clip gleams with six faceted diamonds sourced from the same South African mine as the legendary Cullinan gems. At the heart lies a handcrafted 18-karat gold nib, rhodium-plated and tipped with iridium for smooth, reliable flow, engraved with the year 2005, the Patron of Art emblem, and Julius II's "Tree of Life" oak seal—honoring his family name, Della Rovere ("of the oak grove").

What elevates this pen to collector's nirvana is its profound rarity. Strictly limited to just 888 individually numbered fountain pens worldwide—no rollerballs or ballpoints were produced—this edition far outstrips the more accessible 4,810-piece version. Montblanc's policy of displaying unsold units in boutiques for two years before vaulting them in Germany further curtails availability; special orders post-vaulting is exceptional. Originally retailed at around US$6,700 in 2006, pristine examples now command significant premiums on secondary markets, reflecting not just material extravagance but the pen's status as a wearable artifact of Renaissance patronage.

In essence, the Pope Julius II 888 is more than a writing tool—it's a bridge to history, blending artisanal mastery with cultural reverence. Ideal for connoisseurs who value pens as heirlooms, its hefty balance and wet, expressive line (especially in broad or custom-ground nibs) reward thoughtful inscription, whether signing treaties or journaling legacies. For those seeking the rarest of the rare, this Montblanc embodies the eternal: a golden testament to a pope who dared to dream in frescoes and stone.