Stylus
By Nancy Olson
MONTBLANC’S
HOMAGE
The Ludwig II Limited Edition
4810 featuring a translucent
blue lacquer barrel.
TO THE
SWAN KING
MONTBLANC INTRODUCED A PATRON OF ART HOMAGE to Ludwig II lim-
ited edition pen collection earlier this year in conjunction with the annual
Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award. The award honors another
great patron of the arts, the Swan King himself, Ludwig II.
Montblanc has long supported the arts and culture in a variety of ways,
including the annual Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, institut-
ed in 1992. These days, the award is bestowed to individuals in 17 countries,
throughout the year, who have demonstrated a personal commitment to art
through a variety of efforts.
Last year, the event began in Spain, and the Patron of Art Homage to
Scipione Borghese writing instrument encased in a trophy was awarded to
Spanish gallerist Soledad Lorenzo. A collection of limited-edition writing
instruments available to the public was built around the exclusive award pen.
This year, the Award event kicked off in Munich at the royal Residenz
recognizing Jürgen Wesseler for his exceptional contribution to the world
of contemporary arts. Wesseler was chosen for his support of artists of the
Avant-garde and a lifetime of pioneering work as the founder and director of
Bremerhavener “Kabinett für aktuelle Kunst.”
ARTS PATRON
“The royal Residenz in Munich was the city palace where Ludwig II of
Bavaria, one of the great patrons of the 19th century, resided. It is fitting and
symbolic that this celebration for one of Germany’s modern-day patrons
should be held in this very palace,” explained Vincent Montalescot, executive
vice president of marketing at Montblanc.
Ludwig II was an avid patron of composer Richard Wagner, and also
became enthralled by constructing extraordinary palaces (“fantasies in
stone”) such as the fairytale Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria.
Ludwig II Limited Edition 40 in 18-karat champagne gold.
124 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | SUMMER 2018