September 2007
I have always felt a strong connection to my pens. Writing with a fountain pen is me. Each pen has its own personality, and each in turn is an expression myself.
Recently I was sent an impressive book The Book of the The Five Pens. The book talks about the project to design, present and honour five Nobel Literature Prize Winners. Hand drawings of the pen designs & replicas of hand written notes from the recipients are all part of the book.
The pens are available to the public and by taking ownership of one of these pens the owner also receives a copy of this beautiful hard covered book. People who buy pens like the accoutrements such as a beautiful box as an important accompaniment to the pen itself. But I think this book goes much further.
Cleto Munari, a modernist designer from Vincenza, Italy, undertook the exciting project. Cleto has shown his sense of style in a range of design projects, the pen project is just one of many. (See the link to his web site at this page). His involvement with the project, the design of one of the pens himself as well as the designs by other leading architects, results in five very modern and well-styled pens.
Personally, I think their “look” is a welcome addition to the lines of fountain pens available on the market.
Since I have not used any of these pens, I can only speak to the stunning designs as shown in the book and not to their performance. Afterall, it is how the pen fits in your hand, the feel of the nib and the flow of the ink that makes for a very personal experience.
In The book of the Five Pens, the Noble Literature Prize recipients, and the designers, share their personal relationship and experience with writing with a pen. As I read their comments, I was nodding in agreement and soon found my fingers itching to pick up one of my own pens to write.
As a short summary of the project, Munari invited four international architects to join him to design five unique pens. The project started in 2002 and in 2003 the first pens were produced in solid gold with diamonds. The pens, as shown in the book are much more affordable, and are made from acrylic resin, produced in limited quantities.
The pen, shown to the right, is an image of the pen designed by Cleto Munari.
In 1985 he opened a workshop-studio-jewellere's shop and with a number of world-famous architects he designed and created jewels and bojects as part of an avant-garde collection Objects designed by Cleto Munari are in the permanent colletionsof the world's principal museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
| Designer | Nobel Literature Prize Laureate |  |
| Cleto Munari Italy |
Wole Soyinka Nigeria |
|
| Toyo Ito Japan |
Nagib Mahfouz Egypt |
|
| Alessandro Mendini Italy |
Toni Morrison United States of America |
|
| Alvaro Siza Viera Portugal |
Jose Saramago Portugal |
|
Oscar Tusquets Blanca |
Saul Bellow Canada |
The pens are available in fountain and roller ball models and have high quality finishing, with overall sharp, stunning looks. You will find 24 k gold and sterling silver accents.
I think Cleto Munari captured it well, when he wrote in the introduction:
"The nib flows across the page in a continuous line, sometimes lighter when the writing comes fluently or when the right sentence comes into shape on the paper, almost by magic and straight from the heart, without need of too much reflection.
Then suddenly the line grows thicker, the ink clogs in the bays and inlets of vowel, showing how difficult it is to find words to describe emotions in the wake of thoughts."
In the book you will find biographical information about the designers as well as the Nobel Prize Winners. One feature that sets this book apart from others is the inclusion of replica handwritten notes and letters from each of the authors to Munari talking about the personal relationship they have with writing. After reading and seeing the replica handwritten note from American Nobel Prize Winner Toni Morrison, I am pulling out my bottle of gray ink for my next letter!
"Over time, my search for the perfect fountain pen has rivaled only my search for the perfect word, phrase or images in fiction — just out of reach, or not quite to hand — it is a quest I hope never ends."
I am most appreciative in receiving a copy of the book. It truly is a book that makes a fine additional any personal library. It will be enjoyed by any individual who shares the passion of writing with a pen.
One day I hope to have the opportunity to write with one of the Five. The one that has really caught my eye is the Toyo Ito designed pen to honour Nagib Mahfouz. The stunning black with silver accent would look just great in my hand!
Information on Cleto Munari is available on his web site:
Cleto Munari Design Associate sr
www.cletomunari.com
Information on the pens is available online at:
My thanks to Bella Figural Communications for letting me know about this unique offering.