Founded in 1916, Tibaldi has been creating fine writing instruments for almost a century…
A rich past provides not just continuity but inspiration. For nearly a century, Tibaldi has produced superlative writing instruments, with its early years occurring concurrently with the Art Nouveau period. The movement’s love for forms found in nature, for curves, for elegance, influenced both the visual arts and decorative fixtures and furnishings, as well as the look and feel of manufactured objects of all types and functions. Pens – portable, personal devices for expressing one’s thoughts – proved to be ideal targets for the Art Nouveau vision.
Tibaldi’s past has delivered a classic form perfect for reviving in a modern version that respects the vintage original. Tibaldi’s Art Nouveau pen updates an exquisite form from the 1930s, fashioned in three exclusive colours of celluloid. Tibaldi’s craftsmen spent three years devising the appropriate material, to be offered in Lapis, Malachite and Indian rainbow, carefully reproducing the colours and the shape that would have been familiar to pen users over 80 years ago.
While the shape, material and colours offer a reference to the original, certain refinements that define modern pens have been applied to the designs. The original collection did not have decorative clips nor metal trim rings. In the Tibaldi Art Nouveau collection, each clip is a piece of jewellery in its own right, accenting the delicate body of the pen. Made of sterling silver, as are the rings positioned in the midsection and end-piece, the clips embody familiar Art Nouveau motifs: Nymph, Amazon and Mermaid.
Novel elements that will intrigue pen collectors are a capped ballpoint pen and a capped mechanical pencil in the smaller size, the caps matching the physical characteristics of the fountain pen and roller ball produced in medium size. Also enhancing the user experience is the fitting of a metal thread for the cap to secure to the body, a durable fitment not offered by the original pen.
Tibaldi’s Art Nouveau pens will be issued as a limited edition encompassing a total of 1890 pieces, the number representing the year that the Art Nouveau movement was born. Each of the three colours of Lapis, Malachite and Indian Rainbow will be offered as a Fountain Pen, of which there will be 150 of each colour; a Roller Ball produced in series of 150 per colour; a Ball Pen for which there will be 250 for each colour; and a Mechanical Pencil of 80 in each colour. The end user may select one of the three clip designs of Mermaid, Amazon or Nymph to be fitted to the pen that he or she orders.
D.C.
