The German brand fêtes Hannibal Barca with a one-of-a-kind creation
In the High Artistry Homage to Hannibal Barca Limited Edition 1, Montblanc pays tribute to Hannibal Barca, one of the greatest military figures of all time. Best known as the general who marched his army – complete with war elephants – across the Alps to wage war against the Roman Empire, Hannibal had numerous other claims to fame. At the Battle of Cannae, for instance, he led an army of 50,000 to destroy a much larger Roman force numbering over 86,000, which effectively crippled the Roman army in a single day.
The High Artistry Homage to Hannibal Barca Limited Edition 1 fittingly saw Montblanc pull out all the stops for its development and production. For a start, behold the white gold and diamond detailing set against a full pave of blue sapphires. While the centrepiece of this writing instrument is the elephant trunk-shaped clip, Montblanc has included several other details that tell of Hannibal’s story, such as the nib, which bears a special design representing the Carthaginian deity Baal’Hammon, and the engraving on the barrel, which traces his route from Carthage to the Rome.
At €1.5 million, this piece unique comes with an equally superlative price point. Montblanc has also three other series of related writing instruments numbering five, 10, and 86 pieces, to further explore other aspects of Hannibal’s life.
(Related: Montblanc Reinvents A Legend)
There’s much to wax lyrical about, but here are some salient points:
Yes, it’s themed on a military general this time.
Montblanc’s past limited edition writing instruments have focused on artistes, writers, and political leaders. The choice to feature a military leader may seem atypical, until you consider the fact that some of their previous writing instruments have actually focused on Roman emperors who, by the nature of their positions, were also involved in military affairs.
Perhaps it’s more accurate to say that the maison’s interest lies in key figures who have shaped history in one way or another. Hannibal Barca definitely qualifies, given his impact on the Roman Empire and its subsequent effect on Europe’s development. Beyond this, he’s also considered to be one of the world’s greatest strategists, with his tactics still studied today in military academies such as West Point. Finally, there’s his passage through the Alps with an entire army – until Hannibal did this, the mountain range was considered impassable.