Montblanc Writer’s Edition William Shakespeare Fountain pen

Montblanc's 2016 Writers Edition William Shakespeare is one of the series' most densely symbolic designs, using the architecture of the Globe Theatre and a sequence of references to Shakespeare's plays to transform the pen into a compact survey of his theatrical world. The fountain pen was limited to 8,700 pieces, and this example is numbered 5670/8700.

Craftsmanship & Design

The black and white precious-resin palette comes directly from theatrical practice. Flags raised above Shakespeare's Globe signaled the genre of the day's performance: white for comedy and black for tragedy. Montblanc turns that historical code into the dominant color structure of the pen, giving the contrast a meaning that extends far beyond aesthetics.

The cap is octagonal, a first for a Montblanc Writers Edition of this type, and recalls the geometry of the Globe's interior. The white resin barrel carries a guilloche pattern inspired by the feather quills used for writing, while gold-coated fittings add visual warmth and frame the symbolic details. The clip ring references the earring visible in the famous Chandos portrait of Shakespeare, linking the instrument not only to his plays but also to the enduring image of the playwright himself.

The Story Behind the Artwork

A broad decorative ring gathers symbols from several of Shakespeare's best-known works. A skull represents Hamlet and its meditation on mortality. A rose and dagger refer to Romeo and Juliet, pairing love with the violence that destroys the lovers. Chess pieces evoke the strategies of power and family conflict associated with King Lear. A crest refers to Henry V, while a crown points toward the ambition and kingship at the center of Macbeth. A swirling cloud symbolizes The Tempest, whose opening storm sets the entire drama in motion, and a laurel wreath recalls Julius Caesar and the Roman world of political honor, rivalry, and assassination.

These motifs work as a miniature theatrical program. Rather than choosing a single play, Montblanc presents Shakespeare as a dramatist of comedy, tragedy, history, politics, love, and supernatural disturbance. The pen's black-and-white structure then places all of those stories back inside the Globe, the space where genre itself was announced by color.

Writing Experience

The fountain pen uses an 18K gold Medium nib and a piston filling system, giving the edition a traditional internal mechanism appropriate to its collector status. The nib provides the elastic, polished writing character expected from Montblanc's gold nibs, while the piston system keeps the exterior free from cartridge-access compromises and supports a generous ink supply.

Collector Context

The Shakespeare release occupies an important place in the Writers Edition chronology because its design is unusually comprehensive. Many editions focus on one book, one object, or one episode from an author's life. Shakespeare's body of work is too broad for that approach, so Montblanc instead created a network of symbols that can be read across the pen.

Reference 114348 identifies the standard Writers Edition fountain pen, distinct from the more elaborate Shakespeare Limited Edition 1597. For collectors, that distinction matters: the 8,700-piece fountain pen is its own numbered release with its own design language, not a simplified naming variation of the 1597 edition.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Montblanc
• Collection: Writers Edition
• Honoree: William Shakespeare
• Year: 2016
• Reference: 114348
• Writing System: Fountain Pen
• Nib: 18K gold, Medium
• Filling System: Piston
• Material: Black and white precious resin
• Trim: Gold-coated fittings
• Edition: 5670/8700
• Country of Origin: Germany