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2021 September
Stories Across Time with Exquisite Writing Instruments

Hobbies are not always synonymous to obsessions. Montblanc fountain pens, for example, often incorporate art, cultural and historical aspects in their design themes. When a collector picks up his favorite pen, stroking the barrel and appreciating its fine details, the encounter is no different from taking a meticulously curated lesson in culture.

 

The interview with Danny Lau, Partner Emeritus of Deloitte China, was originally arranged because his collection of more than 200 Montblanc pens. Preinterview web research revealed that Lau loves photography. He has also been taking pictures for his collection and established a fan page. During the interview, we found that he also enjoys cooking. When we discussed about the cleaning and maintenance of his pens, Lau said that he realized the tools for cleaning toy soldiers can also be used. It turned out that he has collected hundreds of toy soldiers and tank models of those military model kits for simulating war scenes.

 

Love of pens began from a promotion

Wearing a sapphire blue jacket and speaking calmly, Lau lit up the room when the topic came to his treasured Montblanc collection. There were a few dozens of these. Lau took them out one by one from his silver suitcase, introducing them to us with brief notes. “This is Egyptomania, and it belongs to the Heritage collection. That James Dean belongs to the Great Characters collection, it goes there…”

 

Recollecting on his connection with Montblanc pens, Lau said it goes way back to more than 30 years ago. “I was promoted to partner at the time. I decided to buy a Montblanc Meisterstück and use that for signing.” Back then, a good pen was a symbol of socio-economic status for men. Unlike others, Lau fell in love with the craftsmanship and aesthetics of Montblanc pens after this first purchase.

 

Meticulously crafted with layers of intricacy

He picked up the most recent acquisition, “A Tribute to the Great Wall” – a limited edition pen from the “High Artistry collection”- to illustrate what he meant. As he unwrapped the pen, he pointed out that the forepart engraving shows a map of the Great Wall during the Qin Dynasty and the armors of the Chinese warriors. In the middle of the pen, the circular ring decoration tells the legend of the beacon towers. The cone is shaped like of a traditional calligraphy brush. Lau’s lasting admiration for Montblanc pens was cultivated from such exquisite craftsmanship.

 

Take the “High Artistry collection” as an example. Montblanc has found its inspiration from the civilization of ancient Egypt and the Taj Mahal of India. In the former, you could see the ingenious mimicking of the stone coffin of Tutankhamen; in the latter, you would discover the intricacy of a Mughal dagger. The grace, elegance, and stories behind each design would always enrich collectors’ historic and cultural knowledge. After collecting and appreciating them for decades, Lau opined that the process is no different from sitting one cultural lesson after another. Naturally, the loyal Montblanc fan finds these “learning hours” a pleasant experience.

 

Pens make wonderful gifts

The themes of Montblanc pens cover not only ancient topics but also modern ones. For example, the Great Characters collection features many contemporary popular culture icons, e.g. the Beatles in the music side, and Hitchcock in the movies side. A pen is a great gift to convey delicate thoughts. Lau also likes to gift with pens. For example, for his son who is fond of playing the trumpet, the pen themed around the renowned jazz player Miles Davis was bought as a gift. To farewell his friends and partners, the graceful “Marilyn Monroe” was chosen.

 

Lau is dedicated to his sophisticated collecting hobby. Is there any c o m p l a i n t f rom Mrs Lau? He responded with a smile, saying that his wife is quite open-minded – she has not complained much when Lau purchased another apartment to keep his collections after retirement.

 

Pens are always in fashion

Lau is not old-fashioned, but he cannot deny pens are much less frequently used as a writing instrument these days. Under this trend, does Lau think there is much value left for a traditional writing tool today? He reckoned that the high artistry of a Montblanc pen has transcended the purpose of writing. Therefore, it should remain timeless. Taking one step back, Lau also noted that whether it is in the Chinese or the Western culture, calligraphy is considered an effective way to destress. As such, he is not too worried that people will stop picking up pens by their barrels in future. The beauty of writing will always be cherished.