Homage an Hannibal Barca: Einführung der neuen High Artistry Limited Edition

Montblanc würdigt das strategische Genie, einen der beeindruckendsten Generäle der Geschichte

By pairing technical virtuosity with boundless creativity, Montblanc artisans create elaborate pieces that defy imagination. Leaning on the skills and the métiers d’arts that have been nurtured at the Montblanc Atelier for over 110 years, traditional expertise is combined with high precision and high technology tools to craft masterpieces from the finest materials available. The new High Artistry Homage to Hannibal Barca Limited Edition boldly pushes creative and technical boundaries to tell the story of one of history’s great figures.

A Punic military commander from Carthage, Hannibal Barca (247 – between 183 and 181 BC) is considered one of the greatest military commanders of the antiquity alongside Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great. He is sometimes referred to as the “father of strategy” because his military tactics were adopted by his great nemesis, Rome. Setting out from Carthaginian-dominated Spain with a small army of select troops, he fought his way over the Pyrenees and crossed the Alps with elephants and a full baggage train at the outbreak of the Second Punic War. In his first few years in Italy, he won three dramatic victories — the Trebia, Lake Trasimene, and Cannae.

Limited to just one piece worldwide as a tribute to this fearless individual and with a price of €1.5 million, the High Artistry Homage to Hannibal Barca Limited Edition 1 features a dazzling combination of white gold and diamonds contrasting with a full pave of blue sapphires. The elephant trunk clip is one of the most sophisticated clips ever conceived by Montblanc with all stones set on clip and elephant head of the cap individually cut and set by hand requiring months of meticulous work. Because of the unusual shape of the clip, the Montblanc Artisan Atelier developed an external tensioned clip to achieve the design and aesthetics of the elongated trunk of the elephant, while at the same time providing high precision and smooth clip function. The white gold fitting stands out against the deep blue of the sapphires on the barrel, embellished with individual rows of carée cut diamonds. Celebrating his epic journey to victory, the forepart of the writing instrument is engraved with his route from Carthage to the Rome. The Au750 solid gold nib is decorated with a special design representing the Carthaginian deity Baal’Hammon and adorned with two brilliant-cut diamonds. Crowning the fountain pen, a magnificent 6.03 ct. brilliant-cut DFL diamond is displayed on a stone-holding table set with diamonds. Achieving this feat of stone-setting virtuosity requires absolute precision from Montblanc’s stone setters. A blue sapphire cabochon from Ceylon shines at the base of the cone, adding dazzling elegance to this one-of-a-kind work of art.

In honour of his strategic genius, the Hannibal collection displays several outstanding techniques from stone cutting and setting, to granulation lacquering and cutting-edge technology like the use of ultraviolet laser. While these innovations reflect Montblanc’s pioneering spirit, they also mirror Hannibal’s lifelong passion for pushing boundaries in his unstoppable quest for glory. The design of the new High Artistry editions is inspired by the major events of the second Punic war when Hannibal made his epic crossing of the Alps in 218 BC accompanied by his elephants. Each of the editions features a cap top in the shape of an elephant with a clip shaped like the animal’s trunk. In reference to his military exploits, many details used in the editions evoke the military armour worn by the Punic army, whether delicate engravings on the cone ring to ancient drawings to Punic armour design engraved on the nib.

When Hannibal’s generals warned him that it would be impossible to cross the Alps on the back of an elephant, he said “Aut viam inveniam aut faciam” (“I will either find a way, or make one”).