260 YEARS TRADITION AND SPIRIT
In 2021, Faber-Castell celebrates its 260th anniversary looking back on its long tradition. When Baroness Ottilie von Faber married Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen in 1898, the King of Bavaria gave his approval to the new name Faber-Castell. For centuries the Counts and Lords of Castell have embodied knightly virtues such as loyalty, courage and care for their subjects. When Count Alexander linked his famed aristocratic name with that of the globally renowned company in 1898, the company’s unmistakable identity was born. The image of the two chivalrously fighting knights with their stories, values and virtues, whose lances were replaced by pencils, became the symbol of this self-image.
Therefore the Pen of the Year 2021 is inspired by medieval knights, their heroes, myths and legends. The young men’s training took 14 years. In addition to hunting, riding, loyalty, spirituality and martial arts, it also included dancing, swimming and climbing. Upon completion of the training at the age of 21, the men received their knightly accolade ennobling them.
Myth and Legends
According to legend, Arthur lived as a glorious king and powerful military commander in early medieval Britain. Soon after his birth, the prophet Merlin took Arthur under his wing, raised the boy and foresaw his protégé’s future as a great ruler. Henceforth, Merlin influenced matters for Arthur’s benefit and became his loyal companion.
LEATHER AND GEMSTONE
In the Middle Ages, the strongest prevailed, therefore skilful sword fighting and the nature of his weapons played a central role in a knight’s life. The Pen of the Year 2021 is inspired by the impressive armour of the age of chivalry. The writing instrument’s brown grip zone recreates the leather strap on the sword’s grip and prevents the pen from slipping while writing. The Pen of the Year’s end piece is adorned with a red, faceted garnet with sunray cut. In the Middle Ages, this precious stone embodied light and truth and was used for jewellery, weapons and burials. Due to its hardness and high refraction of light, the valuable garnet was also called a “carbuncle”, which refers to a gemstone with magical properties capable of providing its own illumination.
Myth and Legends
In order to help young Arthur gain his reputation, Merlin drove a magnificent, otherworldly sword deep into a large stone. On this sword called “Excalibur” he inscribed: Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born. Therefore, on the day that Arthur effortlessly pulled Excalibur out of the stone, he obtained the British throne.
KNIGHTLY VIRTUES
During battle, a knight was protected by his armour including a helmet, shield and weapon. The extremely heavy chain mail, which saved the lives of many medieval knights, consisted of around 20.000 steel rings. The Pen of the Year’s cap is reminiscent of the delicate structure of chain mail. Its matt, anthracite-grey surface is refined by a durable PVD titanium coating. The knights’ moral standards were shaped by military virtues, such as honour and courage, as well as by decency, humility and modesty. Thus the virtuous education of knights also strengthened their social life and ensured their noble behaviour befitting their station.
Myth and Legends
As Arthur wanted to avoid disputes about the best seat at the table, he introduced a round table, where no hierarchy existed and all knights were equal to each other. The knights who had a place at the lavish round table were Arthur’s most trusted companions. These included Lancelot, the most famous Knight of the Round Table, and Arthur’s faithful nephew Gawain, who is said to have been a giant of a man.
LIFE AT COURT
Life in medieval castles was tough and demanding for knights. Strategically placed, their construction was aimed at defending against attackers. The matt, anthracite-grey end pieces of the writing instruments’ cap and barrel are reminiscent of a castle tower’s battlements. They are refined by PVD titanium coating, which changes ever so slightly during use. The fine grooves on the barrel’s end piece appear like arrow slits. Another element inspired by knights: the top of the cap is adorned by the “heraldic cross”, also known as the “cross of hope”, as it was considered a symbol of hope in the Middle Ages.
Myth and Legends
King Arthur and his loyal knights lived in Camelot, where grand feasts were served on the Round Table. Galahad, Lancelot’s son, was another impeccable and faithful knight among them. His coat of arms depicted a unicorn as a sign of purity and perfection, and his shield was adorned by a red heraldic cross on a white background.
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THE LEGENDS OF KING ARTHUR
There are many myths and legends surrounding King Arthur and his Round Table. The tales about Guinevere, Lancelot and the eternal quest for the Holy Grail, in which Lancelot’s soon Galahad plays a major role, are only some of the many stories that make up the vast body of Arthurian literature.
A FIGHT FOR HONOR
A knight had to be ready to fight at all times, so his weapons were as much a part of his attire as his heavy armour was. In addition to the sword, lance and crossbow, the men fought using a longbow and carried their round shield as a defence. The long, tapered shape of the fountain pen and rollerball pen is reminiscent of a spear. Two grooves on either side, similar to the blood grooves on a knight’s blade, give this Pen of the Year its unique, elegant outline.
Myth and Legends
The Battle of Camlann is the legendary final battle of the Arthurian legend. Mordred, a Knight of the Round Table, abducted Arthur’s wife Guinevere and declared himself King of Camelot in Arthur’s absence. In the battle of Camlann, which marked the end of the Knights of the Round Table, Mordred fatally injured Arthur, who stabbed him to death with his lance.
THE ART OF FORGING
High-quality swords were essential not only for battles. They were equally as important as a weapon and a status symbol. Forged by master craftsmen, a good sword was considered magical and valuable. Damascus steel is rated as particularly hard while being flexible as well as shatter-proof and was used by smiths to forge knightly swords in the Middle Ages, too. Its extraordinary properties are achieved through repeated welding and folding of different types of steel, which also produces the typical iridescent and unique surface. The barrel of the Pen of the Year 2021 is made of steel with just these characteristics. Thanks to the resulting individual pattern, each writing instrument is truly unique.
Myth and Legends
At King Arthur’s behest, Sir Bedivere, Knight of the Round Table and only survivor of the Battle of Camlann, handed Excalibur over to Nimue after Arthur’s death. The sword has since been hidden at the bottom of the lake. The Lady of the Lake, who had forged Excalibur long ago in Avalon, had returned the sword to Arthur as a whole after it had been broken in battle one day.
UNIQUE MASTERPIECES
During the Middle Ages, knights used quills to write. The rutheniumcoated 18-carat gold nib of the Pen of the Year 2021 is available in nib widths M, F, B and BB. This edition is limited to 375 fountain pens and 125 rollerball pens. With the heraldic cross as a sign of hope, the precious Damascus steel, the pattern on the cap and end piece inspired by chain mail and battlements as well as with the barrel’s crowning jewel, the faceted garnet, the writing instruments embody the courage, bravery and chivalry of medieval knights. The exclusive writing instruments finished with anthracite PVD titanium coating are stored in a highly polished black wooden case. A certificate signed by Count Charles of Faber-Castell attests to the authenticity of the limited edition.
Myth and Legends