MONTEGRAPPA BRUCE LEE DRAGON 2010 LIMITED EDITION 556/888 ROLLERBALL PEN. Please read the entire description carefully before purchasing and feel free to ask questions. New Old Stock (NOS): The outer box is in great condition with only a few minor marks. The original Montegrappa ink refill is installed. Due to its age, the refill should be considered nonfunctional. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they are part of the description. Release Year: 2010 Collection: Montegrappa Icons Model: Dragon 2010 Bruce Lee Material: Cinnamon-red celluloid and sterling silver Limited Edition: 556/888 Production: 888 sterling silver rollerballs worldwide Model Number: ISICBRSS. Pen Weight: Approximately 106 grams. Pen Length Posted: Approximately 7 inches. Pen Length: Approximately 6.75 inches. Pen Length Approximately Uncapped: 5.25. Created to commemorate what would have been Bruce Lee’s 70th birthday, this special edition is a reinterpretation of Montegrappa’s celebrated original Dragon design, introduced in 1995. The Montegrappa Bruce Lee Dragon 2010 celebrates the life and legacy of legendary martial artist, actor, and philosopher Bruce Lee, famously known as The Dragon. The Original Dragon: A Milestone in Luxury Penmaking. Introduced in 1995, Montegrappa’s original Dragon was conceived as an ambitious union of traditional celluloid and precious-metal sculpture. Its development required more than two years of collaboration among designers, sculptors, jewelry artisans, and specialists in traditional Chinese artistic symbolism. Milanese sculptor Federico Monti worked on the original design, with cultural guidance from Chinese artists and Montegrappa’s Far Eastern partners. The Dragon represented a significant departure from conventional writing instrument design. Rather than simply decorating the surface of a pen, Montegrappa envisioned a three-dimensional sculpture in precious metal, enveloping the writing instrument while allowing the beauty of the underlying celluloid to remain visible. Celluloid: Reviving a Historic Material. Celluloid played an important role in Montegrappa’s early history, particularly during the 1930s and 1940s, when the company became known for its distinctive colors and patterns. Unlike ordinary molded plastics, traditional celluloid requires specialized curing, machining, and finishing techniques. Its rich color variations, depth, and intricate patterns give each writing instrument a distinctive visual character. Reviving this historic material was a major undertaking for Montegrappa, requiring specialized manufacturing knowledge and considerable precision. The Bruce Lee Dragon 2010 features cinnamon-red celluloid with contrasting black veining. The deep red coloration creates a dramatic backdrop for the sculptural sterling silver ornamentation. The Art of Lost-Wax Casting. To achieve the Dragon’s intricate three-dimensional metalwork, Montegrappa turned to lost-wax casting, a traditional jewelry-making process used to reproduce elaborate sculptural forms in precious metals. The technique allows fine details to be captured in metal, from the contours of the dragon’s body to its scales, claws, and expressive features. Adapting this process to writing instruments presented significant technical challenges. The metal sculptures needed to be sufficiently substantial and detailed to surround the pen while integrating with its underlying construction. This approach transformed the Dragon into something beyond a conventionally decorated writing instrument, bringing together the disciplines of fine jewelry, sculpture, and traditional Italian penmaking. The success of the original Dragon helped establish celluloid and lost-wax casting as defining elements of Montegrappa’s most elaborate limited editions. The Bruce Lee Tribute. For the 2010 edition, Montegrappa reimagined the original Dragon with a new color scheme and redesigned elements, including the pocket clip, dragon tail detailing, and cap top. The dragon holds particular significance in this tribute, reflecting Bruce Lee’s famous nickname and the traditional symbolism associated with strength, wisdom, power, and determination. The cap is crowned with a yin-yang emblem representing balance and the relationship between opposing yet complementary forces, themes closely associated with Bruce Lee’s martial arts philosophy. Rubies set into the eyes of the sculpted dragons add another element of fine jewelry craftsmanship. The result combines the historical significance of Montegrappa’s original Dragon with a commemorative design honoring one of the most influential figures in martial arts and popular culture. This Montegrappa Bruce Lee Dragon 2010 Rollerball is individually numbered 556/888. Founded in 1912 in Bassano del Grappa, Italy, Montegrappa is one of Italy’s oldest and most historically significant writing instrument manufacturers. The company established its reputation through finely crafted fountain pens, distinctive celluloid materials, precious-metal detailing, and traditional Italian manufacturing techniques. Over the decades, Montegrappa expanded its expertise into elaborate limited edition writing instruments, incorporating sculptural metalwork, jewelry-making techniques, and artistic collaborations. The Aquila family reacquired the company in 2009 after a period under Richemont ownership. Montegrappa continues to manufacture writing instruments in Italy, combining its historical craftsmanship with contemporary designs and collectible limited editions. Montegrappa Bruce Lee Dragon 2010 Sterling Silver Rollerball, LE 556/888. Original red inner box. Original black presentaton box. WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED. A working ink refill is not included. A compatible replacement refill is required before use. Storage: All products are stored in a controlled-temperature and smoke-free environment. Packaging: The item will be carefully packaged to help protect it during transit. Inspect the Photos and Read the Description in Detail. Please review the photographs and description carefully, including any noted imperfections. All photographs are of the actual item unless otherwise stated. Feel Free to Ask. Please ask any questions before purchasing or submitting an offer. Additional photographs may be available upon request. Actual colors may vary slightly due to lighting, camera settings, and differences between screens.
Tags: bruce, edition, limited, montegrappa, rollerball, silver, sterling
