Caran dAche La Modernista Limited Edition Proceeds to families of lost Canadian soldiers Start Price USD 3,300.00 Current Price USD 3,300.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, July 18, 2008 End Time Monday, July 28, 2008 Location Richmond, British Columbia See more about 'Caran dAche La Modernista Limited Edition' Description  Caran d’Ache La Modernista Limited Edition La Modernista by Caran d' Ache of Geneva, Switzerland is both an alluring fountain pen and a valuable  work of art to be kept in your collection through the generations. The first pen of Caran d’Ache’s Collection Privee or Private Collection, La Modernista was created by Laurent Bruat and pays homage to Catalan Modernism. The pen is constructed of solid silver bathed in rhodium.  The blue and yellow diamonds are inlayed enamel.  Acclaimed as the most innovative and original pen by a panel of 100 experts at the Paris Pen Show in November 1995, La Modernista fountain pen became an instant sought-after rarity. There were 1888 pieces made for world-wide distribution. This pen is numbered 1103 out of 1888. The number 1888 is a symbolic date in the history of Modernism. 1888 was also the year the World’s Fair was held in Barcelona. The exotic designs and polychrome mosaics of the artistic Art Nouveau Modernist movement, which had its roots in Barcelona, inspired the creation of La Modernista. Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) was the greatest exponent of the Catalan movement and most famous protagonist of Modernist architecture. His work, greatly inspired by the theories of the unity of the arts and the use of colour and sculpture in architecture, continues to have a decisive influence on the appearance of present-day Barcelona. La Modernista is unique in every aspect from conception to production. Renowned silversmiths, jewelers, enamel and glass artists combined their craftsmanship with the technical savoir-faire of Caran d’Ache to produce this truly exceptional  object d’art.  Miguel Cunill, master silversmiths in Barcelona since 1916, developed the intricate hand-finished engravings on the pen body and co-ordinated the complex, ancestral techniques of applying translucent enamel to sterling silver. The startling blue and seagreen motif is obtained by depositing multicolored enamel powders on the silver surface. The enamel is then fired several times per side at temperatures reaching 830 degrees centigrade. Finally, the enameled surface is carefully polished. The resulting object unites the purity of silver and the brilliance of translucent enamel. Soler Cabot, Catalan jewelers of long-standing tradition, designed the shell-shaped clip whose design is reflected in the matching crystal inkwell. Lluis Venetos, a world renowned glass artist, created the shell-shaped crystal inkwell exclusively for Caran d’Ache. The fountain pen and inkwell form an inseparable couple. A work of art full of poetry which brings one back to the origins of life, to creation. The link between Caran d’Ache and the world of art dates back to 1924, when the company founder, Arnold Scweitzer, named his business in honour of his caricaturist friend, Emmanuel Poire. Moscow born Poire signed his work Caran d’Ache which is a French transliteration of the Russian word for pencil, “Karandash”. While Caran d’Ache likes to associate itself with artists it is always with the idea of adorning a highly perfected “Swiss Made” mechanism. La Modernista is a work of art that is both precious and technically perfect as one would expect a product coming from Switzerland. After a rigorous battery of tests the pen was hallmarked (sterling silver 925) and engraved with its individual number (in this case 1103 of 1888). Finally, the pen was galvanized with Rhodium to prevent any risk of oxidation. The medium nib is made of 18ct hallmarked gold and is also Rhodium-plated. This BRAND NEW exquisite LIMITED EDITION PEN & CRYSTAL INKWELL comes packaged in a luxurious CHERRY WOOD presentation box. The outer black box is included as well along with presentation book and original numbered warranty card. This pen has never been dipped, filled or handled ( except for this photography) and is still  in its Caran d’Ache plastic packing bag..  Proceeds from this sale are being earmarked to be donated to the families of Canadian soldiers lost in Afghanistan since the start of Canada's peacekeeping efforts in that region. Over eighty-five soldiers have passed and have left loved ones behind. I prefer PayPal from  a confirmed address.  If your PayPal account is not confirmed payment should be by Money Order or Cashier’s Cheque. Please contact me  in advance for clarification if uncertain. This is a larger and heavier than normal package and I will use fast and secure tracked FedEx shipping to destinations . As this is a charitable sale I will provide free shipping if the Buy It Now price is paid.  FedEx is extremely secure and reliable but if you desire to purchase additional insurance I am sure that can be arranged. Any duty and taxes that might arise for  the purchaser will have to be the purchaser’s own responsibility. Contact me if you have any questions or doubts before you offer or bid. Place a Bid!