Montegrappa Invito a La Traviata Sterling Silver Limited Edition Fountain Pen, 2010

To celebrate Italy's most elegant and noble native art form, born at the end of the 16th Century, Montegrappa pays tribute to much-loved operas through the "Emozioni in Musica" collection of writing instruments. Previously-released pens in the series have honoured La Traviata and Il Barbiere di Siviglia. The third to be celebrated by Montegrappa is Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto, an opera in three acts.

First performed at the famous La Fenice opera house in Venice on 11 March 1851, Rigoletto reached its debut despite initial problems with the Austrian censors who had control over northern Italian theatres at the time. The premiere was a triumph, regardless of any controversy, and is considered by many to be the first of the masterpieces of Verdi's middle-to-late career.

An immediate success, Rigoletto enjoyed the equivalent of a 'smash hit" , as the Duke's cynical aria, "La donna Š mobile" was sung in the streets the next morning. A great box-office success for La Fenice, it was Verdi's first major Italian triumph since the 1847 premiere of Macbeth in Florence. Rigoletto's initial run of 13 performances was revived in Venice the following year, and again in 1854.

Rigoletto now features in all lists of great operas, a staple of the operatic repertoire. Between 2006 and 2010, it was the sixth most frequently performed opera in Italy.

Says Montegrappa CEO Giuseppe Aquila, "We are delighted to have this truly special pen recognized by the panel that determines what is included in "The Best of the Best". To be ranked with houses of the caliber of Brioni, Hermés, Ferrari, Piaget, Bulgari, Rolls-Royce, Ducati, Gulfstream, Porsche and others at the top of their field is an honor that acknowledges Montegrappa and our designers, engineers, along with every craftsperson who participated in Rigoletto'screation."

Montegrappa Invito a Rigoletto Sterling Silver Fountain Pen
Emozioni in Musica Collection 
Limited Edition of 900

With an eye to the spirit of the eponymous player that it commemorates, the design of the Rigoletto pen immediately recalls the attire of the traditional court jester, a harlequin pattern of red, white and black diamond shapes that can be attributed to no other character. The body and the all-red cap are made of resin, the body itself requiring the use of the diffusion bonding technique to create its mosaic effect. All trims are made of solid silver.

A handmade black and red glass "murrina” on top of the red cap was inspired by the puffy sleeves and pantaloons that comprise a harlequin's garb, while the pocket clip is d in the manner of the jester's footwear. Engraved into the ring that secures the pocket clip is a pattern that recalls the by jesters, with triangular extensions ending in little bells.

For the ring encircling the body, where the threads appear, Montegrappa'sartisans have etched a pattern to denote the type of belt worn by a jester. Montegrappa's logo is engraved around the wide ring at the bottom of the cap. 

Materials: resin, sterling silver, murrina 
Nib: 18K gold Medium grade nib 
Fountain pen filling systems: converter, cartridge 
Launched in 2013 and is a SOLD OUT edition
Edition size 900
Brand new item, never been used.
It is housed in the special Montegrappa Invito a Rigoletto Limited Edition gift packaging with warranty booklet.
SKU: ISRGNRGR