The Meisterstück 149 Calligraphy Appreciation Thread

[digitorum- Leonardo_W]

On 6/3/2024 at 3:22 AM, fpupulin said:

 

My writing position prevents me using an oblique nib in the proper way, as I slightly rotate the pen (and nib) towards the right when writing. This gives me a chance to (involuntary) obtain narrower strokes from EF nibs, but also made the search for the "sweet spot" on obliques a very difficult affair. I never tried a left oblique, but it could be a smooth solution to the problem.

 

B, BB and I guess BBB nibs from the Meisterstück line are stubby. I suppose that they are meant for writing, not for calligraphy, as the horizontal stroke is not thin enough to properly execute medieval, gothic and "Italian" scripts. I can write - I mean, everyday writing - with a 149 BB nib from 1984, but this is probably the broadest line I can comfortably write with. BBBs are unknown beasts to me, and I regret not having tried one when they were available through the free nib exchange program. I understand that today, in order to have a triple broad from Montblanc, you have to go the custom route, but the premium to pay is steep...

@fpupulin I have only one OBB Montblanc nib on a Noblesse and I never use it, was wondering what was available. 

I always was holding my pen in a specific direction, and lately I am changing it a bit, what I try always to do is to hold the pen in a way where both tines of the nib are at same distance (or touch with same strength the paper) to avoid having a misalignment of tines. I think we naturally all impress our own touch on the pen. But in the last weeks as I am coming more opened to wider nibs, I am also more opened to changes on how I write (exploring). 

I could never use a O3B for everyday writing, or I would have to use a lot of paper and ink I am an EF guy 🔍

[fpupulin]

Back to the main topic, just to remember that is not necessary to own a 149 The Origin pen to take part to the celebration of Meisterstück's 100 Anniversary. Any recent or venerable Meisterstück will do te trick!

 

Here I am celebrating with the Meisterstück 149 Calligraphy and another 149 of 1984 fitted with a double broad nib, plus another group of writing paraphernalia.

 

First, I am presenting you the basic idea, which was mixing gothic and English cursive scripts in a reminder of the Anniversary. This first draft was done on one of my Moleskine notebooks. As they had to be written quite small in size, the gothic letters were done with the italic nib of a Parker Duofold Centennial MKII, filled with Graf von Faber Castell Cobalt Blue.

 

[fpupulin]

After that, I prepared a more elaborate version of the same idea. Here I used a special support, a paper handmade in an old French paper mill, thick enough to support the ink being spread with the brush.

 

Here, the cursive writing and flourishes are done with the 149 Calligraphy, while the "Meisterstück" writing was done with the BB nib of the older 149 (bi-colored nib). For this, I used a Parker Quick Red ink.

 

The rest of the bolder gothic letters are done partly with a brush and partly with a Pilot Parallel Pen with a 3.8mm tip, using the same ink.

 

 

Happy Anniversary, Meisterstück!

[fireant]

This is beautiful! Can you say the name of the paper?

[fpupulin]

On 6/4/2024 at 9:43 PM, fireant said:

This is beautiful! Can you say the name of the paper?

 

Dear @fireant, the paper is from a papermill near Bergerac in France, which produces hand made paper of superior quality. The name of the paper mill is Moulin de Larroque and the leaf I used, in particular, is part of a 10-sheet envelope (with accompanying envelopes) in A4 format, laid (Papier Vergé "Blanc"), for calligraphic writing. It is a real luxury for pens and inks...

[Inked]

On 6/4/2024 at 10:06 AM, fpupulin said:

 

Happy Anniversary, Meisterstück!

 

Well done!

 

Thank you,

Inked

[N1003U]

On 6/7/2024 at 12:53 AM, fpupulin said:

 

Dear @fireant, the paper is from a papermill near Bergerac in France, which produces hand made paper of superior quality. The name of the paper mill is Moulin de Larroque and the leaf I used, in particular, is part of a 10-sheet envelope (with accompanying envelopes) in A4 format, laid (Papier Vergé "Blanc"), for calligraphic writing. It is a real luxury for pens and inks...

It is your usual lovely calligraphy and photography thereof, @fpupulin!

 

Can you compare the ink-handling of this paper to, say, the Amatruda papers you also sometimes use? I am familiar with those papers. The texture of the French paper is beautiful.

[fireant]

On 6/6/2024 at 3:53 PM, fpupulin said:

 

Dear @fireant, the paper is from a papermill near Bergerac in France, which produces hand made paper of superior quality. The name of the paper mill is Moulin de Larroque and the leaf I used, in particular, is part of a 10-sheet envelope (with accompanying envelopes) in A4 format, laid (Papier Vergé "Blanc"), for calligraphic writing. It is a real luxury for pens and inks...

 

Thank you!

[fpupulin]

On 6/10/2024 at 1:35 AM, N1003U said:

It is your usual lovely calligraphy and photography thereof, @fpupulin!

 

Can you compare the ink-handling of this paper to, say, the Amatruda papers you also sometimes use? I am familiar with those papers. The texture of the French paper is beautiful.

 

Dear @N1003U , Moulin de Larroque’s leaf is “sort” of laid paper. I say “sort” because it has the marks of the “vergelle” - which should in fact be parallel to the short side of the leaf - but not those of the perpendicular “catenelle”. Amatruda has both marks, so it is a “proper” laid paper. Amatruda paper is “softer” to the pen, not only because it is only 80 to 100 grams- against at least 200 grams but probably more of the Larroque - but also due to the fact that the “vergelle” of the Amatruda are less pronounced. I would say that the Amatruda offers a better writing experience, but being lighter it suffers a bit with the bold ink load of a brush. For this, Larroque’s is better. 

But I feel that my Calligraphy - here she was inked with Diamine Golden Brown - much prefers writing on the softer Amatruda.

[fpupulin]

Paraphrasing...

 

 

Diamine Agate (grey) ink, plus fine-liners for the shadows (light grey and brick-red).

[N1003U]

On 6/10/2024 at 4:40 PM, fpupulin said:

 

Dear @N1003U , Moulin de Larroque’s leaf is “sort” of laid paper. I say “sort” because it has the marks of the “vergelle” - which should in fact be parallel to the short side of the leaf - but not those of the perpendicular “catenelle”. Amatruda has both marks, so it is a “proper” laid paper. Amatruda paper is “softer” to the pen, not only because it is only 80 to 100 grams- against at least 200 grams but probably more of the Larroque - but also due to the fact that the “vergelle” of the Amatruda are less pronounced. I would say that the Amatruda offers a better writing experience, but being lighter it suffers a bit with the bold ink load of a brush. For this, Larroque’s is better. 

But I feel that my Calligraphy - here she was inked with Diamine Golden Brown - much prefers writing on the softer Amatruda.

Thank you for the comparison of the papers. It makes perfect sense. Now I understand the difference. Amatruda is my standard that I keep handy at my writing desk at all times.

[fpupulin]

A little more calligraphy with the trusty Calligraphy...

 

 

Of this new version, still written with Lamy Crystal Agate (gray) ink, but this time on Fabriano Ingrés paper, I prefer the vertical orientation on the sheet (which makes it a little less "homemade") and the shadow projected further away from the writing, obtained with a lighter gray marker and tracing the lines of the shadow a little further away from the text strokes, to obtain a more raised effect.

 

Happy 100th Anniversary to all the members of the Fellowship of the Meisterstück.

[fpupulin]

A few lines of "gestural cursive", in Italian.

 

The flexible nib of the 149 Calligraphy performs flawlessly.

 

 

[fpupulin]

Paraphrasing Longines...

 

Meisterstück is an Actitude.

 

 

 

 

[fpupulin]

No calligraphy in this photograph of the 149 Calligraphy, just a celebration of the timeless beauty of the Meisterstück 149, here surrounded by other objects created by Montblanc for their Meisterstück collection. 

 

[Inkyways]

Lovely photo and thank you for sharing this again .

[fpupulin]

I'm bringing this old thread back to the fore, now that my Calligraphy has such a beautiful sister...

 

[fpupulin]

Here are two of my favorite Mesisterstück 149s, the legendary flexible Calligraphy and the more recent The Origin. I photographed them in what, in my opinion, is their "natural environment".

 

 

I notice, however (and I have always noticed), that Montblanc has not put any "special and permanent" mark on the beautiful Calligraphy. I don't think anything flashy, perhaps just a "calligraphic eight" engraved on the cap would have been enough, to be able to recognize it from the other 149s of the regular series. In the photo above, there is no doubt that one of the pens is "The Origin", but the other could be any of the other 149s that I own. It always seemed to me a failed choice on Montblanc's part.

[como]

@fpupulinHere it is, the most beautiful and meaningful of all the threads in this forum, still live and kicking after the years! Thank you again for being such an inspiration!

 

By the way, I agree and also wish that MB had put an engraving on the cap for the Calligraphy series. Now I have the Curved Nib too and I can’t tell the difference between the two! Same with the 146C and normal 146. The Origin looks different than all other 149s. 

[Mags]

On 6/25/2024 at 9:53 AM, fpupulin said:

Paraphrasing Longines...

 

Meisterstück is an Actitude.

 

 

 

 

Looks like someone has begun to perfect their cursive with lovely flourishing.  Thanks for sharing this inspiration.