San Pietro limited edition collection, Psiche special collection, Special collection Anni ’50 and Opera Series (Tosca and Aida models): no wonder if you’ve never seen any of these up to now… these four collections of fountain pens, roller pens and ballpoint pens are rarities manufactured by Marlen, a company from Southern Italy which is the thrill of collectors.
Announced some months ago, these very special niche pens are now available for sale in Giardino Italiano‘s website. A chance any true made-in-Italy pen hunter doesn’t want to miss.
Southern passion in a pen
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel]
South of Italy is renowned in the world for its genuine and passionate nature, irrational perhaps, yet engaging and compelling. Marlen, a company based in Sant’Arpino of Caserta, gathers all these features in its creations, very peculiar niche pens which have been a preserve of a few so far. They are true curios for collectors and for all those wishing to hold in their hands pens born by passion for details, history and Southern Italy lifestyle.
Pens available for some of these models are very few, as they were produced in limited series and are therefore scarce. Here you can find a list of Marlen’s best selection of pens…
True rarities: San Pietro Collection
A homage to Saint Peter’s basilica in the Vatican City, this pen collection is a true rarity and shows the Caserta mastery and passion for detail and chiselling in its vermeil silver insertions.
Prestige version includes 88 roller pens and 108 fountain pens with 18 Kt. gold nib and piston filling system; Deluxe version, whose fountain pens are of a slightly bigger size and feature a giant 18 Kt gold nib , includes only 18 items.
The ivory white celluloid is divided from other Italian resin colors by small sterling silver rings, which define cap and body in different quantity, depending of the model: 5 on the Prestige barrel, 7 on the Deluxe barrel.
The central band, in silver and vermeil, depicts the perspective design of St. Peter’s Square with the Basilica. The pattern on background recalls an old paving material design.
The clip is made in vermeil (gold plated sterling silver) and represents the Moses’ rod.
Prices and availability in Giardino Italiano
The classic: Tosca and Aida
Talking of art-inspired pens, the Opera series is surely worth a mention. As its name suggests, this is dedicated to one of the Italian finest arts in the world: classic opera. Tosca (above photo) and Aida (below) , dedicated to Giacomo Puccini’s and Giuseppe Verdi’s most famous operas, are part of this collection.
Tosca features a white cap and black body: love and death, light and gloom, like the Puccini’s tragic opera.
Aida pens hold the Egypt’s light and the love between Radames and Aida, who bravely face death. The clip, setted with gems, enlights the white celluloid body, in three versions: fountain pen, roller, ballpen.
Their luxury details convey, once again through silvery details, a sense of belonging to Italy by passions and love stories.
Prices and availability: Tosca and Aida
Vintage series: Anni ’50
For those in love with a fashionable vintage style, the Fifties Special Collection perfectly outline Italian postwar style: coloured yet elegant, the pens belonging to this collection immediately recall the years of rock’n’roll, blue jeans and women’s freedom, pin ups and bikinis. Dwo polka dotted versions are available, in white or red.
Prices and availability in Giardino Italiano
Cutting edge: Psiche Special Collection
Another very peculiar series of pen, modern yet inspired to Eastern ancestral cultures, is Psiche Special Collection. Made in cooperation with psychotherapist Sonia Rosaria Petrosino, this pen collection goes shape to the therapeutic technique of Biofeedback.
The pen’s body has got a shot deep blue and indigo livery, recalling the Third Eye chakra, enriched by a silver 925 ring, clip and head. The fountain pen belonging to this collection is available in two different versions: steel nib and iridium tip as a standard, or, on request, with a 14 k gold nib.
Prices and availability in Giardino Italiano
Where you can find them…
Full details on Marlen’s pens and collections are available in Giardino Italiano‘s website: catch your pen now… this brand is going to become one of the outstanding made-in-Italy icons soon.