The Pen of the Year 2023 is inspired by ancient Egypt, its 3,000-year-old history, its gods and goddesses, its mythology and its achievements. The decorative elements of the Pen of the Year 2023 are testaments to the origins of the Kingdom of Egypt, the pharaohs, their hieroglyphs and symbols.The black colour of the barrel of the Pen of the Year 2023 represents the annual flooding of the earth by the silt of the Nile, which fertilised the ground. Stylised lotus flowers representing rebirth and the engraved hieroglyphs of twelve ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses adorn the metal barrel, which is designed in a matt finish with a highly resistant diamond-like carbon coating. 24-carat-gold-plated metal rings and high-gloss blue painted rings that call to mind the mask of Tutankhamun adorn the grip of the writing instrument. The 18-carat gold nib promises unique writing pleasure. A 24-carat-gold-plated metal plate in the end cap features the engraved Eye of Horus, a symbol of protection in ancient Egypt. The shape of the cap is reminiscent of the headdress of Nefertiti, one of the most important and powerful rulers of ancient Egypt.A reconstructed lapis lazuli with an engraved scarab symbolising the sun as a lucky charm is inlaid in the end piece of the cap. A lot has been passed down to us from ancient Egypt over thousands of years. But we are also presented with mysteries and fascinated by the era to this day. The fact that we have been able to unlock a few secrets is mainly thanks to the hieroglyphs, the artful writing system that enabled ancient Egypt to evolve into an advanced civilisation.The exclusive ancient Egypt edition of the POTY 2023 is limited to 375 fountain pens and 125 rollerball pens.

Plunger-type fountain pen with handmade 18-carat magnum gold nib
Available in nib widths M, F, B and BB (please contact us directly if your preferred nib width is currently not available to order)
Eye of Horus engraved in a 24-carat-gold-plated metal plate on the end piece
The lotus flower, a symbol of regeneration and rebirth, provides the inspiration for the delicately engraved pattern on the end piece
Ornate hieroglyphs adorn the barrel of the Pen of the Year 2023: the names of twelve myth-enshrouded ancient Egyptian deities are engraved in the barrel
The barrel is made of diamond-like carbon-coated metal
The cap of the Pen of the Year 2023 is modelled on the bust of Nefertiti
Reconstructed lapis lazuli with an engraved scarab representing life and rebirth inlaid in the end piece of the cap
24-carat-gold-plated metal rings and blue painted rings that call to mind the mask of Tutankhamun
Limited to 375 pieces
All writing instruments are individually numbered
Comes in a black, highly polished wooden case (including brochure and certificate of authenticity)
The fountain pen comes with lapis lazuli ink in a bottle with a limited-edition design
Additional insert in the case offers space for six other writing instruments

Crown

“Description is useless, must be seen. Words cannot portray the impression left by this work of art,” noted Ludwig Borchardt when he discovered the bust of Nefertiti, one of the most iconic ancient Egyptian artworks, in 1912. The delicate bust of Nefertiti, whose name can be translated as “The Beautiful Woman has Come”, was crafted in around 1340 BC. The cap of the Pen of the Year 2023 is modelled on the striking shape of the blue crown (altiyjan) that the bust of Nefertiti is so famous for. Headdresses were significant in ancient Egypt. In addition to the blue khepresh, the pharaohs’ war crown, there was the red deshret, the Crown of Lower Egypt; the white hedjet, the Crown of Upper Egypt; and the Atef crown, a combination of the deshret and hedjet. Nefertiti’s tall cap-crown shape was rare. It is a symbol of Nefertiti’s position of power, which was at least equal to, if not higher than, her husband Akhenaten.

Lotus

The lotus flower (seshen), which represented regeneration and rebirth in ancient Egypt, provided the inspiration for the delicately engraved pattern on the end piece of the Pen of the Year 2023. The blue lotus – whose petals close up every day and sink into the water as the sun goes down, only to rise up once again as the sun comes back up – was highly revered in the ancient world. As one of the most significant symbols, the delicate plant graced alabaster vessels, jewellery, paintings and columns, and was used as a hieroglyph, often in connection with the gods.

Gold

In ancient Egypt, gold (nebu) was the symbol of power and wealth, and only the pharaohs were allowed to adorn themselves with it. Impressive pieces of jewellery, tools, vessels and masks made of gold are a testament to ancient Egypt as the most opulent land of gold in the ancient world. The peak of the Golden Age came under Akhenaten and Tutankhamun in around 1300 BC. Gold was also an emblem of the gods. Horus, often depicted as a falcon, was considered to be one of the most important gods. His famous Eye of Horus was found on amulets, coffins and funerary objects as a protective symbol. The mathematical proportions of the eye were also used for dosing ingredients when making medicine. Engraved in a 24-carat-gold-plated metal plate, the end piece of the Pen of the Year 2023 is also decorated with the Eye of Horus.

Hieroglyphs

Ornate hieroglyphs (medu neter) adorn the metal barrel of the Pen of the Year 2023: The names of twelve ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses are engraved in the diamond-like carbon coating on the metal. Hieroglyphs are considered to be the oldest form of Egyptian writing, with around 7,000 of them having been passed down to us. For more than 3,500 years, hieroglyphs were mainly used for rituals or religious purposes, but also to pass down knowledge from generation to generation. This writing system was the key to ancient Egypt evolving into an advanced civilisation and them being able to govern their territory. We are only able to decipher the detailed symbols today thanks to the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1822 – the impressive slab is inscribed in three different languages.

Scarab

The inlaid, reconstructed blue lapis lazuli engraved with a scarab (cheperer) shines bright in the end piece of the Pen of the Year 2023’s cap. The beetle was sacred in ancient Egypt and was seen as a lucky symbol on amulets, seals and coffins as well as a symbol of the sun that represented life and rebirth. Whenever the Nile rose above its banks, the beetles would move away from the water and represent an early signal to the people of the eagerly anticipated flood. The deep blue of the lapis lazuli was a new colour back then that became associated with water and the divinity of the night sky. It was used for lavish jewellery pieces, the pharaohs’ clothing and relics. The royal blue in the mask of Tutankhamun is striking, as is the blue make-up of Cleopatra, who saw herself as the embodiment of the goddess Isis.

Pharaohs

The mask of Tutankhamun, one of the most famous and impressive finds from ancient Egypt, weighs a massive 12 kilos. The grip of the Pen of the Year 2023 is inspired by the stripes of gold and lapis lazuli as seen on the pharaoh's (per-aa) nemes head cloth. 24-carat-gold-plated metal rings and blue rings meticulously hand-painted with several coats call to mind the valuable headdress reserved solely for the pharaohs. Tutankhamun’s burial chamber, which was lined with pure gold, was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922. It contained many artefacts, including his gold throne and a chariot. As an important part of the Egyptian belief system, embalming and mummifying the body was part of the ceremony to enter the afterlife.

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