Steinway & Sons was founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1853, and since then, the company has set the standard for concert-level pianos.
The Steinway & Sons Masterpiece 8x8 collection comprises eight grand and eight upright pianos in eight different precious woods: American walnut, eucalyptus, figured macore, figured sycamore, Macassar ebony, oak, olive, and Santos rosewood.
Each piano is hand-crafted in Steinway's Hamburg facility and features the company's trademark hand veneering. Each piano is finished with a precious pearl.
Steinway & Sons Europe President Guido Zimmermann says, "Each piano has a unique sound and rich quality. By using the world's most precious woods for this limited collection, we bring the personality of the wood type to life in a precious and subtle way that honors this natural material." As a bonus, each purchaser of one of these limited edition pianos also receives a hand-made writing instrument by Hamburg native and Montblanc former lead pen designer Jan Zander, who now produces writing instruments under his own brand, the Jan Zander Design Studio.
Zander met Zimmermann personally through his prior work with Montblanc. When Zimmermann read of Zander's embarkation into self-employment in a newspaper article, he contacted the pen maker about crafting these exclusive pens.
"A piano and a writing instrument have more in common than you might think. Playing and writing stimulate creative processes, feelings, and precision that have a lot to do with yourself," Zander says. "The model for the design was of course the piano itself. The body should be strong and round at the same time." Each fountain pen or rollerball is made from the same precious wood as the corresponding piano and in a matching veneer.
This story is from the October 2022 edition of PEN WORLD.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2022 edition of PEN WORLD.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)
On August 24, 2024, calligrapher Ward Dunham passed away.
The Black Pen Society and the D.C. Pen Show: Poobah in a Flower Pot
Do you like black pens? If so, you are probably already familiar with the fun, frivolity, and fellowship associated with the Black Pen Society (BPS).
Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show
Daisy and Neil Ni's twist on the traditional pen show is about community, not commerce.
"It Has Style:" A History of the Aurora Hastil (1969-1970)
The Italian pen company's experiment in modernism led to a revolution in late 20th century pen design. A two-part series.
GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit
With new collections inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Fender guitars, artisan John Greco is tapping into cultural trends.
Roterfaden's "Pocket Companion' "
The Taschenbegleiter hand-made planner system from German artisan cooperative Roterfaden features a modular organizational system that grows with the user's ambitions.
S.T. Dupont Takes the Iron Throne
The French atelier continues its forays into popular culture with a new, officially licensed Game of Thrones collection.
More Mail, More Dip-Less
The six-part series on dip-less (or one-dip) fountain pens garnered some major attention through its run from October 2023 through August 2024 (Vol. 36 No. 6 Vol. 37 No. 5).
David Oscarson: A Reflection
The artisan pen maker celebrates 25 years of luxury writing instruments with a new collection that harkens to his Art Nouveau roots.
The Parkette Hopalong Cassidy Ballpoint Pen
The Jotter was advertised as Parker's first ballpoint pen, but a novelty item that played on the Hopalong Cassidy culture craze predated it.
