Bortoletti The Crown Fountain Pen

Founded in 1980 in Venice, Italy, Bortoletti Fonderia Artistica makes beautiful products for people who take pleasure in reading and writing letters. Among them is The Crown: a pen steeped in history and inspired by the kings of France. The bronze barrel and cap feature a repeating motif of fleur-de-lis, a symbol first adopted by the Carolingian rulers and later by their successors, the Capetians. During the reign of Louis VII from 1137 to 1180, the fleur-de-lis—specifically blue lilies against a blue background—became the emblem of both the French army and the French monarchy. Topped with a royal crown, this pen is a work of art you can write with. 

For the fleur-de-lis on the body of the pen, Bortoletti Fonderia Artistica uses a process called lost-wax casting. This method of metal casting involves creating a mold using a wax model and then pouring molten metal into that mold. Once the mold is made, the wax model is melted and drained way. Relatively uncommon these days outside of the best jewelry workshops, lost-wax casting results in intricate pieces with a very high level of precision.