Towards the end of the 18th century, horsehair began to enjoy a high status as an elegant material for chair coverings. At first it was woven exclusively by hand, but in 1872 the first mechanical loom for the coveted material was constructed. Its natural properties and the difficulty of processing mean that horsehair is still used for extravagant furnishings and luxurious fashion accessories.
The barrel of the 2009 Pen of the Year is made from the extraordinary and almost forgotten material horsehair, masterfully and individually woven by Dorit Berger - Germany's only remaining hand weaver. Horsehair presents a special challenge. The tail hairs of a horse are relatively stiff and short, and so cannot be spun to a continuous thread. They certainly cannot be woven in the conventional way. So as to create the filigree pattern of the Pen of the Year 2009, the hairs first have to be carefully selected for color and uniform thickness. Then roughly 70 hairs are woven individually for each centimeter of fabric. That is extremely time-consuming. Hair by hair, a weave comes about with changing texture, light and dark, that contrasts so excitingly with the cool platinum-plated metal parts of the pen – so that each one brings out the finest nuances in its own way. Every horsehair fountain pen is an absolutely unique work of art!
Each pen is individually numbered and comes in a unique wooden case with a beautiful brochure. An accompanying certificate bears Dorit Berger’s signature, attesting to the limited edition and certifying the quality and genuineness of the horsehair used. A special production with the hairs from your own horse was possible upon request prior to the pen selling through.
Fountain Pen - Limited to 1,500 pieces.
*The 2009 Pen of the Year is no longer available.
