Caran d’Ache presents the straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition, 20 unique pieces available as a roller pen or fountain pen representing the 5th sign of the Chinese astrology: the dragon. Created in collaboration with the craftswoman Agnès Paul-Depasse, the straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition whisks you off on a wonderful journey to the Far East.
See the collectionWhat I found extraordinary about the straw marquetry is that there is a shine, a brilliance and a glint, making this material so attractive and unexpected!
Agnès Paul-Depasse
The Caran d’Ache straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition is an absolute gem. An amalgam of gold, Chinese lacquer and straw marquetry, this writing instrument is as refined as it is flamboyant, echoing the mythical creature it represents.
Caran d’Ache called on Agnès Paul-Depasse. Based in the Swiss Jura, this French cabinetmaker is one of the rare craftspeople to master the art of straw marquetry, lending each instrument a unique, iridescent appearance.
In 2024, Caran d’Ache is paying tribute to Chinese astrology, summoning up the wood dragon that is celebrated once every 60 years, just like its other elemental representations (fire, earth, gold and water). A symbol of wisdom, power and good fortune in Chinese culture, it is also a fascinating and terrifying icon in the collective imagination.
The straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition is created using rye straw, an extremely rare plant fibre: today, it is only available from one single producer in France. Worked patiently and meticulously by our craftsman, it is cut by hand and flattened using an ox-bone flattening tool. A traditional craft that produces a unique result every time.
Each instrument in the straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition takes one week to make, with almost 100 scales applied by hand, one by one, to bring the wood dragon’s body to life. Displaying a gradient of yellows in tribute to this fantastic beast, these blades of straw were manufactured following a strict process, from cutting through dyeing to application on the instrument.
Dressed in intense, glossy black, the Haute Écriture instrument is coated in genuine Chinese lacquer. Applied in dozens of coats by Caran d'Ache master lacquerers, guardians of an ancestral know-how, this plant resin – obtained from the sap of the Chinese lacquer tree (Rhus verniciflua) – lends this ultra-Limited Edition unparalleled depth and preciosity.
Like all our instruments finished in a precious material, the straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition is meticulously polished. This creates a unique lustre in intensely deep yet remarkably radiant black. The process gives the instrument an extraordinarily soft feel and outstanding writing comfort.
Elegant down to the tip, the straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition is enhanced by its fine engraving that reveals the fantastic beast, designed by Jean-Philippe Kalonji (Caran d’Ache ambassador). On the tip body and the clip, deep engraving brings the dragon scale motif to the fore, underscoring the preciosity and complexity of this exceptional instrument.
The straw marquetry Dragon Limited Edition is adorned with 18-carat gold plating, from the pen’s attributes to the creature’s body and right down to its paw, produced in relief thanks to a machining process lasting two hours. The paw has 5 claws, a distinctive aspect of a dragon that only the Chinese Emperor was entitled to wear on his ceremonial robes.
Caran d’Ache has placed each of the 20 straw marquetry Dragon Limited Editions in a majestic lacquered wooden box. This case is covered with delicate fan-shaped straw marquetry, highlighted by an 18-carat gold-plated frame.