Chinese New Year 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon, which begins on February 10 and ends on January 28, 2025. The dragon is a symbol of strength, courage, creativity and innovation in Chinese culture, and the wood element adds flexibility, adaptability and growth to its energy. 2024 is expected to be a year of potential and opportunity for those who are willing to embrace change and challenge themselves. The dragon also has a special significance in Chinese mythology and history. The five-clawed dragon was reserved for the emperor and the nobility, who claimed to be descendants of the dragon.

This Visconti pen is crafted from gold-plated sterling silver, intricately engraved to depict the shape of an exuberant five-clawed Chinese dragon proudly standing among a background of small steam clouds. In fact, in Chinese culture, contrary to the West, the dragon is not associated with the element of fire as much as with water, steam and clouds. Silhouetted against a red background, a traditionally auspicious colour, the figure is further accentuated by the adept use of coloured enamelling and by a finely etched dragon-scale texture visible under a layer of semi-transparent enamel. To emphasize its auspicious power and nobility, Visconti designers decided to further enrich the look of the Imperial Dragon featured on the barrel by setting a precious red ruby in its eye. Even the clip detail was conceived to represent a golden Chinese dragon flying high over the clouds.

Even the box that holds the pen is a little gem of design inspired by Far Eastern culture, reminiscent of the octagonal structures of Chinese pagodas. The cover of the box features an elaborate engraving on a gold background depicting the imperial Dragon to which the entire collection is dedicated. A rectangular window allows a view of this spectacular pen.