Since 1987, Recife, based in Chaville, France, has been crafting distinctive pens. Their initial designs established the brand’s signature aesthetic: a large, cigar-shaped pen made from swirled resin, featuring a unique clip and cap band reminiscent of 1940s Waterman designs. Recife pens are known for their large, open nibs that offer a soft touch and slight springiness.

In 1990, Recife pioneered the reintroduction of swirled colored hard rubber, creating patterns similar to those found in late 1920s Waterman pens. Two years later, in 1992, they unveiled Mystique, a flowing, vibrant, and brightly multi-colored hand-cast resin. This low-yield manufacturing process ensures that each Mystique pen is truly one-of-a-kind. The Mystique material quickly became the foundation for a series of limited edition pens, beginning with a long-standing collaboration with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

In 1996, Recife released theAndy Warhol Mona Lisa Limited Edition, a collection of 5,000 fountain and rollerball pens. This edition features a more subtle design than other Recife limited editions, utilizing only black and dark blue hand-cast Mystique resin. This choice of material and color palette was deliberate, intended to match the tones of Andy Warhol’s avant-garde 1978 Mona Lisa print.

As with all Mystique pens, each Mona Lisa writing instrument ishand-lathe turned, ensuring that every pen is a unique creation in both material and craftsmanship. The pens are completed with a silver-plated clip and a wide cap band. Andy Warhol’s signature is prominently displayed on the front of the band, while the Recife signature graces the back.