THE PELIKAN ART COLLECTION CONTINUES WITH A MASTERPIECE INSPIRED BY HISTORIC POSTER ART FROM GEORG TIPPEL .
Following the success of the previous editions, Pelikan proudly presents the third chapter of the Pelikan Art Collection: THE SOUVERÄN M600 PELIKAN ART COLLECTION GEORG TIPPEL.
This Special Edition reinterprets a defining artwork from Pelikan’s early visual heritage and transforms it into a contemporary writing instrument. At the heart of this edition lies Tippel’s 1899 poster Grundfarben, created for Pelikan’s first poster competition. His work exemplifies the powerful dialogue between artistic expression and brand communication at the dawn of modern advertising. Characterized by a clear visual language and strong symbolic meaning, the motif conveys values that continue to shape Pelikan’s identity today. By transferring a historic work of advertising art onto the barrel of the fountain pen, this edition continues Pelikan’s tradition of transforming cultural heritage into objects of writing art - a masterpiece reimagined for the present.
At the turn of the 20th century, the close relationship between art and commerce gave rise to a new artistic discipline: advertising art. Visionary avant-garde artists such as El Lissitzky and Kurt Schwitters created commercial works using Pelikan inks, establishing a visual culture that continues to define the brand’s heritage. This artistic tradition was shaped by Fritz Beindorff, whose vision united entrepreneurial innovation with a deep appreciation for fine art. His initiative to launch Pelikan’s first poster competition in 1898/99 laid the foundation for a lasting dialogue between design, craftsmanship and brand identity - a tradition that now spans more than a century. The works created for these competitions form the basis of today’s Pelikan Art Collection. They reflect the richness of artistic movements and preserve a unique cultural legacy, now reinterpreted for a new generation of collectors and writers.
Symbolism and Meaning
Tippel’s Grundfarben presents the pelican as a nurturing parent caring for its young - a symbol rooted in historical legend and long associated with devotion, responsibility and trust. For Pelikan, this imagery expresses a core philosophy: care for customers, partners and generations to come.
Through form, colour and composition, Tippel transformed a commercial poster into
a narrative image of enduring resonance. His work communicates not only a product,
but a set of values - continuity, responsibility and commitment - that remain central to Pelikan today.
