Uncommon BY NICKY PESSAROFF Artistry · Uncommon AP Limited Editions beats the odds and creates...
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Uncommon AP Limited Editions beats the odds and creates success with a focus on art and culture. Uncommon Success Artistry, BY NICKY PESSAROFF 52 I t’s not uncommon for new names to pop up in pen-dom now and then, but it is somewhat rare for an unknown brand to demonstrate staying power. That’s one of the things that makes AP Limited Editions unique; the relative newcomer con- tinues to make some serious noise in artistic limited editions. Anuj Poddar, founder of AP Limited Editions, began his company in 2006, and the response was aston- ishing. AP pens quickly garnered a reputation among collectors and con- noisseurs for quality and craftsman- ship. But make no mistake, it’s taken constant hard work on the part of Poddar and his staff to consistently create fine works of art. “I divide my time between the United States and Singapore with frequent visits to Europe and other parts of the world,” Poddar says. “The travel gives me the opportunity to find inspiration in vari- ous different cultures and environs.” Poddar’s entire experience with pens is informed by culture. His love for pens began at age nine, growing up in India, where he was introduced to fountain pens. After relocating to England in his teenage years, Poddar saved his money for pens and dreamed of having his own pen line. However, Poddar spent years building his own collection, meeting other col- lectors and attending pen shows before finally putting the proverbial pen to paper and starting AP Limited Editions. Perhaps that is why AP’s pen offerings seemed so dynamic so soon: they were years in the planning. Essentially, AP’s production is divided between limited editions and one-of-a-kind pieces, and production numbers—even in the largest edi- tions—are kept low. For example, the Water Snake Pen, new this year in honor of the Chinese Year of the Snake, is limited to only nine pens. Total. Poddar says, “Our edition sizes are very limited, so our pens are very scarce and unique. Our collectors enjoy the fact that our pens are so rare and special.” Poddar understands the nature of pen collectors, and as a result, he creates a product that attends to every detail. “Our customers are discerning and understand the value of their acquisi- tions,” Poddar says. “We are driven by passion and the continuous pursuit of perfection in quality of the art form and technical features of our pens. We have constantly engaged customer feedback in our creations. Our pens are both works of art and perfect
Transcript of Uncommon BY NICKY PESSAROFF Artistry · Uncommon AP Limited Editions beats the odds and creates...
Uncommon AP Limited Editions beats the odds and createssuccess with a focus on art and culture.
Uncommon SuccessArtistry,BY NICKY PESSAROFF
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It’s not uncommon for new namesto pop up in pen-dom now andthen, but it is somewhat rare for
an unknown brand to demonstratestaying power. That’s one of the thingsthat makes AP Limited Editionsunique; the relative newcomer con-tinues to make some serious noise inartistic limited editions.
Anuj Poddar, founder of APLimited Editions, began his companyin 2006, and the response was aston-ishing. AP pens quickly garnered areputation among collectors and con-noisseurs for quality and craftsman-ship. But make no mistake, it’s takenconstant hard work on the part ofPoddar and his staff to consistentlycreate fine works of art. “I divide mytime between the United States andSingapore with frequent visits toEurope and other parts of the world,”
Poddar says. “The travel gives me theopportunity to find inspiration in vari-ous different cultures and environs.”
Poddar’s entire experience withpens is informed by culture. His lovefor pens began at age nine, growing upin India, where he was introduced tofountain pens. After relocating toEngland in his teenage years, Poddarsaved his money for pens anddreamed of having his own pen line.However, Poddar spent years buildinghis own collection, meeting other col-lectors and attending pen shows beforefinally putting the proverbial pen topaper and starting AP LimitedEditions. Perhaps that is why AP’s penofferings seemed so dynamic so soon:they were years in the planning.
Essentially, AP’s production isdivided between limited editions andone-of-a-kind pieces, and production
numbers—even in the largest edi-tions—are kept low. For example, theWater Snake Pen, new this year inhonor of the Chinese Year of theSnake, is limited to only nine pens.Total. Poddar says, “Our edition sizesare very limited, so our pens are veryscarce and unique. Our collectorsenjoy the fact that our pens are sorare and special.”
Poddar understands the nature ofpen collectors, and as a result, he createsa product that attends to every detail.“Our customers are discerning andunderstand the value of their acquisi-tions,” Poddar says. “We are driven bypassion and the continuous pursuit ofperfection in quality of the art formand technical features of our pens. Wehave constantly engaged customerfeedback in our creations. Our pensare both works of art and perfect
Le Cirque, an example of Russian miniature artand a tribute to the history of the circus fromAP Limited Editions
opposite, from left�Wisdom and Power,Ganesha 108 and Garden of Tsuru pens by AP Limited Editions
writing instruments.” The pens areeyedropper fillers, except in theWriters Series of Japanese lacquerpens, which uses converters. Thepens carry 18 karat gold nibs, and thecompany has begun offering roller-balls in addition to fountain pens. Anew draw is the company’s “bespoke”service, in which customers can specialorder one-of-a-kind pens.
Poddar’s staff is small: just a handfulof artisans on staff, a few special artistswhom Poddar has met on his travels,and his wife, Smita, who heads thecreative team and is responsible for thedesign of many pens. She and Anujkeep things simple, eschewing metalclips and rings for an aesthetic thatfocuses on barrel and cap.
The pens feature one of two maintypes of art: the ancient Japanese lac-quer art of maki-e, often with inlaidmother-of-pearl, abalone, gold, silverand other precious metals, or Russianminiature painting with its starkblack background, vibrant colors and
precise attention to detail. “Our pensare expressions of our dreams andexperiences,” Poddar explains. “Theyare inspired by our interpretations ofnature and culture. We create ourpens based on what we love and arepassionate about. When we come upwith an idea, we want the artists wework with to give us their best. Wegive them a great deal of freedom,and we almost always get more thanwe expect in return.”
That could be applied to the WaterSnake, a maki-e pen that features abrown snake slithering up an aquama-rine path, all atop lush black lacquer.The art is by one of Poddar’s favoritemaki-e artists, Tatsuya Todo, knownalso as Kosetsu. Poddar says, “Maki-eallows us to depict an idea in two orthree dimensions. It is one of the mostunique art forms anywhere in theworld. The maki-e technique used onthis particular pen and the manner inwhich the inlay is done is differentfrom most of our previous offerings.
There are more than 1,000 pieces ofmother-of-pearl and abalone used onthis pen. The minute detail can onlybe appreciated under magnification.”
This attention to detail is prevalentat AP Limited Editions, and thatincludes Poddar’s recruitment process.He works with artisans he genuinelyadmires and scours the globe for newtalent. The success of his RussianMiniature Art line is a striking example.Russian miniatures showcase pro-foundly detailed and colorful images,often on a flat black background. Theart form is closely associated with theRussian Orthodox church, whose iconsadorn cathedrals and homes alike. Theminiaturists Poddar works with took totranslating scenes onto caps and barrelsquite naturally. “Russian lacquer art isstrictly two-dimensional but shows upthe minutest detail and is vibrant incolor with no restrictions. The artist isable to capture still life or nature andwildlife in their truest form,” Poddarsays. “My wife says Russian miniatureart offers her ‘endless opportunities’ ofcreative experience, and we haveexpanded the scope and depth of theRussian miniature techniques byintroducing the rich art history of dif-ferent cultures,” he adds.
Above all, Poddar is passionateabout creating art that lasts. Like thecollector that he is, Poddar wants hispens to be cherished, and he has builthis business upon that foundation. Hesays it best: “It is a marriage of innova-tion, passion for art and perfection inwhat we do that drives our brand.”And that’s something to make somenoise about.
Visit aplimitededitions.com.
NICKY PESSAROFF is a freelancewriter based in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
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Commemorating the Year of the Water Snake, whichbegins on February 10, AP Limited Editions launchesthe Water Snake pen, a limited edition of nine pieces,featuring maki-e lacquer work by Tatsuya Todo.
The Blade of Magnificence pen in maki-e, depicting aneighteenth-century sword characteristic of British India;the diamond-shaped AP logo is seen both on the 18karat gold nib and on the crown of the cap.
Exclusive Distribution
According to brand founder AnujPoddar, AP Limited Editionsintentionally limits itself in termsof retail outlets for its pens. �Ourretail customers are very careful-ly selected,� says Poddar. �Wevisit each store to see what theysell, how they present the prod-ucts and how they treat theircustomers. Once we are satisfiedthat there is a passion and apulse that beats in the store, wepresent our pens to them.� As aresult, AP pens are sold in thefinest writing establishments inthe United States, SoutheastAsia, India and Europe. Recently,Poddar introduced a special edi-tion line sold exclusively atAesthetic Bay in Singapore.
