There is a running belief in design that preserving history means locking it behind museum glass. Taiwanese writing instrument maker IWI and the Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles clearly disagree.

Before World War II brought production to an abrupt halt, decorative majolica tiles were the ultimate status symbol across Taiwanese architecture, adorning rooftops, entryways, and ancestral furniture. Today, surviving vintage tiles are rare artifacts. Instead of letting those intricate geometric patterns fade into history, IWI’s new Laureate Old Taiwan Tile collection revives century-old motifs into an everyday writing lineup: a fine fountain pen, a smooth rollerball pen, and a matching trio of shimmering ink bottles.

Intricate Metalwork Meets German Engineering

The centerpiece of the drop is the Laureate Taiwanese Tile (ローリエート オールド台湾タイル) pen line. Rather than lazily slapping printed graphic decals onto a pen body, IWI etched the historical tile patterns into metal caps accented with polished gold plating, paired with lacquered brass barrels and coordinating jacquard-weave pen sleeves.

Laurieto Taiwan-themed fountain pen featuring gold patterned barrel designs and a German-made extra fine nib.

The Laurieto Taiwan-themed fountain pen will feature a German-made EF nib

The pens arrive in three classic symbolic designs inspired by the museum’s restored catalog:

Lucky Clover (幸福のクローバー): A cream barrel paired with soft floral four-leaf clover geometry, representing fortune and joy.

Sapphire's Blessing (サファイアの祝福): A deep lapis-blue barrel paired with symmetrical sapphire-colored tile motifs meant to convey blessings of health and enduring affection.

Chrysanthemum Brocade (菊の錦繍): A rich tortoiseshell-brown body wrapped in an elaborate chrysanthemum-brocade trellis pattern, symbolizing prosperity.

Cream colored ballpoint pen featuring a gold clover pattern on the cap and clip atop wooden surface.

"Luck Clover" Design

Blue and gold patterned ballpoint pen resting on a wooden surface next to a decorative fabric pouch.

Sapphire's Blessing Design

Black and gold patterned fountain pen resting on a wooden surface next to a purple chrysanthemum brocade sleeve.

Chrysanthemum Brocade Design

Under the cap, the hardware doesn't cut corners. The fountain pen model (¥20,000 tax-excluded) carries a German-made stainless steel nib, while the rollerball pen (¥19,000 tax-excluded) runs on a German Schmidt 888F 0.6mm ceramic refill for an effortless glide across the page.

Bringing the Page to Life With Shimmering Ink

If you’re picking up a pen with this much visual pedigree, pairing it with plain office black feels like a missed opportunity. To round out the collaboration, IWI launched companion 15ml bottles in their Color of Nature series, formulated as dedicated shimmering ink at ¥1,800 each.

Three Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles stationery boxes in teal, pink, and terracotta with gold calligraphy.

Colors from left to right: Noble Love, Lucky Clover, Flourishing Future

Infused with ultra-fine, light-catching metallic particulate, the inks mirror the three core tile palettes:

Noble Love: A deep teal-sapphire accented with reflective emerald-blue shimmer.

Lucky Clover: A warm, dusky terracotta-coral packed with golden glimmer.

Flourishing Future: A brooding sepia-chestnut that pools with radiant bronze luster.

Because glitter-laden inks can choke tight feeds, IWI notes these shimmers shine best with F or M fountain pen nibs, dip pens, or broad lettering tools.

Gold fountain pen nib writing calligraphy in blue, peach, and brown shimmering inks on white paper.

It's recommended to use the shimmering ink with nib size F, M, or larger

By pulling historic architectural craftsmanship out of the past and landing it squarely on modern stationery paper, IWI proves that everyday writing tools can be tactile, culturally rich, and endlessly fun to put to paper.

Where can you pick this up when it's released? Strangely, we aren't too sure. IWI has not released when or where you can purchase this new line of pens and ink. Their current website (https://www.iwic.com/) only leads to a YouTube video that leads into a crowdfunding page that successfully finished in June 2026.

Product Specifications & Release Details

Laureate Old Taiwan Tile Fountain Pen

Brand / Line: IWI × Museum of Old Taiwan Tiles – Laureate Series

Nib: German-made stainless steel nib (Peter Bock) in Extra Fine (EF)

Filling System: Cartridge / Converter dual-use (standard international) - Sold Separately

Body Material: Lacquered brass barrel with polished gold-plated, relief-etched brass cap

Dimensions: Approx. H 139.0 mm × W 15.0 mm × D 12.0 mm

Design Motifs: Lucky Clover (花見幸運 / Off-White), Sapphire's Blessing (寶藍安康 / Deep Blue), Chrysanthemum Brocade (金菊錦繡 / Tortoiseshell Brown)

Accessories Included: Coordinating jacquard-weave woven pen pouch

Price (Japan): ¥20,000 before tax (¥22,000 including 10% tax)

Laureate Old Taiwan Tile Rollerball Pen

Refill: German Schmidt 888F (0.6 mm ceramic safety rollerball refill)

Body Material: Lacquered brass barrel with polished gold-plated relief cap

Dimensions: Approx. H 139.5 mm × W 15.0 mm × D 12.0 mm

Design Motifs: Lucky Clover, Noble Love, Flourishing Future

Accessories Included: Coordinating jacquard-weave woven pen pouch

Price (Japan): ¥19,000 before tax (¥20,900 including 10% tax)

Color of Nature Old Taiwan Tile Shimmering Ink

Type: Specialty fountain pen ink with fine reflective metallic shimmer

Volume: 15 ml glass bottle

Colors: Lucky Clover (terracotta-pink with gold shimmer), Noble Love (teal-blue with blue-green shimmer), Flourishing Future (sepia-brown with bronze shimmer)

Recommended Use: F or M nibs, dip pens, glass pens, or brush pens

Price (Japan): ¥1,800 before tax (¥1,980 including 10% tax) per bottle