The second design in the Signature Collection is the AL2 Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume (Tahitian Maiden). Launched in 2005, it is an elaborate composition, meticulously handcrafted by the Maki-E master Tatsuya Tōdō. It pays tribute to the legendary actor Marlon Brando and his beloved island paradise of Tetiaroa.

The AL2 Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume has been made possible through the fruitful collaboration of many players. These include the Estate of the late actor to whom the pen is dedicated; a Polynesian nature conservancy and education organization, Te Mana o Te Moana (spirit of the ocean), which will benefit from sales of the pen; the Parker pen company, which provides one of the pen canvas for the project; Maki-E artist Tatsuya Tōdō who renders his subject with depth and fine detail; and, finally, Classic Pens, who supplies the other pen canvas, brings everyone together and provides the creative spark.

The artwork portrays a scene of French Polynesia. Few things were as close to Brando’s heart as Tetiaroa, an atoll near Tahiti where he spent time between 1965 and his death in 2004 at the age of 80.

AL2 Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume on the Parker Duofold Centennial

The design is inspired by the work of French painter Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), who lived in Tahiti in his final years and often featured native women in his works. The composition depicts the tanned figure of a young maiden standing in a pond surrounded by water lilies. It showcases a variety of flowers native to the Tahitian islands such as red hibiscus, violet passion flowers and pink water lilies. The star of the design is the fragrant white tiare flower, which is rendered on the pen in pale lacquer studded with quail egg shell inlay. The sparkling water is portrayed by inlaid blue mother of pearl.

AL2 Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume

The decoration of the Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume combines elements of four specialized lacquer Maki-E techniques. The first is Togidashi Maki-E, which involves sprinkled gold dust between layers of urushi lacquer. This forms the background on which the rest of the design is built. The second is Taka Maki-E, which creates a raised artwork that adds texture to the composition. Many of the flowers and leaves are created using this technique.

Highlights of red hibiscus and violet passion flowers on the pen cap

The third technique is Raden which uses mother of pearl inlay. It portrays the reflection of light in water and in particular the sparkling pond where the maiden is standing. The maiden is painted in Togidashi Maki-E.

Highlights of the Tahitian Maiden standing in a pond.

The final Maki-E technique employed is the inlaying of quail egg shell to represent faithfully the tiare flowers. The master Tatsuya Tōdō creates each Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume design by hand before applying his signatures. Each pen in the series bears two Tōdō signatures – the usual one in gold and the second signature, the Red Seal, which indicates that the artist considers this composition to be an exceptional work of art.

Highlights of tiare flowers and leaves. Also the signatures
of the artist and individual LE number of each pen.

There is a choice for the canvas of the Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume. The Parker Duofold Centennial, one of the most celebrated pen models of all time and the Classic Legend fountain pen.

A letter of authenticity handwritten by Andreas Lambrou, which he signed with the Artist and Masa Sunami will accompany each pen.

The series is official and carries the warranty and after sales service of the Duofold or the Legend, whichever is the canvas of the design.

The pens are housed in hand made gift boxes specifically designed for the collection.

Handmade gift boxes in solid wood with a selection of finishes
to compliment the color shades of the AL Signature Maki-E Art Pens

The Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume is an original and unique design. It is completely hand crafted with natural precious materials. All pieces in the series conform to the same poetic theme, but each differs just enough from the others to be truly a distinctive work or Art.

The AL1 series comprised 100 pens, 50 on the Parker Duofold and 50 on the Classic Legend.

This design is no longer in production.

The design is an exquisite work of a Tahitian maiden depicted in a tropical setting filled with native Polynesian flowers – a fitting tribute to the legendary Marlon Brando.

The AL2 Marlon Brando Tahiti Musume was featured in Pen World International magazine Volume 19, No.1 2005 in an extensive article by Marie A. Picon titled Greenlighted. The article can be viewed on the Media section of our website.

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