Lee Kuan Yew’s Montblanc fountain pen fetches S$461,500 at Singapore auction

Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's silver Montblanc fountain pen sold for S$461,500 (RM1.45 million) at an online auction held by Hotlotz, exceeding the pre-sale estimate by nearly ten times. The pen, engraved "SM Lee Kuan Yew" and featuring gold-tone highlights and an 18K gold nib, belonged to Lee during his tenure as senior minister from 1990 to 2004.

Previously, the pen was sold for S$52,000 (RM163,800) at Sotheby's auction in 2003, which raised S$2.04 million (RM6.43 million) for charity. Another of Lee's possessions, a black Waterman fountain pen used to sign the 1957 Singapore Constitutional Agreement, fetched S$350,000 (RM1.10 million) in an auction. The agreement, signed in London, was instrumental in Singapore's self-governance.

Hotlotz's latest sale, titled "Interiors & Collectibles – August, Fine Art Focus," also set new auction records for local artworks. Chua Mia Tee's painting "Singapore Chinatown, Temple Street (1976)" sold for a record S$107,900 (RM339,900), surpassing his previous auction record of S$97,600 (RM307,400). Iskandar Jalil's stoneware vase, crafted by the master potter and Cultural Medallion recipient, sold for S$12,350 (RM38,900). Iskandar received the Distinguished Service Order during the National Day Awards on August 9.