Countess Mary von Faber-Castell: Bridging the Generations for Longevity of a Stationery Dynasty

CHANCES are high that anyone reading this article, had owned or still uses a writing instrument from Faber-Castell.

It could be that set of colour pencils you received as a child. Or that sleek ball-point pen in your pocket right now. One thing’s for sure; it is a brand that transcends generations and borders.

Faber-Castell's history dates back to 1761 in the town of Stein, just outside of Nuremberg in Germany. A carpenter, Kasper Faber started producing a small pencil factory, which little did he know, would become the world's largest pencil empire and one of the most successful "Made in Germany" stories.

Over here, its local outfit Faber-Castell Malaysia – which operates the largest eraser manufacturing plant in the world – recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Present were CEO Daniel Rogger and executive board member Countess Mary von Faber-Castell, wife of the late Count Anton-Wolfgang von Faber-Castell who helmed the eighth generation-owned family business since 1978, until he passed away last year.

"He was always so happy when people recognised the brand," the Countess reminisced.

"When waiting at restaurants, or checking in at the airport, he would look at the writing instruments on the table, (he'd) start conversations with people, asking their perceptions of Faber-Castell and if they are happy with the product."

Countess Mary, once a cosmetics executive for major brands in New York, met her husband over business. The late Count was on the lookout for new business ventures when sales of its once top selling product – the slide rules – fell off drastically in the late 1970s, following the invention of electronic calculators.

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