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The fountain
pens by Namiki are delicate works of art, signed by their author, whose
motif, borrowed from the symbols of Japanese tradition, has been engraved
free-hand on copper-plate.
Each of the
fountain pens requires months and sometimes more of expert, loving and
minute craftsmanship. Such is the time that must be devoted to bringing to
perfection the ornamental grace, true to the Maki-e craft, mingling
polychromatic lacquers and gold dust.
The Maki-e, a
decorating
technique
patiently refined by Nipponese artists over the centuries, came to full
bloom in the 14th and 15th centuries A. D., when, as it was highly sought by
the aristocracy, it came to enrich the looks of the implements used in the
tea ceremony. Maki-e is part and parcel of the cultural heritage of old
Japan. It involves no less than thirty some different processes, that concur
in decors of utmost subtlety and unrivalled luxury.
Patiently and
serenely adorned following the rules of that ancestral craft, the fountain
pens sing in praise of a civilisation foregone. Only those to whom time is
irrelevant may decorate with infinitesimal paintbrush strokes.
One of the most
beautiful pens in the this series. The colour you are seeing is exactly the
same as the real piece. The rich colour of the gold dust against the red
face monkeys are fantastic combination.
Normally the gold
dust used are more yellowish but for this piece, the gold dust used were
more orange than yellow. As such it stands out from the rest of the maki-e
pens because of the orange colour gold used. Alot of gold dust used
here.
Sign by the
artist in the Kokko-Tai group
Close-up of the
first monkey - Speak no evil...
Close-up of the
second monkey - Hear no evil...
Close-up of the
third monket - See no evil...
One of the finest
nibs around - Namiki size 10 in 18k solid gold nib
I think this is
probably the only one in the Namiki series that I call it
"Adorable" pen. Reasons were because of the cute little monkeys
being drawn. Look at each monkey's expression ....they are really
adorable...
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