Namiki Limited Edition Emperor Size Maki-e Sailing Boat Fountain Pen

castle98 castle98 castle98 castle98 castle98 castle98 castle98 castle98 castle98 castle98     The "Shuin-sen"vessels were merchant trading ships with official authorization issued by the Bakufu government allowing them to leave Japan and trade overseas. These vessels sailed to the south of China and many areas of South East Asia including Indochina. As trade became common, more Japanese people emigrated to these overseas areas and built “Japanese Towns” where they traded. This system of authorized trading commenced in the latter half of the 16th century in the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (Kanpaku or Chief Advisor to the Emperor), and reached a peak level at the time of Tokugawa  Ieyasu (Shogun). It then continued until the isolation of Japan, which commenced from 1635. During this time, sailing boats without authorization were considered to be pirate ships and punished accordingly.  In appearance, these "Shuin-sen" ships were based on the design of the Chinese Junk ships. They however, incorporated some technical features of the galleons of Europe such as the rigging, rudder and stern areas. The forecastle featured a unique Japanese type of turret structure. These ships are said to have been a form of junk incorporating elements of Chinese, Japanese and European shipbuilding technology. The "Shuin-sen" ships would typically sail for about a month's voyage utilizing the northerly winter winds to sail southwest to their destinations. When they returned to Japan in summer they would use the southerly winds to fill their sails.  The Namiki Sailing Boat Limited Edition fountain pen is restricted to a total of 73 pens worldwide. The Sailing Boat depicted on the pens is shown braving the powerful waves on a vast ocean. The barrel is signed by the hand of a Maki-e artist and each fountain pen has its own unique serial number.A raised gold lacquer Maki-e technique is used throughout the pen. This involves rubbing away the top overlying lacquer layers to reveal the metal beneath and to create the design and image. The waves, the ship's hull and the sails are all crafted using various different raised gold lacquer techniques called “Taka (raised) Maki-e” and " Togidashi (burnished) Maki-e". The entire process of creating each pen, an artifact of consummate excellence, involves meticulous, painstakingly detailed handwork of a Maki-e artist. A precision 18-karat gold nib and superior ink delivery system ensure an exceptionally smooth writing experience.    To safeguard this exquisite treasure, each fountain pen is housed in a specially made urushi lacquered wooden box bearing the image of a sailing boat.  Total length (cap closed) :  174 mm (6.9")Total length with cap posted behind the barrel : 213 mm (8.4")Barrel diameter:  16.5 mm (0.6")