As mentioned in a post some time ago, I would begin posting pictures of more interesting Japanese pens. This one has been posted before. Certain pens have an attachment to me and this is one. Came with inscribed wood box, it was a gift to/from a young lady in 1957. The earliest carved fountain pens shown in Nakazono's FPOTW date from the 1910s. I think the date is wrong and place them in the later 1920s. Regardless, carved writing instruments have been around for awhile.

The image is that of Mt. Fuji viewed from below a pine forest.

I have seen this pen in person, and it is even better in person.

Kev

Wow.

ok, I'll say it again.


WOW.

Absolutely astonishing!

Hey Stan,

This is a lovely pen, but I wonder if it was carved. In Japan, maki-e items are often stored away for long periods of time, and some species of Japanese wasps and moth larve like to gnaw on certain colors and types of lacquer. It is very hard to tell from the image, but the carving looks very rough and not what you would expect from an artist using chisels and gouges. Not like the clean carvings you see in the Kamakura-bori pens. On your pen It looks like wasps or worms ate away at the colors of lacquer they liked and left the rest.

When my wife and her father went back to the family farm and looked for the maki-e items they had stashed away in the attique, they found similar damage on some of their maki-e bowles and plates. My first impression was that the bowls had been carved, but then my father in law started swearing and cursing the wasps, and said that they were ruined.

Again I am guessing from a photograph of your pen, and it would be easier to determine in person.

Stay Well

RD

It is upsetting you think so and you are absolutely incorrect. It is a new pen, never used, with no damage whatsoever and was never makie.

The pen was highlighted in the Winter 2007 issue of PENNANT, the Pen Collectors of America magazine.

Here is is with its brother:

Hey Stan,

I am certainly not trying to upset you, or besmirch your pen. As I said it is lovely. Did you buy the two pens together or from the same seller? It was just that when I saw your image, it reminded me of similar damage I had seen on other maki-e items. Again, I am judging from a photograph and that is always a dangerous thing to do. I am sure your assesment is the correct one.

Below is an image of a species of Japanese wasp. This guy is a real enemy to maki-e. They have powerful jaws and like to chew up old lacquer and make a mush out it and then use it to strengthen the base of their nests. They are very picky and only touch certain colors or types of lacquer. In the image, the arrow points to the base where the wasps apply their lacquer work.



Stay Well,

Dr. Ron Dutcher
http'//www.kamakurapens.com

I have seen the pens in person, and they are pristine for sure. The photos does not show it, but if I remember correctly the signatures of maker are clearly seen and no damage. The pens are EDs andthe seams are perfect. The maker shown depth by carving it in different layers. Maybe this lead you to think otherwise.

Kevin

Often "hori" or carved part of lacquerwear has rough texture like stan's pen. They are done on purpose so that one can enjoy the different/contrasting texture from smooth finish on other parts. This is an example, from my Mom's cousin's urushi store. On this particular dishes the technique in the middle part is called Zoukoku-nuri. The smooth part is called Goto-nuri. I have some done by my grandparents but have to take photos later...



http://www.toumon.com/page/urusi/itiwadou.html
(The site is not, but the photos in the page are my relative's urushi studio, Ichiwa-do)

This pen is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the post Stan.....looking forward to more interesting pens out of your collection!

Nikolaos

Stan, the 'brother' pen looks like Negoro-nuri. Are the pens from the area?

It is very interesting to learn about the damage wasps can do to Maki-e and also to learn that pen artists carved into pens as well.

The pens are from Niigata, in northern Japan on the Sea of Japan coast. The artist was local. The pens were purchased from an antique shop by my brother-in-law.

At first I thought the mountain was local to that region. Miki had to twist my arm to get me to understand it was Mt. Fuji.

There is a dedication in the box to someone with the same given name as our daughter. For this reason the pens are especially important.

Very interesting pen(s), as well as discussion.

Stan, would it be possible to see a photo of the pen angled to show Mt. Fuji? I'm sure the line of the mountain is more steeply angled than 'normal' because of the tight surface space.

Hope this a better picture It is very difficult to get a picture of a design that is wrapped around the pen. We have a number of carved pens in the collection and have considered doing castings of the design rolled out. Just never got around to it. would have been interesting as the carvings are designed in a similar fashion.



BTW, the last two pictures are by Jim Mamoulides, of PenHero.com.
I'm sure there are no wasps in his photo studio. -)

Here's my suzuri-bako done by my grandfather and grandmother. They did not do carveing or construction of the box, but applied the urushi finish. My guess is it was made sometime in 1970's, as my grandfather passed away in 1978. Originally the red background was as dark as the trim of the plate in the pictures below, but as it aged the color lightened up and become more transparent. Sorry for the glare of the flash but I did not have enough light.


This is more recent production, as you might be able to tell the design and opaqueness of the red urushi trim. My uncle's company shaped the wood, but someone else applied urushi.


A close up of the textured part.

When we visit Japan we (at least, I am) are suckers for antique shops and flea markets. Have seen hundreds of different types of urushiware over the years and lusted for many. Have bought some in Japan and a few more on Yahoo Japan Auctions. Am always amazed at the workmanship, especially the patiance and time necessary to make these great works of art.

I may have shared this before. My wife's family was/is fairly high ranking samurai. They used to order new laquerware from Wajima and other centres throughout Japan each year for any festive occasion. I'm always amazed they would need to order so far in advance, then have the complete sets and all other assorted stuff trudged hundreds of miles to their home in the mountains outside Kochi. Reminds me of Saudi princes who buy a Rolls and drive it ten miles a year.

A few years ago we visited a shop in Wajima where we were shown laquerware several hundred years old that looked good as the day it was made. It was all very simple and monocolor. Painstakingly made by great masters, each step of the process took months. It may be difficult for a westerner to understand the beauty of a simple plate. Here I was, plate in hand, and could immediately bond with these great craftsmen.

Now, if I could only afford it...

Taki, these are so beautiful, I want to fly out there right now and pick some up! (might have to sell all my pens to do that, though.) That box is amazing, and I also like the photo showing the 'just finished' piece, and then the same plate shown over time (and explained on your linked website)--it's an amazing difference, isn't it? This makes me wonder just how Laura's first tamenuri pen has changed since she made the purchase. . . .