A couple of days ago I received a beautyful pen (as usual by Danitrio). It is a Takumi size Sakura-kawa in dark wine colour (I would say brown in colour). As any Takumi it is a proven design with a very handy size or a medium to big hand, very light and in this case it is fitted with a smoooth flexible fine nib which is a total pleasure. The pen is a cc filler.

Now the interesting part. The pen is finished in Urushi which is handled in a way that the surface resembles tree bark, in colour and in relief. Very well made by Master Masanori Omote, he adds as a bonus in the design a Maki-e cap ring that gives a very sweet accent to the pen.

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closed pen

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uncapped

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ring detail

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signature at the end

That is pretty! Great close-up photography!



Erick

Yes, thanks...

She is a very nice model indeed...

amazing how you get the photos so close up. Enjoy the pen.

Best,

Kevin

interesting finish. what material is it? how is the bark effect produced. it looks as though it has been burnt on. wonderful pen and finish. great photos as usual.

aurrida: it's urushi.

This pen in the blue is one I've been coveting for a while, even though it's outside my usual range of pen interests. I like the raised texture in particular.

First of all. thanks for your words Kevin, I always like your photos, you have this special sense of taste when composing. The closeup has no secrets, and as you know, lighting is most important. Then I use my D200 with manual exposure mode and manual WB and also manual focus, driven with remote shutter. As lens, a 108mm nikkor micro with all 3 Kenko extension automatic DG tube set. All mounnted on top of a sturdy Manfroto trypod... time... not to be on duty... some music... well, you know...

Regarding Aurrida's question, maybe Master Masanori Omote has the only answer to your question, or perhaps Winedoc could throw some light to it. All I know is that it seems to be formed by different Urushi coats and that perhaps some bubbles are left there and broken afterwards. Sounds easy, but sure it needs a lot of skill to obtain such a result with no flaws in it. The surface touch is smooth but with definite relief and very touch-friendly. It is a very nice pen in use and the sensation feedback is very nice.

Deirdre... seems that we uploaded posts almost at the same time ... All I can tell you is that I've been looking and thinking around this pen for quite a while. It is something unusual in apperance, texture and technique, and finally, this small but very balanced Maki-e detail. It is a VERY USABLE PEN, and this made me decide finally. It sits now in my pen pouch and comes with me everywhere. It sees daily use and is very pleasant to hold, feel, to look at, and most important, is a perfect writer. I cannot ask her more... could you? If you do not want to go for it, you better do not try it; If you do, you will be in trouble!

That's great to know. I've been most taken with this color (given my preference for blue-greens, no great surprise):



The texture reminds me of the birch trees in Vermont, though the urushi is actually of cherry trees. Of domestic hardwoods, I'm most taken with cherry wood; it has the most beautiful sap pockets and can have a shimmer and glow to it that is stunning.

All colours are really well done. The blue you have in mind is also very nice and looks very well balanced. The Maki-e ring also gives a very nice contrast with the blue (I have also a number of blues, including a Densho in blue Urushi... very nice). I'm affraid that the virus has bitten you, it may be only matter of time, first symptoms are clear... uploading pictures... dreaming about bark... and so on... You will not be dissapointed, that's for sure...

In my collection (modest in comparison to many around here) I may have prides like Danitrio Hellier, Wisteria and Swallows and the newest Peacock feather prototype, or quite a number of Deltas or Omas... but believe me, I had 2 days ago the Sakura Kawa in one hand and the Peacock feather Maki-e in the other hand. Both are absolutely beautyful and are at the same time so different that it is not fear to say that one is much nicer than the other. In my case, Peacock feather will see very little use, if any, it is too special to be risked. Sakura-kawa is a fantastic pen that can and should be used. By this way She will earn the money it costs which is very reasonable for the piece of art you have in hand. I like it... it gives me every time a lot of pleasure... what else could I add?

This is one of the nicest pens I have ever seen! The bark effect looks very real - I really owuld like to have one in my hands to inspect in detail.

My Takumi has a dark red urushi finish which is smooth. The pen is lovely. The pen itself is a wonderfully comfortable (for me) size, and Dani's nibs are a pleasure to write with. I can imagine that pen model with a textured finish would be even more fun to use. You have a unique and very aesthetic writing instrument. Congrats!

Thanks Frank.
Yes, I agree, Takumi is a very convenient size, absolutely comphortable to use and to carry around. My wife, with smaller hands, uses also a Takumi size and she feels very happy with it. I use to rotate between Mikado and Takumi size pens and both are absolutely a pleasure to use. Since Mikado has a bigger nib it is easier to think that it behaves very soft with its flex, but I have been surprised with the Takumi nib which, being smaller, is able to behave almost like its greater "sister". Both are a real pleasure to write with. About the texture, it takes us appart from the formal shiny and plain barrel and perhaps feels more friendly (not as cold) than the 99% of the FP's. It is strange, perhaps in a couple of months I can explain better the sensations it produces.