The following two pens were hammered down yesterday.

The first is an urushi clad Platinum from the 1970s that was won by a fellow FPNer with a high bid of Y12,5000 that was made through Shopping Mall Japan. There were only two bids for the pen. A small chip at the base of the cap may be the cause. The design is created by coating the pen with multiple colors or urushi and rubbing it down in a pattern to expose the layers under the finish coating.


Although not sterling (not marked and mine never oxidizes - might be plate!), the mirrored facetted appearance the pen has helped make it high on many collectors lists. At Y25, 010 in used (how used???)condition, one might guess what it would be worth new and with tag. There is a sister (brother?) model that emulates the appearance of bamboo that has been for sale once in awhile on the Bay and, I faintly recall, another with smaller more diamond-like shaped facets..

Hi Stan,

I won the Platinum urushi. I bid and thought that i wasn't going to win it but i did. The chip seems really tiny on the photo so i thought it was worth a go. I really like the pattern on it. I will post some better photos of it once i receive it

Nikolaos

I've had a few of these Platinum pens with the shaved(?) urushi that really should be considered kamakura-bori, as they are in that spirit. Every one has been fantastic. Great buy!!!!

Stan / DocNib

With regards to Sterling, Gold and Platinum writing instruments does the Japanese manufacturers hallmark their pens or have a readily identifiable assey mark? As when you were discussing a Fountain Pen constructed using platinum (Seen here) other than experience, and quality issues, how easy would it be to recognise or distinguish genuine or counterfeit items.

Thanks

Shane

Shane.
That is an important question on which I will shed some light.

All gold pens, bands and clips included, are marked with the appropriate karats, e.g., 14K being the most common although some earlier pens were 9K. Gold filled pens are generally marked R14K, meaning rolled 14K gold, that is supposed to be a thicker layer. Some are marked such but, it would seem to only be a wash of gold that wears off soon. Pilot used the term 22K AGM to note some parts of their Custom Grandee were gold plated.

In the 1950s, smaller companies used terms such as LINE GOLD. These appear to be gold and, if so, were an extremely thin layer of minimal value. For the most part, they seem to wear well as the gold may have been electrostatically deposited.

In the 1950s, there were numerous examples of models by smaller companies that are gold-plated and do not bear any marking.

Silver is always marked as SILVER, STERLING SILVER, COIN SILVER, 925, or with the character kin. there are no requirements for pens of silver plate, such as some Platinum Rivieres. Being marked SILVER does not mean the entire pen is silver. Bands on Pilot Silvern are not silver and are chrome plate, for example.

This subject demands further exploration and seems a great topic for my website. Will give this consideration.

Thanks for the alert, Stan -- and congrats to you Nikolaos for nabbing the Platinum. I have seen that urushi pattern before and I think your winning bid was definitely worthwhile. Nice going!

I really like that faceted Custom, although $235USD seems like a bit much for used condition... although if the body is in excellent shape, the nib section can always be swapped out. I have the bamboo Elite variant and the way it catches the light is pleasantly distracting.





~Gary

Nikolaos, Congrats on the beautiful tsui-shu(堆朱) pen

Thank you Taki, Stan and Gary for your comments.

I will post some photos of the pen once it is in my hands

nikolaos