Jump to content

What Is Your Favorite Color Of Urushi? And What Kind Of Urushi?


eloquentogre

Recommended Posts

In looking at and marvelling at Nakaya, Danitrio, and some of the more expensive Pilot-Namiki and Sailor urushi/lacquer options, I am utterly enraptured by the variety and beauty of even (honestly especially) the most basic options. Not the Maki-e stuff, which is a whole world of wonder unto itself, but the basic, "simple" styles. From the ultra-shiny burnished roiro-migake and tamenuri styles, to the really cool stone-like ishi-me kan-shitsu, to unpolished variants like irokeshi-dame nurippanashi, and all the other cool stuff that can be done with it like brush stroke patterns and the like.

 

So I figure why not start a thread about this wonderful stuff - just all the magic inherent to this style of pen finish. What are your favorites? What colors enthrall you. I am in the process of buying an urushi lacquered pen, and am simply (and most delightfully) lost in all the possibilities. I honestly haven't even settled on a basic color, as I marvel at so many of them. Sanguine sho-dame, golden-brown honey-like ki-dame, and deep, beautiful, dark green midori-dame at the moment are really enrapturing me the most (especially the green midori shades). But then I look at all the beautiful stuff that can be done beyond color and my mind just gets completely blown.

 

So, please, I know you all love to talk about, and marvel in these marvelous writing instruments that draw us together here. Let's talk about the Urushi flavor of awesome! I'm totally not trying to be an enabler here of course. Totally not. Nope! I would never do that!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 22
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • jmccarty3

    3

  • httpmom

    3

  • eloquentogre

    2

  • J85909266

    1

Top Posters In This Topic

Posted Images

My favorite color is Nakaya's Shiro-tamenuri, now discontinued. I was fortunate to get one of the last few pens in that color from John Mottishaw. It's a beautiful decapod.

Rationalizing pen and ink purchases since 1967.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have one and chose it because it's so simple and one of my favourite colours - MIDORI.

The Good Captain

"Meddler's 'Salamander' - almost as good as the real thing!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like em plain Fuki-Urushi for me :X if no one knows what that is its basically plain clear Urushi (since Urushi is known to stain black they have to find a way to make it clear or something similar could be just plain Urushi thats not processed and then polished with charcoal, though the plain clear urushi is actually a misnomer since Urushi is known for its brown mud like color as thats the color of the sap itself)

Edited by Algester
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are my current five. Three are Aka Tamenuri (one in Isime Kanshitsu), one(my first) is Heki Tamenuri, and one a Maki-e

 

Left to right are:

 

Nakaya Naka-ai Aka Tamenuri

 

Nakaya Naka-ai Heki Tamenuri

 

Nakaya Neo Standard Aka Tamenuri Ishime Kanshitsu

 

Nakaya Portable Aka Tamenuri

 

Platinum Izumo Yagumonuri Maki-e

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7B9268EC3E-42BA-4CBA-B2ED-71348802540D%7D/origpict/DSCN8169.JPG

 

http://www.fototime.com/%7BD2E89586-08C1-411A-B101-35A891670204%7D/origpict/DSCN8171.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

God, I love the shine of the Tamenuri, but I want so badly to actually feel the texture of the Ishime Kanshitsu

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am in love with the ao-tamenuri on the portable Nakaya Blue Dragon, which I own. But I don't know that I'd like a pen in that color alone. My next purchase likely will be a Nakaya in aka-tamenuri. Love that color!

Not all those who wander are lost. J.R.R.Tolkien

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't afford a urushi pen, but from lusting over them online, I really like the ao-tamenuri and heki-tamenuri.

 

Photos borrowed from www.nibs.com:

http://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Nakaya%20Pens/nakaya-decapod-writer-ao-tamenuri-barrel-detail.jpg

http://www.nibs.com/www/WEBSITE%20PICS/Nakaya%20Pens/nakaya-writer-decapod-heki-barrel-detail.jpg

Fountain pens forever and forever a hundred years fountain pens, all day long forever, forever a hundred times, over and over Fountain Pen Network Adventures dot com!

 

- Joe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me an Urushi pen needs to be red/reddish (at least the first ones...). That's the color I associate with traditional Urushi lacquerware from bowls, cups and dishes.

So I went for Nakayas aka-tamenuri and housoge shu with chinkin technique.

And I'm still happy with this choice.

Greetings,

Michael

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Saving for my first at the moment. Having done a lot of research and thinking on this topic...it's easier to say what color I don't want...that would be PINK.

"You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger darling.” "Forever optimistic with a theme and purpose." "My other pen is oblique and dippy."

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My favorite color is Nakaya's Shiro-tamenuri, now discontinued. I was fortunate to get one of the last few pens in that color from John Mottishaw. It's a beautiful decapod.

That's my favorite as well. I have a piccolo and naka-ai in shiro.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The decapod would not have been my first choice, but it was all that was left. The amazing stub nib that John did for it makes it one of my finest writing pens.

Rationalizing pen and ink purchases since 1967.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My favorite is the unpolished shu, and I'd like to get this color in a matte (hairline?) finish, but I don't think that's easily possible. I also love kuro tamenuri, heki tamenuri, aka tamenuri, and shiro tamenuri (the finish of my Negoro-style). Nakaya. My favorite model is the Piccolo. But I also love the Desk Pen and Naka-ai.

 

I have two Danitrios: Komori and Fellowship. I love the base red of the Komori and the dark brown of the Fellowship.

_________________

etherX in To Miasto

Fleekair <--French accent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My goodness but those are beautiful pens, Wichwatch! Simply wow! I like the Nakaya Naka-ai Heki Tamenuri. There really is something different about Urushi pens. I guess only the owners of such gorgeous pens really know how special these pens are so congrats to all the lucky owners.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me, it's the combination of pen shape and urushi color. I missed out on the Nakaya shiro-tamenuri. I would have loved having a Decapod twist in that color, if cost were not a consideration, which it is, of course. Otherwise, heki-tamenuri on a Decapod is very nice, and that was my first Nakaya. I do love aka-tamenuri and unpolished shu and shu. I haven't yet seen a kuro-tamenuri I really like much.

 

 

 

I currently have a Nakaya in aka-tamenuri and tame-sukashi on order.

 

 

 

I am looking at a lot of maki-e pens these days. Thinking about a custom order. (Thinking is a real bargain. Buying, well, that's another story.)

 

David

Edited by dms525
Link to comment
Share on other sites

+1 for the shiro tamenuri. I have a piccolo and a decapod in shiro and they are my two favorite pens, just very chocolaty and delicious. I also have an unpolished Shu Naka Ai. The nibs on all are fantastic (.6 stub, .7 stub, and .85 CI).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To me, urushi is red and black. And the Nakaya Aka-tamenuri is THE urushi pen. After getting this pen, my next favorite would the be the blue-purple, the Heki (dark green) is also very nice. I have an old ST Dupont with the lacquer finish in green and in navy. Both are a joy to hold in the hand. I think the unpolished shu would have this soft touch as well.



The Nakaya is the pen that really got me interested in FP all over again, before that I have 3 really nice FP for about 20 years. I never thought about buying a nice FP again until I saw the Nakaya. Before that I was fascinated by the high end Namiki but quickly gave up the idea of buying one when I find out the prices. LOL



I even planned to buy a new Nakaya every year since the yen has devalued. But this is getting nowhere as my new interest in FP led me to all kinds of new pens. But I think after I get a few more nice pens I would eventually go back to buy a couple more Nakaya. Good that I am not a sucker for limited edition pens. Otherwise I would spend way too much.


Link to comment
Share on other sites

for variety, and my only excuse to post here...

 

description heavily borrowed from a photo I saved long ago from Classicfountainpens, "The tapered shape of the Naka-ai provides an elegant surface for the painstaking chinkin engraving work involved in the creation of the Housoge Kikyo Platinum. Silver powder is carefully applied to the engraved lines, set against a dark blue Kikyo Urushi background.

 

blue is not my favorite color, nor is it the minimalist I prefer, but as with many objects of beauty the silver on this shade of blue, with its gentle shape, sings to me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dms525

"heki-tamenuri on a Decapod is very nice, and that was my first Nakaya"

 

Always love this color and pen style too.

Edited by httpmom

"You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger darling.” "Forever optimistic with a theme and purpose." "My other pen is oblique and dippy."

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Most Contributions

    1. amberleadavis
      amberleadavis
      43844
    2. PAKMAN
      PAKMAN
      33494
    3. Ghost Plane
      Ghost Plane
      28220
    4. inkstainedruth
      inkstainedruth
      26624
    5. jar
      jar
      26101
  • Upcoming Events

  • Blog Comments

    • Shanghai Knife Dude
      I have the Sailor Naginata and some fancy blade nibs coming after 2022 by a number of new workshop from China.  With all my respect, IMHO, they are all (bleep) in doing chinese characters.  Go use a bush, or at least a bush pen. 
    • A Smug Dill
      It is the reason why I'm so keen on the idea of a personal library — of pens, nibs, inks, paper products, etc. — and spent so much money, as well as time and effort, to “build” it for myself (because I can't simply remember everything, especially as I'm getting older fast) and my wife, so that we can “know”; and, instead of just disposing of what displeased us, or even just not good enough to be “given the time of day” against competition from >500 other pens and >500 other inks for our at
    • adamselene
      Agreed.  And I think it’s good to be aware of this early on and think about at the point of buying rather than rationalizing a purchase..
    • A Smug Dill
      Alas, one cannot know “good” without some idea of “bad” against which to contrast; and, as one of my former bosses (back when I was in my twenties) used to say, “on the scale of good to bad…”, it's a spectrum, not a dichotomy. Whereas subjectively acceptable (or tolerable) and unacceptable may well be a dichotomy to someone, and finding whether the threshold or cusp between them lies takes experiencing many degrees of less-than-ideal, especially if the decision is somehow influenced by factors o
    • adamselene
      I got my first real fountain pen on my 60th birthday and many hundreds of pens later I’ve often thought of what I should’ve known in the beginning. I have many pens, the majority of which have some objectionable feature. If they are too delicate, or can’t be posted, or they are too precious to face losing , still they are users, but only in very limited environments..  I have a big disliking for pens that have the cap jump into the air and fly off. I object to Pens that dry out, or leave blobs o
  • Chatbox

    You don't have permission to chat.
    Load More
  • Files






×
×
  • Create New...