Custom Carved Wood Japanese Fountain Pens By Artist Shoukei

[PenHero]

Hi, folks,

This is a custom carved wood Japanese pen by artist Shoukei, depicting Mount Fuji and pine trees, c1957. The pen was covered with clear Urushi lacquer before it was carved.

http://penhero.com/Temp/Shoukei_1280_01.jpg

The box is made of pawlonia wood and hand decorated.

It was really eye opening to see how many different decorating techniques were used on Japanese pens.

An unused photo from the article, “Collecting Japanese Pens,” by Stan Klemanowicz, in the Winter 2006 Pennant.

Thanks!

[Aditkamath26]

That is beautiful. Would love if you would review it with more pics. Can you show the nib?

[PenHero]

I'll post some more showing the nib later this week.

 

Thanks!

[da vinci]

I'll post some more showing the nib later this week.

 

Thanks!

I will look forward to that Jim. This pen looks fabulous...

[hawpunch]

Simply stunning! I would like to see more pictures as well. I am constantly impressed with Japanese artisans when it comes to fountain pens, especially customs. Hakase continues to be the leader in my opinion.

[PenHero]

Hi, folks,

This is a photo of two custom carved wood Japanese fountain pens by artist Shoukei, c1957, hand carved from clear urushi coated plum and olive wood. The left pen depicts a demon mask (hannya) and the right pen is a front view of the Mount Fuji and pine trees pen I posted earlier. You can see the nib on the open pen.

http://penhero.com/Temp/Shoukei_1280_02.jpg

Note the Yotsubishi four diamond clip on the left pen. The boxes are hand decorated pawlonia wood. This photo was used in the Winter 2006 Pennant article, “Collecting Japanese Pens,” by Stan Klemanowicz.

Thanks!

[alterego]

Wow these are beautiful pens. I've noticed several Japanese makers seem to use this same clip design. It makes me assume that, like the Warranted nibs, these clips were available to the small manufacturers (for use and modification). I'd like to learn more about these standardized parts in Japanese pens.

[stan]

As in any industry, there are suppliers that provide essential parts for final assembly. No resource exists to my knowledge that describes or lists all of the suppliers to the fountain pen industry. Myriad design and inscriptions are found on nibs from the 1930s through 1950s, for example.

 

The clip design on the pictured pens made their appearance in the early 1930s, probably copying American or British patented designs. One company, I have heard, was sizable and provided parts for fountain pens to many smaller companies. The Arabian Fountain Pen Company. They also sold fountain pens under their name and those models are considered RARE.

 

You might find another Arabian catalogue on Yahoo Japan. I recall seeing one several years ago

[alterego]

This is fascinating Stan, thank you. If I come across any more details about the Arabian Fountain Pen company, I'll contribute them here. I just took a look on Yahoo Japan, nothing now, but wouldn't scans of this kind of catalogue be an interesting resource on the forum.

[paulliao99]

wow, impressive pen indeed.

[PenHero]

Hi, Folks!

This is another custom carved wood pen by Shoukei from the Winter 2006 Pennant photo session.

http://penhero.com/Temp/Shoukei_1280_03.jpg

A custom carved wood Japanese eyedropper fountain pen by artist Shoukei, depicting masks of a Japanese demon (hannya) on the cap and barrel, c1957. The box is pawlonia wood and hand decorated. The pen was coasted in clear urushi before being carved. Note the 14 karat gold nib. An unused photo from the article, “Collecting Japanese Pens,” by Stan Klemanowicz, in the Winter 2006 Pennant.

Thanks!

[Trom]

Nice!

What does the demon do?

Edited March 11, 2017 by Trom

[Calabria]

So beautiful. Great nib!

[Maurizio]

Nice. Thanks for posting this. How about a few more pics. Do you know what kind of wood it's made of?

Edited April 6, 2017 by Maurizio

[stan]

The pen is ebonite and coated in several layers of urushi. The urushi is rubbed to display the under layers in different colors. The demon is carved into the urushi and ebonite.

[mamaroni]

It's beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[Kmh]

Greetings all,

 

I picked up this Arabian pen last year, which has written on the barrel "Arabian Fountain Pen Company." In addition, consider that the clip reads, among other things, "1922."

 

My question to the group... is this a Kamakura-style pen; how are the red lines are created...? … did the pen maker carve them from the urishi…? … or is it some other technique?

 

Best,

 

KMH

 

 

[stan]

Greetings all,

 

I picked up this Arabian pen last year, which has written on the barrel "Arabian Fountain Pen Company." In addition, consider that the clip reads, among other things, "1922."

 

My question to the group... is this a Kamakura-style pen; how are the red lines are created...? … did the pen maker carve them from the urishi…? … or is it some other technique?

 

Best,

 

KMH

 

 

 

There is no 'kamakura style pen.' If you mean kamakura bori, that is different. Kamakura bori, is a misnomer applied to carved pens. Urushi is applied to the pen and, when dry, designs are carved into the barrel and cap. The most basic designs are scalloped patterns.

 

Your pen is ebonite. The pattern is made by machine. This was commonly done on pens made not only in Japan but, in Europe and America.

[Nikolaos]

Nice pen! I am pretty sure it is machine turned. Perhaps they lacquered it with red and black urushi and then used the machine to chase it in order to show the effect.