Namiki Emperor
Polar Bear Limited Edition Fountain Pen |
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Produced in an edition of 99 pieces, this
is one of Namiki's most-limited issues. This Emperor-size "flat-top"
fountain pen was released just before the announcement of the
creation of a polar bear refuge in the Arctic. Celebration of
this northernmost bear has come none too soon, given the threats
to its habitat. |
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The pen is filled with texture, both
visual and tactile. The ice flows, as seen above, are
raised above the surface of the cap. The iceberg seen
to the left seems to float off into the distance, an
abstract of transparency and hard-edged form.
The ice flow incorporates two different
Maki-e techniques, togidashi-maki-e (burnished Maki-e)
and taka-maki-e (raised Maki-e). Togidahsi-maki-e is
a method in which silver and gilded patterns are dried,
recoated with Urushi, and finally burnished to a high
sheen using charcoal. This style of Maki-e dates to
the 7th century. The Taka-maki-e method, on the other
hand, is applied on patterns in raised relief and dates
to the 12th century. Notice how the light reflects off
both the raised and burnished surface of the ice as
well as the forms at the bottom of the barrel. This
is one of the most labor- intensive methods used in
the production of Maki-e pens.
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The top of the cap is also adorned with tiny pieces of raden
(abalone shell flakes), which refract different colors depending
upon the angle from which the light strikes. Also notice the
Big Dipper, Ursa Major, in gold dots on the side of the cap.
Ursa Minor is seen at the very top. |
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| The signature of artist Seiki Chida is seen on the lower end
of the barrel. |
Blue, white, silver, gold, and red form the
palate for this northern motif. Hand-painted and speckled
pigments are used, as well as gold and silver dust embedded
in the Urushi lacquer.
This is an eyedropper-filled pen that seals off the feed
when the tail (blind cap) is screwed down tight. It is
necessary to open the blind cap a turn or two in order
to get the ink flowing. This pen holds a huge amount of
ink, and is available in either a broad
or medium nib. Besides being a unique work of art,
this is also a highly functional and elegant writing instrument. |
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The advertised retail price is $14,000. Please
call (323) 655-2641 for our own limited-time offer on this extraordinary
pen.
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