Danitrio Maki-e Bird and Rabbit by Tomoko Fountain Pen on Densho
Most of the time Densho sized pens have clips. This one was made clip-less to keep the harmony of the painting intact. There were only 3 of these pens made. This is number 1/3.
Birds play an integral part in Japan’s cultural and religious life. They are also a symbol of longevity, luck and love. Rabbits are often used in many stories and folklore in Japanese tradition. This pen depicts a beautiful spring scene with the bird on the cap, rabbit on the body and flowers in bloom wrapping around connecting the two.
Danitrio makes remarkable hand painted pens using the Japanese skill and craftsmanship that has been mastered over the last few thousand of years. Good basic paintings start with base painting, which the craftsmen paint twice or three times with Urushi mixed with finishing powders to make the base hard and durable. Then followed by the interim paintings which is done by one or two layers preparing for finishing paintings.
This pen has a beautiful gradient blue on both the top of the cap and the bottom of the barrel. The rest of the pen is a nice calm background which allows the painting of the bat and peaches to really pop off the pen.
The base for Urushi paintings must be smooth and strong in order to have a good Urushi painting, which will last thousands of years. When the base is ready for painting, the first painting uses Sabi, Urushi mixed with polishing powders, as its base painting and call it Shita-nuri, the base painting. Then, Naka-nuri, the interim painting with Urushi is preparing for better Uwa-nuri, the finishing part of painting. The color of the interim painting has to be selected according to the color of the finishing part of painting. All these works are usually done by Nu-shi, craftsmen of Urushi paintings, painting 7 times in average and it takes 2-3 weeks before the Nu-shi can send back the pens to our Maki-e sh, who will do more Urushi painting works or Maki-e onto the pens.
Craftsmen call Urushi is a living thing. Its qualities differ even from the same trees, for example quality is different from the trunk or branches. Different qualities from different trees or different areas or countries. Then, crude Urushi must be refined to make more than 10 different qualities of Urushi for different usage. Genuine Urushi is like pure gold only for fine jewelry and pure gold is too expensive for cheap works with cheap materials.
The pen is on the Densho size and fills via eyedropper with shut off valve and features a #6 size 18kt gold nib.
MSRP on this pen is $3200
