The Emperor series Rabbit in Moonlight is produced in the Hiratsuka Japan Maki-e workshops. This pen, like others in this series is crafted in a process that takes months to complete. Using urushi lacquers applied in many layers with gold, pure pigments and other materials the design in the round is artfully and skillfully developed.

Urushi: a sap from the lacquer tree which is used as a base for the application of powdered gold, silver and pigments into which these materials stick.
Raden: pieces of abalone are placed into this gummy material before it hardens, refracting light as no other natural material can do. This adds variety and interest to the composition.
Of particular interest in this pen are the two rabbits (see below), made up of tiny fragments of quail egg shells, also imbedded in the urushi.

This whole process is called Maki-e, which Namiki has been producing to great effect since 1925.

Applied with fine brushes, the pigments, as well as the bits of abalone fragments and egg shell chips, come together in a composition that must be rotated in the hand to be fully appreciated.

Notice the small amounts of red pigment applied within the ears and the abalone eyes.

 

 

 

Calligraphic symbols describe the scene above and top the rich layers of gold silver and powdered pigments.

The artist's signature in red is brushed over a surface of amazing applications.

 

The white fold-out hard paper outer box surrounds a soft wood case with a burgundy red velvet nestling the contents. An eyedropper which is used to fill this large-capacity writing instrument can be found alongside the pen and a bottle of Namiki black ink. Everything about this pen is well thought-out and complete.

This pen retails for $8,800. Our price: $7,040.00

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