Conway Stewart Maki-e Soka Monyo (Floral Design) Limited Edition Fountain Pen

Purchase Conway Stewart Maki-e Soka Monyo (Floral Design) Limited Edition Fountain Pen

CONWAY STEWART MAKI-E SOKA MONYO (FLORAL DESIGN) LIMITED EDITION FOUNTAIN PEN

SPECIAL ORDER ONLY - 25 PIECES WORLDWIDE

Conway Stewart is working with many highly praised and recognized Maki-e artists for its 2006 collection. Soka Monyo is the second pen in the spring collection crafted by the renowned artisan, Mr. Koichiro Okazaki.

The Floral Design showcases a wide range of many different methods of Maki-e art and techniques used on this bold and striking work. Tsukegaki technique (fine raised lines of lacquer, dusted with gold powder, mostly used for wave patterns), togidashi maki-e (a labor-intensive technique that results in a design completely flush with the surface, utilizing the repetition of paintings, powder sprinkling, and burnishing), taka maki-e (many thin layers of genuine urushi lacquer, with sabi, charcoal or tin powders applied over one another to create slightly raised portions), kakiwari technique (the design is left in reverse in order to reveal the underlying layer of lacquer, particularly useful for fine details such as the veining of a leaf), hira maki-e (design is drawn onto the urushi surface and, using powder sprinkling tools such as cotton, crane quills and bamboo in various sizes gold powder is sprinkled over the lacquer. The design is polished once the urushi has hardened), and shishiai maki-e (the mixed use of taka and togidashi methods).

The sakura is a well-known symbol of Japan and is the unofficial national flower. The cherry blossoms are a lasting symbol for the brief nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in art. The cherry blossoms symbolize of a bright future. Also, their delicacy suggests purity, transience, melancholy, and it also has poetic appeal.

The Japanese follow the sakura zensen (sakura front), or cherry-blossom front on an annual basis. In Japan, nightly weather forecasts include reports on the advance as the blossoms sweep north. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in February, and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo in late March or early April. Then it proceeds north, arriving in Hokkaido a few weeks later. Japanese pay close attention to these forecasts, going to parks, shrines, and temples with family and friends and holding a "flower viewing party." Hanami (flower viewing) festivals celebrate the beauty of sakura, and for many, it is a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful view. In cities, viewing cherry blossoms in the evening (yozakura) is also popular. Against the dark sky, the cherry blossoms in full bloom are especially beautiful.

Each piece carries Kogaku-san's signature, and the coveted Red Seal signature signifying the highest level of Maki-e art.

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