3776 MAKI-E
A Limited Edition of a Fountain Pen with a Maki-e of a Tiger in a Dark Night Drawn Using a Sumikoage Technique that uses only charcoal powder to create a black-and-white finish without using any metal powders such as gold or silver. Generally, maki-e is a Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder. This fountain pen on which illustration is drawn by sumikoage technique using charcoal powder called shoen (a soot of burnt pine) is a rare model that stands out in our maki-e lineup. The images of tiger and bamboo forest drawn on the center of the jet-black body are coated in several layers to give a 3D effect. The bamboo signifies people, the bamboo forest signifies the world and the tiger walking through the bamboo forest signifies people living freely and boldly without any bounds. The tiger’s stripes are drawn vertically so they are difficult to distinguish from the bamboo forest and dense woods enabling it to effectively stalk its prey. Similarly, the bamboo is thought to ward off evil spirits if it is burned, by letting out an enormous sound as it bursts. The bamboo, with its hollow stems, evergreen leaves and strong roots, expresses an open-minded, discipline and a sense of modesty. This denotes transparency, naivety, simplicity, eternity and mercy. The season for bamboo represents a person’s life and teaches us that we ought to overcome hardship and break through difficulties to rise up and keep moving forward. Also, a “slip & seal” mechanism was applied to the cap for the first time in maki-e models, which keeps the ink fresh over time by simply putting the cap on. It doesn’t require maintenance and offers a smooth writing experience even after not using the pen for two years. A limited edition of 300 fountain pens worldwide from September 20, 2013.