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Author: Pilot-Namiki
Title: Rare Red Lacquer Maki-e and Raden Vest Fountain Pen by Shogo, Japanese Fan Motif, A-Grade
Place Published: Japan
Publisher:
Date Published: c.1930
Description:
A rare and exceptional A-grade Namiki vest-firm lever-filler pen, elaborately ornamented in raised gold dust takamaki-e and abundant raden (mother-of-pearl) on red urushi ground, with maki-e decoration extending to the feed, a luxurious detail reserved for Namiki's most exalted examples. 14K rolled gold captop device, ringtop and band, classic "lifebuoy" lever, endpiece imprinted "Made in Japan". 101mm. 14K gold No. 2 heart-vent Pilot nib, engraved "Made in Japan". Signed by Shogo Iijima (1894-?), pupil of Shorin Ueda and perhaps Namiki's most acclaimed artist.



Red lacquer Namikis are significantly rarer that black ones and are highly prized by collectors. Murakami observes that "the quantity of vermilion pens was about one-twentieth of the black lacquered ones. A vermilion lacquered pen... is, therefore, a very rare item." Murakami, Dunhill-Namiki and Lacquer Pens. [Sakura City: 2000], p. 26.



This instrument is without question one of the finest red lacquer pens ever created by Namiki. The cap and barrel are decorated with skillfully-rendered Japanese fans; one fan is ornamented with an image of Mount Fuji, the most elemental and profound emblem of Japan, and another bears a wonderfully detailed image of a riverside pavilion. An abundance of mother-of-pearl, including leaf and flower-shaped fragments, gives the pen a brilliant radiance. Shogo is generally considered Namiki's premiere artisan, and this elegant masterwork must be ranked among his highest achievements. Excellent condition, fine handling marks to golden captop device. Please note that the lovely maki-e backdrop in the photo is the inner lid of the Japanese Suzuribako (writing box) offered as lot 332 in this sale.