AGJ Original Maki-e Fountain pen #24 "Camellia" Namiki Urushi Emperor size Sparkling Togidashi Taka Maki-e Kyoto Japan Wa

Camellias are evergreen trees native to Japan. They flower from winter to spring. Camellia motifs are often used on artworks as Japanese traditional patterns.

Custom engraving service on AGJ's original Maki-e fountain pens is available for those who wish. The lead time: it takes 10-14 days on top (orders without this service will be usually dispatched in 3-5 days after confirming the payment). The cost: US$100.00. The letters of the name engraved will be engraved in gold just as the signature of the Makie artisans of Original fountain pens. Please send us the sample letters which you wish to engrave on the pen (there could be a case where we are unable to engrave the letters of your choice after consulting with the Makie artisans. Letters can be in Japanese Kanji, Katakana and Hiragana but if you choose Kanji, we will use phonetic symbols). Please indicate the exact position where you wish to have your name engraved (please understand that there could be a case where we may have to change the position of engraving after consulting with the Makie artisans). *Please contact us should you have any queries regarding custom engraving service.

Technique: Togidashi Taka Maki-e (Makie), Raden

Production period: Takes 3 to 4 months to finish decorating one fountain pen. It takes at least one week to dry one layer.

The Production Process:

The Base (white lacquer) part in whole brown:
(although it looks brown currently, the colour will change from brown to ivory over time)
1. Bengara (iron oxide) lacquer is painted on all over the fountain pen as adhesive
2. Coarse lacquer powder (in order to create the volume. The details are explained below) will be sprinkled over it
3. After it gets dry, white lacquer is painted and layered (several times: polish each time after painting) until the surface gets smooth (Polish the surface with water and charcoal so it may get even)
4. Polish it
5. Lacquer is coated on all over the fountain pen and let it dry
6. Polish it further to make it lustrous

How to make lacquer powder:
1. White lacquer is painted and layered on the glass repeatedly in order to create a volume of lacquer
2. Remove the layered lacquer in water
3. Let it dry
4. Crush it and powderise it(reduce to powder)

Sprinkling this lacquer powders will bring out elegant beauty on the whole product which is different from just painting.

The Camellia (Shukin/Red& Gold) Part:
1. Give the fountain pen a volume by painting Bengara lacquer on the brown base part
2. Sprinkle silver powders, let it dry and polish it in order to give it a volume
3. Raised lacquer (mixture of black lacquer and Bengara lacquer) is applied (raised)
4. Let it dry and polish it
5. Genuine gold powder No.9 is sprinkled
6. After it gets dry, coat it with red lacquer
7. Polish it

The Center of the Camellia:
1. Raden. Mexican shells are used (as Mexican shells are very lustrous, they are used to emphasise some parts of the product)

The sparkly leaves:
1. The leaves are drawn with coloured lacquer over Bengara lacquer and then sprinkle No. 2 gold flakes(Hirame).
2. Coat them with Nashi-ji lacquer (transparent lacquer).
3. Polish them afterwards.
4. The deep brown parts are the colour of the Bengara lacquer base

The Leaf Vein Part:
1. Draw the leaf veins with Bengara lacquer over Shukin (Red & Gold)
2. Gold powders are sprinkled over the drawing
3. Coat it with lacquer after it gets dry and let it dry again
4. Polish it so the gold part may get more lustrous

The Leaf Part:
1. Raise the leaf parts with silver
2. Paint and coat them with lacquer 2 to 3 times
3. Polish them
4. Paint with Bengara lacquer
5. Sprinkle gold powder No.6
6. Coat gold powder with a mixture of black lacquer (to darken the product), Uwazuri (Raw) lacquer (to make it lustrous) and Nashiji-lacquer (to create the volume)
7. Shine it well after it is polished

The Leaf Vein Part:
1. After the process 7 above is completed, draw the contour and the leaf vein with Bengara lacquer and then sprinkle gold powder No.1 using Hira (Flat) Maki-e technique.

The Golden part of the nib:
(below the trim ring and the closest part to the barrel)
1. After coating repeatedly with white lacquer, sprinkle gold powder using Hira (Flat) Maki-e technique. Polish it after coating it with lacquer.

The 2 cm (approx.) Golden Section of the nib part:
(the closest to the nib)
1. After coating repeatedly with white lacquer, sprinkle coarse gold powder and polish it.

The Silver Coupler Part:
1. Coat it repeatedly with white lacquer
2. Sprinkle silver powder
3. Polish it
4. Sprinkle gold powder using Hira (Flat) Makie technique
5. Coat it with lacquer
6. Polish it

The Leaves over the Sliver Coupler Part:
1. After the process 6 above is completed, draw the leaves with Bengara lacquer
2. Sprinkle gold powder No. 1
3. Set the gold powder by coating.
4. Polish it to make it lustrous after it gets dry