AGJ Original Maki-e Fountain pen #44 "Apricot tree and Warbler" Sailor 21K nib Sparkling Togidashi Taka Maki-e Kyoto Japan Wa

This AGJ original Maki-e Fountain pen is made by famous Kyoto Maki-e Artisan "Mokuren".
This pen is February version of monthly Maki-e series.
This design is an AGJ's original. You can not find anywhere else.
Kyoto Maki-e is the best known Maki-e technique in Japan.
This is original Maki-e fountain pen based on Sailor fountain pen.





The background is painted in two parts of black and vermilion.
Parts of vermilion are painted in japan red lacquer(Urushi).
They are recoated 4 or 5 times by Urushi and raised thicker than black parts.



Red apricot: Hira Maki-e
Red apricot: Vermilion lacquer
Red apricot 2: Gold powder covered with vermilion lacquer
Stamen, Pistil and Calyx: Gold powder
Bud: Abalone shell
Core of trees: Gold powder



Japanese bush warbler: Hira Maki-e
Body and tail of bird: Gold powder
Eyes: Black lacquer
Upper line of eye: Silver powder
Front/back lines of eye: Brown lacquer
Beak: Blue gold powder(Seikin)
Lines of wings: Gold powder


Letters: Hira Maki-e
Gold powder
Bud: Abalone shell


Letters: Hira Maki-e
Gold powder


White apricot: Hira Maki-e
White apricot: White lacquer(Urushi)
White apricot2: Gold powder coated by white lacquer
In the Knothole: Gold powder
Trunk: Gold powder mainly and silver powder partly




White apricot: Hira Maki-e
Gold powder coated by white lacquer
Twig tip: Gold powder


Bud: Abalone shell
Trunk: Gold powder mainly and silver powder partly
Twig tip: Gold powder


Japanese bush warbler: Hira Maki-e
Body and tail of bird: Gold powder
Eyes: Black lacquer
Upper line of eye: Silver powder
Front/back lines of eye: Brown lacquer
Beak: Blue gold powder(Seikin)
Lines of wings: Gold powder




Artist name: Gold powder

Hira Maki-e
1. Urushi lacquer
2. Sprinkle Gold powder, Seikin: Alloy of Gold, Silver powder, Hirame and so on
3. Coated by Uwazuri and Black urushi
4. Polish by polishing and grindstone powders

Togidashi Maki-e (Mainly used for finishing evenly the background)
1. Urushi lacquer
2. Sprinkle Gold powder, Seikin: Alloy of Gold, Silver powder, Hirame and so on
3. Coated thickly by Nashiji and Black urushi
4. Burnished the urushi lacquer by charcoal
5. Polish by polishing and grindstone powders

• When coarse gold/silver/Hirame/Seikin powders are sprinkled, put a luster by burnished.
• After togidashi maki-e, Togidashi Hira maki-e is decorated Hira maki-e on togidashi maki-e.
• After togidashi maki-e, Togidashi Taka maki-e is decorated Taka maki-e on togidashi maki-e.
• Burnishing is needed when coarse powders are sprinkled.

Taka Maki-e
1. The design is created using urushi lacquer
2. Sprinkle charcoal/Silver powders to raise the layer
3. Dry
4. Spread urushi twice to make the layer thicker
5. Sprinkle gold/silver/Hirame/Seikin powders
6. Coat by Urushi
7. Burnish
8. Polish

• Charcoal powder: Show a soft feeling
• Silver powder: Feel solid