AGJ Original Maki-e Fountain pen #52 "Kabuto (Children's Day in May 5th)" 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 May 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.

Carp streamer on the cap, Kabuto made out of Japanese Cypress, Folding screen of arrows on the barrel and Oak leaf which is a mascot of the descendant prosperity on the bottom are Maki-e painted.


Background (Barrel): Ro-iro technique with Green urushi
*Ro-iro technique: Burnish and then, polish the surface, and shine it



Pole, String: Silver powder


Carp streamer: Hira Maki-e
Face: Silver powder
Mustache, Eye, Gills,Scales: Gold powder
Lines of Pectoral fins: Gold powder
Background: Togidashi Maki-e
Clouds: Gold powder


Lines of Dorsal and Pectoral fins: Gold powder
The tops of the tail: Coat silver powder with white urushi lacquer


Lines of Caudal and Pectoral fins: Gold powder
Other than lines: Silver powder


This Kabuto is made with many cypress sheets and is called "Kabuto being processed" because of hanging planed slim strip sheets on each side of Kabuto. The refreshing and grand molding of Kabuto is from the form of the offering to old Japanese God. The ancient rite decorating Kabuto at Boy's festival is passed down to posterity.


Kabuto: Taka Maki-e, Hira Maki-e
Artificial Chrysanthemum
　Red mum: Vermilion urushi
　Outlines of Red mum: Gold powder
　White mum: White urushi lacquer
　Leaves and stems: Blue gold powder
　Veins: Gold powder


Decoration
　The whole part: Coat gold powder with vermilion urushi
　Chrysanthemum: Silver powder
　Arabesque: Gold powder
Ogre (Oni in Japanese)
　Face: Coat silver powder with color urushi
　Horns and fangs: Silver powder
　Eyes: Silver powder
　Eyeballs: Black urushi
　Eyebrows and mouth: Color urushi
Cheek: Gold powder
Mustache: Silver powder


Throat protector: From the top, gold and silver powders are sprinkled alternately





Arrow feathers: Silver powder is covered with color urushi


Arrow wheel: Hira Maki-e
Arrow feathers: White urushi
Circle: Abalone shel, Vermilion urushi
Arrow: Silver powder
String: Gold powder


Oak leaf: Hira Maki-e
Background: Black urushi
Leaf: Color urushi
Veins: 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

Tsukegaki Maki-e
1. Spread Urushi lacquer thickly
2. Sprinkle gold powder
3. Gold powders sink due to thick urushi
4. Do Togidashi
5. Gold powders shine
6. Polish