Densho Tsugaru Shikake Monsha-nuri

Important Note: Shikake Monsha is a hand-applied Urushi technique that is laborious. As a result, there are inevitable black Urushi marks on the medal and trim part, adding to the masterpiece's perfect imperfection

Shikake Monshanuri

This technique involves burnishing and raising to create an overlapped pattern using black Urushi. Initially, the entire surface is coated with black Urushi, then the charcoal powder is sprinkled and polished while the surface is still wet, resulting in a matte finish. The glossy jet-black part that appears on the matte black of the pear cloth adds a modern-attractive look.

Tsugaru-nuri

Tsugaru-nuri or Tsugaru Urushi refers to lacquerware made in Tsugaru - a city located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. Being known as one of the most skill-intensive Urushi technique, Tsugaru-nuri is sophisticated yet stunningly beautiful with its unusual finish.

With this technique, many layers of different Urushi are applied unevenly to wooden or ebonite surface. After a long period of 3-4 months when Urushi lacquer is dry, artisans will start polishing to even the surface. 

Our Story

Our Wancher team visited Chiang Mai, Thailand, and began to communicate with local craftsmen. We were increasingly fascinated by this story, and started the "KINMA-edition" project, a time-travel series to explore the roots of the Kinma art.
One of the Urushi techniques of Kagawa Prefecture is called Kinma-nuri. In this process, a delicate pattern is carved into the lacquer base with a carving tool and then make the carved grooves are filled with colored Urushi, and finally the surface is polished repeatedly to express the intended pattern. This Kinma-nuri technique actually has its roots in Thailand, where it was introduced to the Sanuki region at the end of the Muromachi period (1333-1573) through China.

Furthermore, "Kinma" means "carving onto the flat surfaces offer more design possibilities than curved surfaces," which led to the creation of the Sekai "Densho" fountain pen (four and six facets). Currently, we are working hard to produce Kinma-nuri fountain pens in Thailand and Japan. It will be a painstaking and time-consuming manual process, but we are looking forward to the day when we will be able to present our fountain pen to you.

The Tsugaru-nuri edition of Densho Pen is one of the masterpieces of modern Urushi lacquer and is a work where you can feel the fascination of the technique. We hope you will enjoy these exciting masterpieces. 

Specification

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Art & Technique: Tsugaru Urushi, Shikake Monsha-nuri

Nib: #5 Wancher stainless steel

Feed: Plastic

Packaging