Hirota Urushi - Sabi Nuri Fountain Pen

Important Notice: This pen is only one piece available for each color. Since the complexity of the model will take months to craft, we cannot guarantee the same model will come back again in the future.

Sabi-nuri

From top to bottom, the Hirota Urushi - Sabi Nuri Fountain Pen is completely unique and impossible to replicate, and it was crafted by Master Hirota with the knowledge that it may not be perfect for everyone. However, the artisan takes solace in the fact this pen will one day be added to someone's collection and only they will know the exact sensation of writing with this in the crook of their hand. 

There is no such thing as perfect in life, and handmade Urushi artwork is no exception to this. Yet, it is that very imperfection that heightens the inherent beauty, and Master Hirota's Sabi Nuri Fountain Pen is perhaps the best example of this. Sabi Nuri is a unique Urushi technique created in Aomori prefecture, and it is meant to create a layer resembling rust. To this day, you can visit art museums in Aomori to see real examples of this art in the form of bowls and even samurai armor. 

Instead of crafting a pen with exactly the same style, however, Master Hirota has infused the Sabi Nuri Fountain Pen with her signature style of uniqueness and creativity. The traditional Sabi Nuri technique coats the entirety of the pen in multiple layers of Urushi (Japanese lacquer) before expertly sanding it down to create a textured, 'rusted' appearance. Master Hirota similarly coated our Dream Pen with several layers of Urushi, but instead of sanding the entire pen down, she used a tool of her own creation to chisel only specific portions of the pen. Thus, the pen retains the textured sensation, but it also seems as if it was carved completely from wood with the light brown-yellow pattern resembling the lighter color of an oak tree's core. 

Hirota Urushi

Hirota Urushi is the Japanese traditional Urushi art hand-crafted by master Hirota Yoko (廣田洋子). Master Hirota's artworks are unique in designs and techniques, which are hard to find among common Urushi lacquerware.

There are 4 main techniques normally used in Master Hirota's art:

- 櫛目堆漆塗 (Kushime Tsuishitsu Nuri)

- 金箔 (Kinpaku)

- 石目堆漆塗蒟醤 (Ishime Tsuishitsu Nuri)

- 金彩ひび塗 (Kinsai Hibi Nuri)

Fountain pens from Hirota collection are handmade one by one and require years to create. Therefore, each design is limited to only 1-3 pieces.

About Master Hirota Yoko

With a great interest in traditional handmade crafts since elementary school, Master Hirota decided to choose this path and developed a strong passion for Japanese Urushi-making traditions. Master Hirota now has more than 30 years of hands-on experience in making Urushi and Maki-e.

Hirota's artwork focus on the stylish minimalism and durability of the objects. Either it's a pair of chopsticks that serve everyday meals, or it's an ornament used in the palace, it must last long and express the aesthetics of Japan's art.

Specifications

Material & art: Ebonite, Urushi

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Nib: #6 Jowo stainless steel, Wancher 18K gold

Feed: Plastic, ebonite black, ebonite red

Compact air-tight cap: Prevents ink from drying prematurely

Size & Shape

Packaging

Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Cartridge & Converter + Instructional Materials