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Nam Jai Urushi: Endless Wave - Red

Nam Jai Urushi: Endless Wave - Red

Regular price $280.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $280.00 USD
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Design
Nib Size

Description

Note

There are four variants of the Endless Wave - Red Fountain Pen. It is limited to one pen per variant. Each variant has a slightly different design from the other, yet they are all designed with the motif of Falling Lotuses using the Lai Rot Nam Technique.

Overview

Thai Lacquer Art has many unique techniques such as Long Rak Pid Thong, Pradab Krachok, and Khrueang Khoen, but the star of this collection is the Lai Rot Nam Technique.  This technique - which loosely translates to Gilded Black Lacquer - is the art of applying black lacquer inlaid with gold onto surfaces such as fountain pens and vases. In 2024, you can see many examples of Lai Rot Nam artwork in Buddhist temples and palaces all around the country of Thailand. The technique begins with the application of several coats of black laquer onto the object (in this case, the fountain pen). Afterwards, the artist will be traced into the lacquer, and the rest of the lacquer will be painted using Namya Horadan (liquid mixed with arsenic trisulphide).

An additional coating of lacquer is added onto this and while it is still damp, gold leaf is carefully applied by the artist onto the surface to form the final design. After an entire day has passed, the artist will gently wash the Namya Horadan off, revealing the inlaid gold and lustrous lacquer. This is why the full name of the technique is Lai pit thong rot nam, meaning "designs of gold leaf washed with water."

Endless Wave

When we look at the ocean, we see that each wave has a beginning and an end. A wave can be compared with other waves, and we can call it more or less beautiful, higher or lower, longer lasting, or less long lasting […] We need the relative world of the wave, but we also need to touch the water, the ground of our being, to have real peace and joy.

In the Five Remembrances of the Buddha, the concept of life and death is compared to a wave in the ocean. If one considers each wave to be an individual life, then its beginning, middle, and end are clear. However, if we consider the wave to be apart of a fathomless ocean, then it has no discernible beginning, nor will it have an end that any single human can witness. 

As with the Falling Lotus, the Nam Jai Urushi - Endless Wave Fountain Pens were inspired by Buddhism, which is the dominant religion of Thailand. Everything that has a beginning must have an end, but instead of mourning the passage of time, we should celebrate the small things that bring us joy. 

For many people, a fountain pen is but a pen. However, it is an instrument of our emotions, and one that brings us happiness. Crafted by Auscharaporn Klamkluan using the Lai Rot Nam technique, each variant of the Endless Wave Fountain Pens are wholly unique from one another as an ode to the uniqueness of each wave in the ocean. 

Our Story

Thailand is a Southeast Asian country well-known for its white sand beaches, thriving metropolis Bangkok, timeless temples, and a richly diverse history going back thousands of years. At the heart of this paradise is a love and appreciation for art that goes beyond canvas paintings and sculptures. This is what inspired us to travel to Thailand in search of inspiration as the next destination in our Wancher Voyage. 

While immersing ourselves in their culture and traditions, we were taught the term Nam Jai, which translates to "Water from the Heart." It is meant to symbolize such traits like hospitality, generosity, the spirit of cooperation and understanding, and above all, kindness. Even after departing Thailand, we have carried this expression close to our hearts, and it is with this in mind that we introduce the Nam Jai Urushi Collection. 

We created this collection in collaboration with renowned, Thai Urushi (lacquer) artist Auscharaporn Klamkluan, who is currently a lecturer at Por-chang college in Ratchamongkol University, and the owner of the MAMA Style brand. 

Specification

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Art & Technique: Lai Rot Nam Technique - Urushi and Gold Leaf

Nib: #5 Wancher stainless steel

Feed: Plastic



Packaging
Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Cartridge & Converter + Instructional Materials


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