Sơn Mài - The Crimson Lotus (Whisper in Bloom)

Important Note: Son Mai is an extremely complicated and painstaking process where every single step, from scratch to finish, is handled by hands. Therefore, sometimes distinctive traces such as dots, brush traits, or uneven surfaces, can be observed in the final product. This unique characteristic is an aesthetic factor of Son Mai, making each pen an one-of-a-kind artwork of your own.

About Son Mai

Son Mai (Sơn Mài) painting is made with lacquer created from resin of Cay Son (Cây Sơn) tree (known as Rhus succedanea) grown in Phu Tho, Vietnam. In this technique, many layers of lacquer are applied, left to dry, and polished over many months or even a year. Precious decoration materials such as gold, silver, seashells, or eggshells are also used together in the application process.

However, what makes this technique so different from others is the Mài - grounding step. In Son Mai, the final image is fully revealed only after the lacquer layers are ground back. Therefore, the work of making Son Mai is unpredictable, arduous yet rewarding if the artist is persistent until the end.

About Master PHAM Chinh Trung

Each fountain pen carries the signature style of Master Pham Chinh Trung, where the familiar scenery from the countryside of Vietnam is illustrated using only the main colors of Son Mai such as Black, Red, and Green in combination with gold powder.

Every single fountain pen in this collection is crafted with the original idea and imagination of Master Pham Chinh Trung. Most of the designs here are limited to only 1 piece each and might never come back in the future.

Collection "Whispers in Bloom"

The Whispers in Bloom collection celebrates two flowers that have shaped Vietnam's cultural identity for centuries: the Lotus and the Hoa Ban. As the foremost Master of Son Mai (Vietnamese Lacquer) Art in Vietnam, Master Pham Chinh Trung handcrafts each collection to represent a significant aspect of Vietnam. While each possesses its own unique beauty and symbolism, together they tell a story of resilience, purity, and enduring love that has been passed down through generations.

Lotus

Among Vietnam's many native flowers, none is more iconic than the Lotus. Its elegant form has become a lasting symbol of resilience and purity, admired throughout the country for generations.  it has become a symbol of their resilience. No matter if there is a drought or a typhoon, the Lotus - like the people who treasure it - will find a way to survive and even thrive. Master Pham depicts its graceful form using Son Mai lacquer and carefully inlaid eggshell, reflecting the flower's natural brilliance. As the Vietnamese saying goes,

"A lotus grows from the mud, yet it never carries the scent of mud."

The Lotus is offered on either a lustrous black lacquer base, evoking the serene waters from which the flower emerges, or a vibrant crimson red base, celebrating prosperity, resilience, and the enduring beauty of Vietnamese culture.

Eggshell Artwork - SƠN TA (Son Ta)

SƠN TA (Son Ta) is a type of Vietnamese traditional paint used in Sơn Mài. The resin is made from the tree called Toxicodendron Succedaneum.

Due to the transparent nature of Urushi (lacquer), the Son Ta technique does not have a white color, which led to artisans in Vietnam inlaying eggshells directly onto the object as a complementary or contrasting decorative aspect to the artistic design.
The most challenging part is attaching the eggshell piece by piece before applying many layers of lacquer to in order to flatten the surface.

Product Care

Some models of Son Mai is crafted and decorated with real gold leaf and gold powder. Please handle with extra care to avoid damage to the surface. Please refrain from exposing your Son Mai pen to strong impacts, sharp objects, or objects that can peel off the finish such as sticky tape.

Specifications

Base material: ABS

Art: Eggshell Artwork - SƠN TA (Son Ta)

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Nib: #6 Jowo stainless steel, Keiryu, Keiryu Kodachi, & Shogun 18K gold 

Feed: Plastic, ebonite black, ebonite red (ebonite feeds are only compatible with #6 Jowo)

Compact air-tight cap: Prevents ink from drying prematurely

Size & Shape

Length: 154.8 mm (with cap), 135.5 mm (without cap)

Diameter: 15.5 mm (max)

Weight: 28 g (with cap), 19 g (without cap)

Packaging

Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Pen Kimono + Instructional Materials + Converter + Cartridge