Namiki Yukari Royale - Night scene of pavilion

[mild7]

Hi all! Long time member but mainly lurker. Only just stumbled across this section in the rolex forums. I've been collecting pens over the past few years now, in particular maki-e.

Just to share a couple of pics of "Night scene of pavilion" by maki-e shi Michifumi Kawaguchi. It was difficult for me to get my hands on this pen, I believe that Kawaguchi doesn't make this design anymore.

It is very "Japanese"... waterfall, pine trees (Matsu) and a pavilion, hence the appeal for me.

Apologies for the quality of the photos. They don't do the pen justice. This type of maki-e is known as "Shishiai-Taka-togidashi". To explain simply, you can actually feel parts of the art work eg the rocks, and there is a cloudy effect from deliberate burnishing with charcoal eg the waterfall/spray etc

If anyone actually enjoys this, I can post a few more pics from my humble collection.

Enjoy!

[jar]

Very nice. How does it write?

[mild7]

Originally Posted by jar

Very nice. How does it write?

Like most Namiki, the nib is stiff as a nail with very consistent ink flow. To be entirely honest, for Japanese pens I prefer the "tactile" nature of Nakaya nibs.

[mild7]

Another pen by Michifumi Kawaguchi, while I'm at it. This is a smaller Namiki, the yukari size, called "Cormorant".

As you can see, it is far less gaudy than "night scene of pavilion" and is something I actually use.

The maki-e technique is purely in "togidashi maki-e"... it is a flat effect with deliberate cloudiness from the burnishing. Once again, pictures don't do it justice.

This is my Favourite in my collection. They are also incredibly hard to come by and tend to be sold at unreasonable prices, which is a shame.

[jar]

Originally Posted by mild7

Like most Namiki, the nib is stiff as a nail with very consistent ink flow. To be entirely honest, for Japanese pens I prefer the "tactile" nature of Nakaya nibs.

Yup. Of the Japanese big three I tend to prefer the Platinum/Nakaya, then Sailor, then Danitrio, then Eboya and Pilot/Namiki tagging along behind.

[Bisquitlips]

Namiki is just a class act!

Beautiful!

[mild7]

Originally Posted by jar

Yup. Of the Japanese big three I tend to prefer the Platinum/Nakaya, then Sailor, then Danitrio, then Eboya and Pilot/Namiki tagging along behind.

Me too! Platinum/Nakaya for writing. Never tried Eboya, I will look into that soon.

[mild7]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Namiki is just a class act!

Beautiful!

Thank you, I agree! Photos just can't do these pens justice. Seeing, holding, running your fingers over the taka maki-e... is almost a religious experience.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by mild7

Thank you, I agree! Photos just can't do these pens justice. Seeing, holding, running your fingers over the taka maki-e... is almost a religious experience.

I love watching the videos of how these are created! Fascinating! The way that apply the gold to the Urushi and the other finishes are mesmerizing.

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by jar

Yup. Of the Japanese big three I tend to prefer the Platinum/Nakaya, then Sailor, then Danitrio, then Eboya and Pilot/Namiki tagging along behind.

I concur!