NAMIKI: The Peacock Yukari Royale Limited Edition Maki-e Fountain Pen
Technique：
Togidashi-Taka Maki-e
Article number：
FN-LP-PC
Ref: 60701
Limited Edition: 50/88
Nib：
size: No.20 18K – 750 Medium (M)
Artisan name：
Masato Sato
Year: 2005 (discontinued and no longer produced)
The peacock, a Buddhist diety, ensures good health and adequate rainfall.
This particular bird is most rare, part of an edition of just 80 created by Masato Sato using four different lacquer techniques. 5 5/8 “ (14.2cm).
Medium (M) 18k – 750 gold nib.
Includes all original packaging and papers, and namely: packing box, outer box, traditional wood gift box, specific ink bottle with peacock motif, booklet, certificate of authenticity, artisan autographed paper. The concerned pen has never been used nor inked.
This LE Peacock represents not only apex of any serious Namiki Yukari Royale Collection but it stands as one of the crowning achivements of modern lacquer pen design. Exceedingly scarce and rarely seen on the secondary market.
The body of the Yukari Royale pen has been decorated by skilled artisan Masato Sato employing refined Maki-e techniques.These include the Hira Maki-e technique (gold powder sprinkled onto lacquer and polished), the Togidashi Maki-e technique (lacquer layer burnished to reveal the design beneath), and the Taka Maki-e technique (high relief designs).A Raden mother-of-pearl technique is used for the tip of the tail feathers and particles are embedded to depict the eyespots on the magnificent tail. The pen cap features a peahen and peony flowers.
The peacock is a very beautiful and exotic bird.
The Indian (Blue) Peacock, the subject of this treasured pen, is a robust bird able to withstand a cooler climate.
At the tip of its well-developed tail-feather train are numerous green and blue eyespots that shine brightly as they reflect light. During the mating season, the male bird deploys its tail feathers in a fan-shape to attract the female. The tail feathers are replaced every year with a new array of brilliant hue. There are three species of wild peacocks. The Indian (Blue) Peacock, the Javanese Green Peacock and the Congo Peacock.
In India, from ancient times, peacocks are reputed to have eaten poisonous snakes. They were also believed to be able to sense the approach of the rainy season.
Both these powers were deified, eventually leading to the advent of a peacock deity, known as Mahamayuri.
Therefore, peacocks figure extensively in Buddhism.
A century or so after Buddhism was introduced into Japan, this Mahamayuri concept entered Japan during the Xara period (710 ~ 784). Mahamayuri was worshipped, as it was believed that it had the power to counteract poisons of all kinds, ensure good health and invoke rain.
Ancient records show that in 597, peacocks were brought to Japan from Silla (Korea) and presented to people of exalted positions in society. They are very beautiful and rare birds and appear in Japanese paintings as well as on hanging scrolls (Kakeziku) and screens (Boubu) and for door decorations (Fusuma). There are many such outstanding works of art still in existence today.
Each Peacock pen is hand-crafted by a single artisan in a process that takes over four months to complete, making each truly a unique work of art.
