Description This Namiki Yukari Maki-e fountain pen in the Grapevine design was created by a collaboration of maki-e artists (Kokkokai) in Japan. It features the Togidashi-Hira Maki-e technique (burnished-raised maki-e), depicting a grapevine. The fountain pen features a superb 18k nib that glides across the page effortlessly. The Namiki logo can be seen on the clip as well as on the nib, which also depicts an image of Mt. Fuji. The fountain pen comes in a nice softwood presentation box, and includes both a Con-70 converter and a bottle of ink to get you started writing with this gorgeous work of art. The Namiki Yukari Grapevine Fountain Pen has special meanings because the symbolism of grapevine dates back thousands of years, to the times of the ancient Greeks. In Greek mythology the god of wine, Dionysus, also known as Bacchus in the Roman tradition, would carry a grape vine or bunches of grapes whenever he was represented in paintings and images. Many festivals and banquets had wine toasts to Dionysus as a tradition, and Greek wine cups were often even decorated with wine and grapes as a tribute to the god. The Namiki Yukari Grapevine Fountain Pen is decorated in Togidashi-hira maki e technique. Dense nashiji is evident in the foreground of the creeper. As always, the artists' signature in kanji is an integral part of the design and finished product. Maki-e is the centuries-old traditional Japanese art of adorning lacquer ware by applying multiple layers of lacquer, decorated with powders and flakes of gold, silver, and colored pigments, as well as thin slivers of abalone shell. The Maki-e artist begins the work with a drawing of the intended design, which is then transferred to the prepared lacquer surface. The task of transforming the outline drawing into a complex decoration of sprinkled powders is complex, lengthy, and requires years of study and practice, as well as steady hands and a great deal of patience. These pens are truly one-of-a-kind works of art, and they are warrantied for life by Namiki. Please note we are unable to accept a return of this pen for any reason once it has been inked.
