30 Nov 2011
11:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge
Distinguished Designs and Post War Silver, including The dunhill Collection of Namiki Pens
Back to auction 19003
Distinguished Designs and Post War Silver, including The dunhill Collection of Namiki Pens
Back to auction 19003
DUNHILL-NAMIKI: A Japanese Namiki Emperor Maki-e lacquer 'Turtle' fountain pen,
signed by the Maki-e master Michifumi Kawaguchi, limited edition numbered, end of pen in gold lettering 13/25 dunhill NAMIKI JAPAN, released in 2010,
the cap with a swimming turtle and two tiny fish, the barrel with two yellow fish and other tiny fish swimming through coral, with a small turtle emerging from the sea bed, the ground with speckles of mother of pearl.
Nib marked dunhill NAMIKI 18K-750. Contained in a black lacquered fitted box, the top with silver "ALFRED DUNHILL," together with a pipette for filling the pen and pen pouch, length of pen 17.6cm, dimensions of box 30 x 30 x 9.2cm.
the cap with a swimming turtle and two tiny fish, the barrel with two yellow fish and other tiny fish swimming through coral, with a small turtle emerging from the sea bed, the ground with speckles of mother of pearl.
Nib marked dunhill NAMIKI 18K-750. Contained in a black lacquered fitted box, the top with silver "ALFRED DUNHILL," together with a pipette for filling the pen and pen pouch, length of pen 17.6cm, dimensions of box 30 x 30 x 9.2cm.
Estimate:
£45,000 - 55,000
€53,000 - 64,000
US$ 68,000 - 83,000
€53,000 - 64,000
US$ 68,000 - 83,000
Footnotes
- The decoration of this pen is inspired "by the imagery of the turtle as a symbol of long life and the Japanese folk tale "Urashima Taro." This tale features a young fisherman, Urashima Taro, who one day saves a turtle from being tortured by a group of children. As a token of his gratitude, the turtle takes him on a very special journey to the bottom of the sea. After some time there, a homesick Urashima asks to return to the land and as a parting gift, a princess gives him a mysterious box but warns him that he must never open it. However, when he arrives home, Urashima discovers that he has actually been away for hundereds of years and all his family and friends were gone. In his grief, he opens the box and suddenly ages, transforming into a very old man. From the sea came the sad, sweet voice of the princess, "I told you not to open the box. In it was your old age." Many believe this to be one of the first stories concerning time travel.
Category: Decorative Arts / Silver
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