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Lot 1137
DUNHILL-NAMIKI: Rare Traveling Maki-e Fountain Pen, Frog in Pond Motif, Signed by Hakuho, 1930s
16 June 2015, 10:00 PDT
San FranciscoUS$25,000 - US$50,000
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DUNHILL-NAMIKI: Rare Traveling Maki-e Fountain Pen, Frog in Pond Motif, Signed by Hakuho, 1930s
A rare and superior traveling fountain pen with reversible nib, depicting a frog among lily pads in a sun-dappled pond. This magnificently balanced calligraphy pen features an ingenious "closed" or "hidden" nib system: when not in use, the nib may be removed and replaced in inverted position, so that it is concealed within the body of the pen. 14K gold Dunhill-Namiki No. 3 nib. Pen measures 173mm with nib extended and 152mm with nib concealed.
The figure of the frog is rendered with extraordinary sensitivity and delicacy in togidashi maki-e and takamaki-e techniques on black lacquer ground. The frog, a Japanese symbol of good fortune, is delineated with great skill, the back legs subtly evanescing into the golden pond, the forelegs gently clutching the sanctuary of a lily pad. The artistry is such that one almost feels the gentle pressure of the tiny amphibian's fingers on the leaf. The artist's kanji superficially resembles that of Kohkyo (Murakami records the name as Kokyo Sei), but there are significant differences. Our Japanese specialist translates the kanji as Hakuho, which is unknown to the standard references. Thus, this exceptional pen appears to be the work of a previously unrecorded master artisan.
Namiki traveling pens with reversible nibs are rare; none appear in Larquemin, Canton and Murakami's books, and only two examples are pictured in Hutt & Overbury's volume (both listed as masterpieces).
For further information regarding Namiki traveling pens, see: Hutt, Julia & Stephen Overbury, Namiki: The Art of Lacquer Pens. [Toronto: 2000], pp. 100-103, 132.
The figure of the frog is rendered with extraordinary sensitivity and delicacy in togidashi maki-e and takamaki-e techniques on black lacquer ground. The frog, a Japanese symbol of good fortune, is delineated with great skill, the back legs subtly evanescing into the golden pond, the forelegs gently clutching the sanctuary of a lily pad. The artistry is such that one almost feels the gentle pressure of the tiny amphibian's fingers on the leaf. The artist's kanji superficially resembles that of Kohkyo (Murakami records the name as Kokyo Sei), but there are significant differences. Our Japanese specialist translates the kanji as Hakuho, which is unknown to the standard references. Thus, this exceptional pen appears to be the work of a previously unrecorded master artisan.
Namiki traveling pens with reversible nibs are rare; none appear in Larquemin, Canton and Murakami's books, and only two examples are pictured in Hutt & Overbury's volume (both listed as masterpieces).
For further information regarding Namiki traveling pens, see: Hutt, Julia & Stephen Overbury, Namiki: The Art of Lacquer Pens. [Toronto: 2000], pp. 100-103, 132.