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Lot 1154
DUNHILL-NAMIKI: Emperor Kingfisher Maki-e & Raden Limited Edition 25 Fountain Pen
16 June 2015, 10:00 PDT
San FranciscoUS$45,000 - US$65,000
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DUNHILL-NAMIKI: Emperor Kingfisher Maki-e & Raden Limited Edition 25 Fountain Pen
The Emperor Kingfisher takes its theme from classical Japanese haiku which tell of the courtship of these regal birds, conducted among fragrant summer blossoms. The male kingfisher fishes for his mate, while the female awaits his return. The pink Nadeshiko flower portrayed on the pen blossoms during the kingfishers' courtship ritual and symbolizes romantic love.
Exquisitely ornamented in raised takamaki-e and burnished togidashi maki-e with copious gold dust and aogai (the most exacting form of mother-of-pearl inlay). The cap depicts a female kingfisher perched by a river amongst Nadeshiko blossoms, while the barrel features a brightly plumed male kingfisher presenting his catch. The river eddies and swirls with marvelous fluidity and grace; the birds and blossoms are rendered with unrivaled skill by maki-e master Seiki Chida, who spent six months working on this pen.
Jean-François Canton addresses the cultural significance of the kingfisher motif in his book Namiki: The Poignant Beauty of Fragile Things: "Kingfishers have been featured on several Namiki pens, either as the main subject or as part of the decor. Indeed the bird has long fascinated the artists and poets of Japan, and its name also denotes a precious stone, a bird, a skilled diver and an insect found on the banks of rivers... Artists have celebrated the kingfisher in all its different forms."
Emperor size (175mm). Eyedropper filler. 18K gold nib engraved with blossom motif, size not indicated, appears medium, large #50 size. Outer box, lacquered wood display box, eyedropper, booklet, certificate of authenticity signed by Christopher Colfer (CEO, Alfred Dunhill Ltd.) and Seiki Chida. Limited Edition: 14/25.
Exquisitely ornamented in raised takamaki-e and burnished togidashi maki-e with copious gold dust and aogai (the most exacting form of mother-of-pearl inlay). The cap depicts a female kingfisher perched by a river amongst Nadeshiko blossoms, while the barrel features a brightly plumed male kingfisher presenting his catch. The river eddies and swirls with marvelous fluidity and grace; the birds and blossoms are rendered with unrivaled skill by maki-e master Seiki Chida, who spent six months working on this pen.
Jean-François Canton addresses the cultural significance of the kingfisher motif in his book Namiki: The Poignant Beauty of Fragile Things: "Kingfishers have been featured on several Namiki pens, either as the main subject or as part of the decor. Indeed the bird has long fascinated the artists and poets of Japan, and its name also denotes a precious stone, a bird, a skilled diver and an insect found on the banks of rivers... Artists have celebrated the kingfisher in all its different forms."
Emperor size (175mm). Eyedropper filler. 18K gold nib engraved with blossom motif, size not indicated, appears medium, large #50 size. Outer box, lacquered wood display box, eyedropper, booklet, certificate of authenticity signed by Christopher Colfer (CEO, Alfred Dunhill Ltd.) and Seiki Chida. Limited Edition: 14/25.