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Lot 1155
DUNHILL-NAMIKI: Emperor Turtle Maki-e and Raden Limited Edition 25 Fountain Pen
16 June 2015, 10:00 PDT
San FranciscoUS$50,000 - US$80,000
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DUNHILL-NAMIKI: Emperor Turtle Maki-e and Raden Limited Edition 25 Fountain Pen
One of Dunhill-Namiki's most exclusive creations, the Emperor Turtle quickly sold out upon release and very seldom appears on the secondary market. This superlative instrument features some of the most intricate and elaborate decorations ever to embellish a modern lacquer pen, rendered in a variety of challenging techniques including highly-raised shishiai-togidashi maki-e (the highest level of lacquer work), takamaki-e, kirikane gold-leaf ornamentation and raden mother-of-pearl inlays. The huge size of the pen affords an excellent canvas for the multiplicity of techniques, and the quality of work is unrivaled.
The cap features a large turtle ornamented in abundant gold dust maki-e, swimming in a sea of shimmering raden with a nearby school of tiny gold dust fish. The barrel features two yellow fish swimming among coral, with a small turtle emerging from concealment on the sea floor. The highly-raised figures give the pen a delightfully tactile topography, making it as great a pleasure to touch as to view. The pen is signed by modern maki-e master Michifumi Kawaguchi. 177mm. 18K gold heart-vent nib engraved with water weed motif, large #50 size.
Shipping box, outer box, black lacquered wood display box, fine leather pen sleeve, eyedropper. Limited Edition: 16/25.
The cap features a large turtle ornamented in abundant gold dust maki-e, swimming in a sea of shimmering raden with a nearby school of tiny gold dust fish. The barrel features two yellow fish swimming among coral, with a small turtle emerging from concealment on the sea floor. The highly-raised figures give the pen a delightfully tactile topography, making it as great a pleasure to touch as to view. The pen is signed by modern maki-e master Michifumi Kawaguchi. 177mm. 18K gold heart-vent nib engraved with water weed motif, large #50 size.
Shipping box, outer box, black lacquered wood display box, fine leather pen sleeve, eyedropper. Limited Edition: 16/25.













