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Lot 1159
NAMIKI: Emperor Carp in Waterfall Maki-e Fountain Pen
16 June 2015, 10:00 PDT
San FranciscoUS$7,000 - US$9,000
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NAMIKI: Emperor Carp in Waterfall Maki-e Fountain Pen
A carp, a symbol of prosperity, makes its way confidently through the natural world in this pen created by artisan Hyakusen Murata in togidashi maki-e with raden inlays. The carp's journey through a watery cataract, in a soothing landscape of rock, hanging vines and sand, seems to offer zen commentary on the fortunes of time and tide.
In The Four Seasons of Namiki, Christophe Larquemin writes of this pen: "Taki-Nobori, carp in the waterfall, is a symbol of courage, one of the virtues most venerated in Japan. It is said that fish that have braved death from exhaustion swimming up river become dragons.... The verticality of the design gives great power to the scene in which a relentless struggle between the fish and the waterfall unfolds.... This bronze and copper coloured Emperor has literally conquered the small world of collectors who, already in possession of several goldfish, rushed to stores to catch this carp."
Medium 18K gold nib, large #50 size, engraved with Mt. Fuji motif. Outer box, wooden display box, ink bottle, service guide and various papers, Namiki DVD.
In The Four Seasons of Namiki, Christophe Larquemin writes of this pen: "Taki-Nobori, carp in the waterfall, is a symbol of courage, one of the virtues most venerated in Japan. It is said that fish that have braved death from exhaustion swimming up river become dragons.... The verticality of the design gives great power to the scene in which a relentless struggle between the fish and the waterfall unfolds.... This bronze and copper coloured Emperor has literally conquered the small world of collectors who, already in possession of several goldfish, rushed to stores to catch this carp."
Medium 18K gold nib, large #50 size, engraved with Mt. Fuji motif. Outer box, wooden display box, ink bottle, service guide and various papers, Namiki DVD.