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Here I present the Dantrio Hakkaku with dragon Maki-e and a 18k #6 size stub nib. I don't know anything about this pen other than I bought it in 2017. I've never seen the design on another Danitrio pen. Danitrio does not offer any story or explanation of the artwork. I posted about this pen in the fountain pen review pages back in 2017 but since then I've gained the ability to take good photos so I'm sharing again. Let me know what you think. I could be tricking myself but the tamenuri seems to be changing in a most enjoyable way. The artwork on this pen is rather nice and involved and also makes good use of the space on the pen. _SON4588 by Ja Ja, on Flickr _SON4593 by Ja Ja, on Flickr _SON4597 by Ja Ja, on Flickr _SON4598 by Ja Ja, on Flickr _SON4599 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

Just picked up a Dantrio Hakkaku with dragon Maki-e and a 18k #6 size stub nib. The basic pen shape is an octagon, which is the name of the pen style, hakkaku. There is no clip. The base color is shu tame-nuri, that is, red urushi with translucent top coat. Many urushi pens stop at this stage as it is highly polished and very beautiful changing look over time slightly, an effect that is enhanced by the facets of the octagonal pen body. This pen has had decorative urushi painting applied over the shu tami-nuri base using various maki-e techniques and several urushi colors. The design is of a 5-toed dragon, a Chinese dragon, with Buddhist fire symbol all underneath some flowers. While I'm not aware of the significance or meaning of the design it is very cool. The dragon is animated and threatening!. The level of artistry is really rather extreme. Flat, raised, polished, burnished, multiple colored urushi with details sprinkled with gold powder. Many steps, much time and patience, and advanced skills are needed to produce artwork such as this. Functional art; the stub nib writes as nicely as one might expect and feeds from a cartridge converter. This Danitrio is not set up for eyedropper filling. Pen comes in a Pawlonia wood box with a decorative fabric pen sleeve. The pen is signed by the artist with his imprint or kao, a Mr. Koichiro Okazaki I believe.

I just picked up a Danitrio Hakkaku Tame-nuri (Octagon with the ren urushi) that has a stub nib. I have not inked it yet and I am looking for recommendations for a suitable ink. I'd like something with a vibrant color but that is safe for the pen. I am not a fan of black or standard blue colors. I have some of the Montblanc Leonardo chalk ink that I was thinking of using. Another option is a Visconti bordeaux. I look forward to your recommendations.