Thoughts On Pelikan Koi Maki-E - Warning Large Photos

[wanderlust]

I debated myself if I should just post to some of the existing threads like "What's your most recent addition to the flock?" or "to maki-e or not to maki-e... that's the question" or to start a new thread. After some thoughts, I decided to start a new thread on this pen as I felt I should do justice to the pen by starting a new thread.

 

I have seen more wonderful Pelikan maki-e pieces but they were out of my reach. The Pelikan Koi Maki-e, although not cheap, was a relatively more affordable buy. I must confess that I am a maki-e fan.

 

The Pelikan Koi Maki-e piece was made with togidashi taka-maki-e techniques. There was no doubt significant level of complexity in the maki-e techniques employed for the piece. Two of the three koi easily stood out on the pen. They were graceful, well-drawn and featured raised surfaces with scale details. The 3rd koi plunged into the water with splashes of water droplets. Surrounding the three koi were lotus flowers, leaves and pond ripples. When scrutinised, you could see each of the subjects were well executed and nice to feel.

 

The background got a bit busy with all the pond ripples and leaves. Maybe the artist was trying to fill up all the spaces. Value for money for pen buyer? I realised one minor disadvantage of using a Pelikan M1000 pen body for maki-e was that the two gold bands on the pen cap disrupted the overall art work. The pens from Namiki and Nakaya provided an uninterrupted canvas for the maki-e artists to create an uninterrupted art work. This was a really minor issue for Pelikan because the overall art work of the Pelikan Koi Maki-e was still a beauty to behold.

 

Hope you enjoy the photos.

 

#1: Overview of pen

 

#2: Closer view of the two koi. Gold dust applied throughout the whole pen.

 

#3: 3rd Koi diving into the water. The Koi does not have the raised finishing like the other two koi but there is drawing details of the fish scale. The splashes of water are raised surface. Nicely executed.

 

#4: Red lotus with raised finishing and nice golden lotus leaf.

 

#5: White lotus on pen barrel and pond ripple at the end of the barrel.

[SujiCorp12345]

Very nice!

[sargetalon]

I love the look of that pen. I'm always impressed with the appearance of the maki-e pens. Such artistry. The Toledo remains my grail. If I ever obtain that, I think one of these make-e beauties would move into the grail slot. Congrats on such a beautiful pen. Enjoy it and thanks for sharing

[Alex2014]

Not a fan a Pelikan maki-e (but a fan of Pelikan and maki-e FP's). However, this FP is amazingly beautiful. A gem. Are the signature of the artist and his red seal on the FP?

[Dr. Saleem Ali]

Nice photos!

[Keyless Works]

Stunning pen and great photos thank you for sharing.

[attika89]

This is more than amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!

[linearM]

One beautiful pen, a real work of art!

[daenghafez]

Really stunning work on the pen. Thanks for sharing the close-up of the maki-e pen for better appreciation. This is to closest ever for me to see one. Superb artisan work! Congrats on your new pen!

[fly_us]

It is a big WOW. The painting is stunning and absolute elegant.

 

The next question should be Whether write with it daily or not ?

[canibanoglu]

Amazing pen... Thanks for sharing

[wanderlust]

Not a fan a Pelikan maki-e (but a fan of Pelikan and maki-e FP's). However, this FP is amazingly beautiful. A gem. Are the signature of the artist and his red seal on the FP?

The name of the artist was signed in gold paint. It does not have the red signature like Namiki fountain pens. I will post a photo of the artist name on the pen later in the week.

 

It is a big WOW. The painting is stunning and absolute elegant.

 

The next question should be Whether write with it daily or not ?

I will keep it mint since I have a regular M1000 that is being used. So no need to think too hard about it. Phew.

[jkingrph]

It's a shame that they do not have one with Pelicans as a theme!!

[fly_us]

It's a shame that they do not have one with Pelicans as a theme!!

 

Then it competes directly with the Toledo. In my opinion, maki-e should stick to the Japanese theme at it best.

[DrCodfish]

For a long time the Maki-e Sea World was my idea of a beautiful Pelikan with Maki-e adornment:

 

http://www.pelikan.com/pulse/__v139/vfs-public/exclusive/products/maki-e/maki-e-sea-world-normal.png

 

Then when I heard about the Koi Pelikan I was excited because I have a Koi pod. I was hoping for something a little more serene with more authentic and less stylized fish. But realism is not the first attribute of Maki-e artistry.

 

The fish on the binde looks a little bit like an Ochiba Shigure with a reversed pattern. The Ochiba is typically a steel grey body with brown or reddish brown pattern overlaying. Loosely translated to English Ochiba Shigure means 'autumn leaves on water'.

 

Here are a few shots of my Ochiba. He's about 6 years old and 23- 24 inches in length, one of my bigger fish.

 

 

 

The fish on the cap might be a stylized Sanke, typically a white bodied fish with a red pattern and some black spots. I don't have a good example of this variety in my pond, here is a stock photo which illustrates the pattern quite well.

 

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFg4MDA=/z/rtcAAOSwrklVX9JK/$_35.JPG?set_id=880000500F

 

I will certainly never be able to afford such a pen, but either would certainly be a prize in the pen box.

Edited July 29, 2015 by DrCodfish

[mchenart]

A stunning Pelikan, wanderlust! The contrast between raised and flat maki-e work adds that much more interest to the appreciation of the pen. Congratulations.

[christof]

Fantastic painting!

May I ask what is the pen shown on your Avatar?

C.

[Mangrove Jack]

Super looking pen. Is the painting done in Japan ? or Germany by a Japanese artist ?

Edited July 29, 2015 by Mangrove Jack

[DrCodfish]

 

Then it competes directly with the Toledo. In my opinion, maki-e should stick to the Japanese theme at it best.

 

there is a Pelikan Maki-e Toledo, see it here.

 

There is also a Pelickan Maki-e 'Pelicans of Japan, model, here

 

These are extremely rare models.

[wanderlust]

Thanks everyone for the kind comments.

 

For a long time the Maki-e Sea World was my idea of a beautiful Pelikan with Maki-e adornment:

 

 

 

Then when I heard about the Koi Pelikan I was excited because I have a Koi pod. I was hoping for something a little more serene with more authentic and less stylized fish. But realism is not the first attribute of Maki-e artistry.

 

The fish on the binde looks a little bit like an Ochiba Shigure with a reversed pattern. The Ochiba is typically a steel grey body with brown or reddish brown pattern overlaying. Loosely translated to English Ochiba Shigure means 'autumn leaves on water'.

 

Here are a few shots of my Ochiba. He's about 6 years old and 23- 24 inches in length, one of my bigger fish.

 

 

The fish on the cap might be a stylized Sanke, typically a white bodied fish with a red pattern and some black spots. I don't have a good example of this variety in my pond, here is a stock photo which illustrates the pattern quite well.

 

I will certainly never be able to afford such a pen, but either would certainly be a prize in the pen box.

 

I love the Sea World and wish I can have one. You may not have the Pelikan Koi but you have real koi! They are better than the ones that remain still on the pen. Thanks for sharing the photos of your graceful koi.

 

 

Fantastic painting!

May I ask what is the pen shown on your Avatar?

C.

 

 

It is a close-up of Pilot 95th Anniversary Fountain Pen - Rising Dragon. You can view other shots of this pen on my flickr page -> https://www.flickr.com/photos/133687118@N04/

 

 

Super looking pen. Is the painting done in Japan ? or Germany by a Japanese artist ?

 

 

I only know it is painted by a Japanese artist. The literature in the box did not state explicitly that the maki-e is painted in Japan.

 

 

 

there is a Pelikan Maki-e Toledo, see it here.

 

There is also a Pelickan Maki-e 'Pelicans of Japan, model, here

 

These are extremely rare models.

 

 

Lovely pieces but only one piece each. Wonder who is the lucky person to own them. Thanks for sharing the link.