Platinum Izumo Yakumo Byakudan Maki-E

[jandrese]

This review is more of a pictorial representation of a pen that I believe is not represented well on the internet. Some months ago I fell for a maki-e technique called byakudan-nuri. See my other post on a Danitrio with a similar finish.

Here is what Platinum has to say about this pen.

 

"Byakudan-nuri is named from its body color changing overtime being similar to Byakudan incense wood (sandalwood) used in Kodo (traditional incense ceremony). The traditional Japanese technique has been passed on through generations.Yakumo, the floating clouds painted on the ceiling of Izumo Shrine, is used as a motif. The arising sea of clouds and the sky are painted on the barrel. It is a fountain pen featured in deep color of makie providing a mystic impression."

 

IMG_2622 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2625 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

 

Anyway, byakudan-nuri is a neat maki-e technique that looks rather unassuming until you get it in the light and then it appears to glow from within. It’s a sophisticated aesthetic.

 

IMG_2626 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2627 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

 

I was drawn to this particular pen but, to be frank, it appeared, based on online photos, that the quality of the maki-e left something to be desired. Consequently, I never pulled the trigger. Once I got the Danitrio, however, I knew I had to take a chance on this pen. Boy am I glad I did.

 

IMG_2630 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2632 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2633 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

 

This pen is a stunner and references an interesting temple that is periodically rebuilt so it has a cool back story. There is visual and tactile maki-e over a byakudan base so there is a little more going on than with the Danitrio I also posted about. The byakudan-nuri here has a slightly different effect (copper foil versus gold dust basement?) but it still has that magical inner glow. I hope you get a good sense of the beauty of this pen here, I really tried to capture it better than anything else I’ve seen online.

 

IMG_2623 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

 

I ordered the pen with a cosu or course nib, which is really a fat almost double broad. It’s a fun nib and the pen is a perfect writer; I mean freaking magical. There is no real line variation, it just writes a juicy consistent line the first time every time. The nib is very stiff but no pressure is needed at all so it does not matter. I just love the Izumo pens, they are totally amazing and I think under appreciated. There are three Izumo in my collection now and each is its own version of writing perfection.

 

IMG_2628 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2629 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

writing samples by Ja Ja, on Flickr

 

IMG_2634 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2635 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2636 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

IMG_2638 by Ja Ja, on Flickr

Edited August 19, 2019 by jandrese

[OCArt]

Congratulations on two very beautiful pens!

[jandrese]

Congratulations on two very beautiful pens!

Thank you.

[jmccarty3]

A beautiful Izumo! I have two of them, and this is the one I would like to find next. Thanks for the great pictures!

[LeakyInk]

20190902_201824 by anxious tj, on Flickr

[jar]

I love all four of the Sky series Izumos but that one definitely stands apart from the others.