Two very interesting vintage japanese pen

[vahleof]

Just recently acquired two interesting vintage sailor fountain pen

The first is either a FG or FC85 with a vintage size 30 nib, not sure about their differences but guess it would be in their trim? Lever fill and very flexible, from ef to about 1.5mm

The ad is from a Showa 9 year catalogue so the pen would be from about 1935

The second one is a sailor hira maki-e with two koi design but the urushi? layer is in a pretty belated up state. Is this repairable somehow? Maybe with fresh layer of clear urushi over it after covering the drawings?

It's a Japanese style eyedropper also with a vintage sailor size 30 nib so I would guess it to be from the 30s as well?

greetings 

 

Vincent

 

[stan]

The urushi, for all practical and economic purposes, is not repairable. New urushi cannot be made to match seventy year old urushi. Additionally, the deteriorated urushi would need be removed. Not an easy task without damaging the design. 

,

There is, however, a firm, in either Kyoto or Tokyo, I have come across that does museum quality restoration of historical lacquerware. Not absolutely perfect but good enough for display under controlled conditions. Don't remember the name. Sorry. Pricing would be astronomical and they in all likelihood just chuckle or snicker at the request of refinishing a common pen. If interested you would need do the research.

 

A 1930s Sailor pen with any decoration is rare and unusual. Enjoy the pen you have.

[vahleof]

On 10/5/2021 at 7:44 PM, stan said:

The urushi, for all practical and economic purposes, is not repairable. New urushi cannot be made to match seventy year old urushi. Additionally, the deteriorated urushi would need be removed. Not an easy task without damaging the design. 

,

There is, however, a firm, in either Kyoto or Tokyo, I have come across that does museum quality restoration of historical lacquerware. Not absolutely perfect but good enough for display under controlled conditions. Don't remember the name. Sorry. Pricing would be astronomical and they in all likelihood just chuckle or snicker at the request of refinishing a common pen. If interested you would need do the research.

 

A 1930s Sailor pen with any decoration is rare and unusual. Enjoy the pen you have.

Thank you very much Stan!

It's a shame that the outer urushi layer cannot be restored to its former glory

Guess it would have to stay that way...

[Karmachanic]

Embrace the beauty of use, impermanence and imperfection; wabi-sabi.

[mallymal1]

Both are beautiful. Thank you for showing them to us. 

[awa54]

beautiful pens, both!

 

I find the faded urushi attractive in its own way.