Vintage Maki-e pen identification?

[Parcival]

My latest Japanese pen. Two mandarin ducks with high level of Maki-e technique are depicted. Under the lever perpendicularly in two lines is written Made in Japan. There is also a signature with only one hieroglyph in red. Has anyone seen such a pen and who is possibly the manufacturer.

[stan]

Cannot see the signature. Is it in the last photograph? Please add another clearer photograph. The Made in Japan impression is also not evident.

 

What is written on the nib? Am trying to narrow down the maker if possible.

 

First impression is that it is a post-war model. There were a good number of makers that produced pens with small makie work on the barrels. Platon, for example, had a few but your pen is not a Platon.

[Parcival]

Unfortunately I can't take better pictures - 1. signature, 2. Made in Japan. Depending on the shape of the cap, the model should be later - from the 40s or 50s. The original nib is missing, replaced by Waterman. It also has a specific cap band - 3.

[stan]

The cap band is a common type for better pens - meaning a decorated cap band was more expensive and impressive than a non-decorated plain cap band. 

 

A better picture of the kanji is really necessary however, that won't tell who made the pen. There were too many artists offering their services to small pen makers and almost all are unknown. If they were moonlighting from Pilot, for example, there is no way they would use the same signature.

 

I doubt you will be able to determine maker as there were so many generic pens on the market. I'd put a new sac in the pen and swap the Waterman nib for a period Japanese 14K nib if you can find one. 

[Parcival]

On 12/14/2021 at 3:51 PM, stan said:

The cap band is a common type for better pens - meaning a decorated cap band was more expensive and impressive than a non-decorated plain cap band. 

 

A better picture of the kanji is really necessary however, that won't tell who made the pen. There were too many artists offering their services to small pen makers and almost all are unknown. If they were moonlighting from Pilot, for example, there is no way they would use the same signature.

 

I doubt you will be able to determine maker as there were so many generic pens on the market. I'd put a new sac in the pen and swap the Waterman nib for a period Japanese 14K nib if you can find one. 

I tried to shoot with a magnifying glass and this is the best I could achieve. On the left side there is a very light line, which I can't shoot

[Parcival]

This little line is visible here:

[Number99]

On 12/17/2021 at 7:39 AM, Parcival said:

This little line is visible here:

 

Hello.

 This red mark is not "Kanji" （漢字）but "Kao"（花押）.

 It identifies an individual and acts as a signature, but there is a separate signature.

 Since some of the "Kanji" that make up the name are extracted and combined, and then further extreme personalization is applied, it is impossible to read unless they are collated.

 It is said to be the original form of the seal（判）, but the seal is legible.

 Since ancient times, lacquering artists have not been highly qualified, so there are many "kao" with a simple composition.

 Shows the link.

 If you open it in a browser and browse the Japanese page in translation mode, it will be described in more detail than the English page.

 An example of "kao" is shown, but an example of a complex pattern of high-ranking samurai and aristocrats is shown.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huaya?wprov=sfla1

 Japanese crafts are usually accompanied by a wooden box, which bears the artist's signature and "kao" or "red stamp".

 "Kao" and "red stamp" serve as a tally between the work and the signature of the box.

 The box is also important in terms of protecting the work from drying and light rays.

 If you lose the box, the author will be unknown if there is no expert witness.

 A good expert remembers all the important "kao".

 There are examples of works of unknown author that have been designated as Important Cultural Properties.

Please enjoy your pen.