Maki-e Comparison Review!

[Frits B]

The Nakaya pen with the cat is awesome and I am sure that the price reflects that fact... Thanks for all the pictures and interesting discussion.

The price was in fact very reasonable. When I bought it in 2007, it cost 1,500 US dollars. The price is double that now as chinkin became fashionable and the artists have obviously better contracts. Compared to Namiki, the "real" maki-e series that is, Nakaya is still very competitive.

[bk123]

That's an amazing review!!!

[Pen2009]

I would be interested in how makie on those newer Sailor models fare.

 

http://www.sailor.co.jp/lineup/makie

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/bungu/11-9706/pen_mimizuku.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/bungu/11-4011/pen_11-4011.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/bungu/11-9518/pen_shika.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/bungu/10-9620/pen_sikun.jpg

http://www.sailor.co.jp/images/bungu/10-9621/pen_kiku.jpg

 

Each of those models is painted by makie masters.

[Toolattack]

Thanks for this great review.

I love Namiki's 'true' Maki-e pens. I was a little disappointed when I saw these pens, they are very much 'entry level' Maki-e (as you rightly point out) and don't compare with pens like the Yukari Royale.

[Cyclopentadiene]

Hey QM2!

 

That's quite a review I'm interested in the old owl version myself for a special event.

 

One thing that really concerns me about the cap, when screwed on does the images match up between the barrel and cap?

 

Thanks again,

Badger

[josephchow42]

Very nice review and comparison. I don't yet have a maki-e fountain pen and I really need to stop reading this thread again and again or I will end up breaking my credit card limit

[BookCat]

I've been looking for a good cat fountain pen for ages, then found one I can no way justify buying. It's a bit off-topic as it isn't one of maki-e designs but the The Nakaya Naka-ai Tame-Sukashi Cat Fountain Pen. In my dreams. I love the maki-e pens shown in the youtube vid about how painstakingly the high end ones are made.

 

Hope the link works.

[cruise]

Hello Frits,

 

That is a nicely done pen you've posted!

 

I think the differences in images you are referring to, have to do with style rather than quality. For example, I believe the Sailor Owl is supposed to have a fairy-tale illustration look to it, rather than the look of a realist animal painting. Different people prefer different styles. And I think that both Namiki and Sailor have maki-e models with realist as well as illustration-like images.

 

I now have better photos of my pens, so I include them here:

 

http://queenmargot.com/makie_all1.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/makie_all2.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/makie_all3.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/makie_namiki1.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/makie_namiki2.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/makie_sailor.jpg

 

http://queenmargot.com/makie_platinum.jpg

stunning collection

[QM2]

Thanks all. FWIW I still have all the pens pictured 5 years(!) later, and the Namikis remain my overall favourites.

[jde]

Thanks all. FWIW I still have all the pens pictured 5 years(!) later, and the Namikis remain my overall favourites.

That you still have all five of these pens is, IMHO, very impressive!

 

Myself: It was this post five years ago that's left me wanting (despite it not being your favorite) a Sailor maki-e owl pen.

[Pen2009]

Even though I like maki-e pens, I could not muster the courage to make them as one of my daily writers. The artwork is so nice and pretty and I could not risk scratching the pens, ruining the artwork. All of my maki-e pens are nicely stored in the wooden pen case....