Namiki Fountain Pens: Pilot's Haute Couture Collection

Exquisite interpretations of traditional Japanesesince the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Maki-e is
designs consisting of Cherry blossoms, hummingbirds,applied on patterns in raised relief.
goldfish, butterflies, bamboo plants, cranes and otherThe traditional techniques of Maki-e has always been
intricate scenes from nature, handcrafted by somecherished as a major asset, esteemed equally as
of the world's finest craftsmen, adorn these Namikihighly as any of the company's most technologically
fountain pens by the Pilot Pen Company, Ltd. Theadvanced product lines. The different styles in which
first fountain pen arrived in Japan around 1880 andthe background is sprinkled with gold are known
the pens were put on the market around 1909.collectively as Jimaki. The barrels of the fountain pens
Ryosuki Namiki, a former professor from Japanare embellished with intricate lacquered designs
discovers a small factory near Tokyo to produceadorned with gold, silver and jewel tones.
gold pen nibs in 1915. He expanded his product linePilot Pen is the third largest writing instrument
and became a full-fledged manufacturer of writingcompany in the United States. Pilot Pen Corporation's
instruments in 1916. Masao Wada joined Namiki inpremium line of writing instruments is sold under the
business, forming the Namiki Manufacturing CompanyNamiki brand. The task of transforming an outline
in 1918. The name "Pilot" was selected as the tradedrawing into a multifaceted decoration of sprinkled
name. Fountain pens in those days were made ofpowders is complex, lengthy and requires years of
ebonite, which had a shortcoming of fading quicklystudy and practice. Established in the U.S. in 1970, Pilot
from black to a yellowish brown after exposure tois the fastest-growing writing instrument company in
sunlight for a period of time. Pilot made a concertedthe country. The parent company, Pilot Corporation in
effort to overcome this disadvantage by patenting aTokyo, was founded in 1918. It is the oldest and
method in 1925 called Pilot's Lacquer Naito.largest writing instrument manufacturer in Japan.
Pilot's top of the line Namiki fountain pens areJapanese masterpieces of art displaying a high level
adorned through a process called Maki-e (pronouncedof sophisticated artisanship is known abroad. The
mah-KEE-ay). Maki-e is a technique in which patternselegance, grace, distinctive style and engineering of
are first drawn on a surface with urushi (sap from athese remarkable works of art take the Namiki
Japanese lacquer tree). Powdered gold, silver andCollection soaring to new writing heights. Skilled
colored pigments may then be applied to the drawingJapanese artisans use the finest materials to create a
while the urushi is still moist. The Maki-e technique isline of writing instruments that look beautiful and
usually divided into the following three forms.perform flawlessly. Namiki offers a wide diversity of
1. Hira-maki-e (flat Maki-e) is a method dating back tostyles to suit the discriminating tastes of not only
the end of the 12th century in which very finecollectors and connoisseurs, but also enthusiasts who
powder is applied to patterns while they are stillmay be experiencing the joy of fine writing for the
moist.first time. These writing instruments are designed for
2. Togidashi-maki-e (burnished Maki-e) is a methoddaily use. Uncompromising quality, elegance and
already in use in the Nara period (646-794), in whichinnovative design are benchmarks of all of the Namiki
gilded patterns are dried, recoated with urushi andCollections. Namiki: The Fine Art of Expression defines
finally burnished using charcoal.respectable quality in premium writing instruments.
3. Taka-maki-e (raised Maki-e) has been in practice