Conway Stewart Maki-e Collection - Karyubinga (Celestial Maidens) |
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Conway Stewart is working with many highly praised and recognized Maki-e artists for its 2006 collection. Karyubinga completes the spring collection crafted by the renowned artisan, Mr. Koichiro Okazaki.
The artist, Mr. Koichiro Okazaki, has received prestigious recognition for his work and has been accepted by and awarded in national art exhibitions. Known through his work name as Kogaku-san, his art is admired and collected by lovers of maki-e and investors world-wide. Kogaku-san draws his inspiration of this
particular Karyoubinga from treasures housed in the Shosoin
Temple. Kogaku-san's rendition of the Karyoubinga from the Shosoin Temple is an imaginary creature with the head of a beautiful woman and body from an exotic bird. Karyoubinga lives on the snowy mountains in the Himalaya region and in the Paradise, spending most of her time teaching and dancing, possessing a melodious voice.
The Conway Stewart Karyoubinga brings a wonderful traditional interpretation of an important figure form Buddhism into our modern world. Set against a backdrop of shimmering gold powder on the cap, the figure of Karyoubinga evokes feelings of lightness and harmony, perfectly in keeping with the theme. This sense of calm and soothing peace is carried through the barrel of the pen, birds and a floral motif provide a complimentary backdrop to the central figure. The beauty of Maki-e depends on the artisan's skills: artistic design, knowledge of traditional techniques, and the ability to tell a story through the application of art. Many sought-after artisans acquire their training in their early teenage years, following in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents. A Maki-e artist's vocation is not motivated by money, but by pride in following a family tradition. About the Artist: Mr. Koichiro Okazaki's work signature is Kogaku-san. Born in 1959, Kogaku-san has received prestigious recognition, including the award of Kao (his authorized monogram) from Kuda Munenori of Sado Omote School as well as placing in several national urushi-related exhibitions. Kogaku-san's art is very popular and can be seen on many traditional accessories, such as ornamental hairpins and jewelry. He has a strong following and is much admired by people collecting his work on expensive combs used for decorative purposes. One of his most distinguished works was on a citizen pocket watch that sold for $20,000. Kogaku-san's attention to detail is amazing. Some of his artwork has lines no thicker than a human hair. Kogaku-san's work is painted freehand without any outline of design or silkscreen process. While 90 percent of currently produced maki-e artwork utilizes man-made urushi lacquer, Kogaku-san uses only 100 percent natural urushi lacquer, collected by hand from urushi trees. Each piece carries
Kogaku-san's signature, and the coveted Karyubinga by Mr. Koichiro
Okazaki Types:
Fountain Pen. Postage cost for UK customers is £4.00 per order, and for overseas customers via insured and recorded airmail is £6.00 per order. |
Karyoubinga is a celestial
being who plays music, dances, sings and flies through the air.
She appears in many forms, often with a bird's body and an
angelic head. She is depicted in Buddhist paintings, ritual
robes, murals, and temple decorations. 
Shosoin is an imperial
storehouse. The building serves as a time capsule, housing the
treasures of the Silk Road and is located inside the Todaiji
Temple in Nara just Northwest of the Great Buddha. This Temple
has protected and preserved around 9,000 different items dating
back to the 7th and 8th centuries. Shosoin's significance
extends beyond Japan and the building is widely acknowledged as
the "Treasure House of the World".
To successfully
depict this much loved design, Kogaku-san employs a wide range
of many different methods of Maki-e art and techniques:
Bokashi maki-e
(a shading technique in which two kinds
of gold powder are graduated through bamboo. It takes a very
steady hand to sprinkle solid gold dust on to wet Urushi
lacquer), Hirame Ishimeji(large gold foils
sprinkled over the wet Urushi lacquer and then a transparent
Urushi lacquer is applied and burnished), Togidashi
maki-e (a labour-intensive technique that results in a
design completely flush with the surface, utilising the
repetition of paintings, powder sprinkling, and burnishing),
Tsukegaki technique (using heavier raised lines
of gold lacquer, dusted with different size of gold powder to
give texture and definition to the design), Kirigane
(decorative technique employing small squares of gold
or silver foil applied to maki-e lacquerwork surfaces of gold
foil and abalone and gold powder applied to maki-e lacquerwork
surfaces). A clear orange colour natural Urushi lacquer is
painted on the design to secure its finish and durability for
the owner to enjoy for many, many decades.Conway Stewart Maki-e Hanakui Oshidori (Mandarin Ducks).
List Price:
Fountain Pen ... |
£3120.00 |
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My Price:
Please e-mail or call me on 07886 326048
Conway Stewart Maki-e Collection - Hanakui Oshidori (Mandarin Ducks) |
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Conway Stewart is working with many highly praised and recognized Maki-e artists for its 2006 collection. Hanakui Oshidori is the third pen in the spring collection crafted by the renowned artisan, Mr. Koichiro Okazaki. Mandarin Ducks are a theme frequently
featured in Oriental art. A notable characteristic of this
species is intense loyalty. Pairing for life, they represent
conjugal affection and fidelity in eastern art. Their presence
represents balance and harmony. Chinese proverbs for loving couples use the Mandarin Duck as a metaphor and they are frequently used as symbols during Chinese weddings. The species was once widespread in eastern Asia, but it is now endangered because of large-scale exports and the destruction of its forest habitat. The populations in eastern Russia and China are probably well below 1,000 pairs, although Japan may have around 5,000 pairs. Mr. Koichiro Okazaki's work name is Kogaku-san. His work is painted freehand without any outline of design or silk screen process. While 90% of currently produced Maki-e artwork utilizes man-made Urushi lacquer, Kogaku san uses only 100% natural Urushi lacquer, collected by hand from Urushi trees.
Shosoin is an imperial storehouse. It is located inside the Todaiji Temple in Nara just northwest of the Great Buddha. The building serves as a time capsule housing the treasures of the Silk Road (the overland trade routes from China to the Mediterranean). This temple has protected and preserved around 9,000 different items dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries. Amongst the thousands of treasures, the Shosoin serves as museum of Persian motifs including animals, trees, birds, and lion hunting, artifacts from the Roman Empire, an unparalleled collection of musical instruments from Iran and China, carpets from western China, a rhinoceros horn bowl from Champa (today central Vietnam) are just a few of the national treasures. The building holds ritual objects used in China and brought to the Japanese court for its own purposes; objects made in Japan that reflect Japanese imitation and innovation of Tang Chinese; and archives, temple furnishings, and ceremonial dress. Shosoin's significance extends beyond Japan
the building is widely acknowledged as the "Treasure House of
the World". Kogaku-san has depicted a pair of these colorful birds set against a flowing backdrop of running water. Each brightly painted Mandarin Duck is clasping a long stalk with flowers. Raden inlay and gold powder are carefully used to accent both the ducks and flowers. The shimmering surface of the flowing water is detailed with gleaming gold and green. This wonderful design adorns the cap and barrel. It is an amazing display of both art and nature. About the Artist: Mr. Koichiro Okazaki's work signature is Kogaku-san. Born in 1959, Kogaku-san has received prestigious recognition, including the award of Kao (his authorized monogram) from Kuda Munenori of Sado Omote School as well as placing in several national urushi-related exhibitions. Kogaku-san's art is very popular and can be seen on many traditional accessories, such as ornamental hairpins and jewelry. He has a strong following and is much admired by people collecting his work on expensive combs used for decorative purposes. One of his most distinguished works was on a citizen pocket watch that sold for $20,000. Kogaku-san's attention to detail is amazing. Some of his artwork has lines no thicker than a human hair. Kogaku-san's work is painted freehand without any outline of design or silkscreen process. While 90 percent of currently produced maki-e artwork utilizes man-made urushi lacquer, Kogaku-san uses only 100 percent natural urushi lacquer, collected by hand from urushi trees. Each piece carries
Kogaku-san's signature, and the coveted Hanakui
Oshidoriby Mr. Koichiro Okazaki
Types:
Fountain Pen. Postage cost for UK customers is £4.00 per order, and for overseas customers via insured and recorded airmail is £6.00 per order. |
Kogaku-san draws his inspiration of these particular
Mandarin Ducks from treasures housed in the Shosoin temple.
Conway Stewart Maki-e Hanakui Oshidori (Mandarin Ducks).
List Price:
Fountain Pen ... |
£3000.00 |
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My Price:
Please e-mail or call me on 07886 326048
Conway Stewart Maki-e Collection |
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Maki-e is a technique where the artist paints a design in lacquer which is sprinkled with gold in a powder form. The process is repeated building up the design in layers, carefully rubbing down each layer to retain the finesse of the motif. Finishing includes the use of exquisite enamels or mother of pearl inlays. The art originated in Japan during the Heian period between the 8th and 12th Centuries. It subsequently became popular again during the Edo period between the 17th and 19th Centuries. The fountain pen components are made by hand by Conway Stewart in Devon and the delicate Maki-e lacquer work is then applied by a Maki-e artist in Japan. The pens are then hand assembled back at Conway Stewart before final checking and quality control. Each pen takes several months to complete. The superb workmanship demonstrated in these pens is enough to take your breath away. Types: Fountain Pen. Postage cost for UK customers is £4.00 per order, and for overseas customers via insured and recorded airmail is £6.00 per order. |
Conway Stewart Maki-e Koi - 25 Fountain Pens Worldwide.
List Price:
Fountain Pen ... |
£3000.00 |
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My Price:
Please e-mail or call me on 07886 326048
Conway Stewart Soka-Monyo - 25 Fountain Pens Worldwide.
List Price:
Fountain Pen ... |
£3000.00 |
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My Price:
Please e-mail or call me on 07886 326048
