Along with the Namiki Goldfish, the Emperor Crane is the beginning of a new series (2009) of "flat top" pens. This "flat-top" design exploits a traditional series of materials including quail shell and abalone fragments. High art culture in Japan has long honored nature. The urushi lacquer master, Gonroku Matsuda, (1896 - 1986) chose nature scenes for depiction on Namiki pens through his illustrious career

With its mythical 1000 year life, the crane has been a symbol of longevity and good fortune. After World War II it also came to represent world peace. Here, with the pen as a kind of canvas, we see the cranes dancing against the dark, with raden, silver and gold enlivening the surface.

The limited "canvas" of this fountain pen is a perfect place to explore detailed and miniature art. The Crane is a fine example of that art.

We have been told by our distributor that the Crane will be made in very limited numbers. Only four or so will enter the US market each year. Therefore, although this is not a limited edition pen, there will never be many of them and they may be difficult to procure.
The Emperor Crane will replace the Emperor Rabbit in Moonlight.

Retail $13,500.00 Our price $10,800.00

Please call for further information.

The following information is from Namiki's certificate of authenticity:

"The Crane design incorporates four different Maki-e techniques, Togadashi-maki-e (burnished Maki-t), Taka-maki-e), Raden (abalone shells) and Rankaku (quail egg shells). Togidashi-maki-e is a method in which gilded patterns are dried, recoated with urushi, and finally burnished to a high sheen using charcoal. This style of Maki-e dates to the 7th century. The Taka-maki-e method is a Maki-e applied on patterns in raised relief and dates to the 12th century. The Raden and Rankaku lacquering styles used in order to create an overall feeling of depth and dimension. Execution of these techniques requires great expertise and experience."