Fountain pen, Visconti Four Seasons Maki-e, Italy, 1990s

Heading: Author: Visconti Title: VISCONTI: Four Seasons Takamaki-e Custom Fountain Pen by Takehiro Fujita * Unique Place Published: Italy Publisher: Date Published: c.1990s Description: A one-of-a-kind fountain pen customized by master maki-e artist Takehiro Fujita.

Mr. Fujita used a Visconti "Four Seasons" fountain pen as a base, and decorated the pen's four panels with exquisitely-rendered designs in a variety of techniques, including highly-raised takamaki-e, aogai (mollusk shell) details, and raden (mother-of-pearl) highlights. The designs reflect natural themes, with a sun, a moon, foliage, a mother bear and cubs, an owl, a pair of foxes, and several cranes depicted with a level of accuracy and detail that defies belief.

This marvellous instrument participates in the venerable Japanese tradition of miniature masterpieces; much like netsuke and inrō, the pen's limited surface area provides an ideal proving-ground for the steady hand and eye of the master craftsman. The gentleman collector who amassed The Copenhagen Collection purchased this pen for $50,000 in 2004, and it represents not only the apex of a truly exceptional maki-e collection, but it stands as one of the crowning achievements of fine lacquer pen design.