Wancher Dream Fountain Pen | Kyoto Urushi Kotoiro, Kinkakuji Temple Yellow Ochre

Description

Dream Pen Kyoto Urushi:

Embodying Tranquil Elegance

The Dream Pen Kyoto Urushi – Kotoiro Colors is a fountain pen that embodies the elegant beauty of Kyoto’s nature and the traditional aesthetics of Japan through beautiful scenery of Kyoto. The elegant colored lacquering technique of Kyoto lacquerware is interspersed with authentic gold leaf Maki-e.

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The lacquer, originating from the word ‘Urawashii’ (meaning ‘beautiful’ in Japanese), which symbolizes the highest level of beauty in the Japanese language, can be found throughout various regions in Japan. Among them, Kyoto lacquerware, with its 1200 years of history, stands out for its exquisite design, sturdiness, and durability, surpassing all others in these aspects. Kyoto lacquerware is particularly known for expressing the unique Japanese sensibilities of ‘Wabi Sabi’ through its craftsmanship.

The artist we teamed up with to develop the Dream Pen Ancient Colors was Megumi Shimamoto, a Kyoto maki-e lacquerware artist and lacquer craftsman of Kyoto Urushi.

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Kyoto’s History, Culture, and Lacquerware

Kyoto Lacquerware, which began in the year 794 (Enryaku 13), has been continuously crafted in Kyoto by skilled artisans who inherited the techniques. It is characterized by thin and delicate wooden bases and has been used to create various items, including tea utensils, ceremonial items, furniture such as chests and display shelves, and tableware. Kyoto Lacquerware excels not only in its visual beauty but also in its durability. This is because lacquer inherently possesses excellent adhesive properties.

In the case of Kyoto Lacquerware, unlike other lacquerware that uses rice glue or other substances in the base process, it does not rely on such additional adhesives. Instead, artisans use a higher proportion of lacquer on the wooden base to enhance the inherent adhesive properties of the lacquer. This results in the creation of highly robust lacquerware. However, using a higher proportion of lacquer also means increased costs and more effort in the crafting process

Kinkakuji Temple – Yellow Ochre:

Kinkakuji Temple, formally known as Rokuon-ji Temple and associated with the third shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It is called Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion Temple) due to the famous golden foil-covered pavilion. The Dream Pen Kyoto Lacquerware – Ancient Capital Colors expresses the atmosphere of Kinkakuji Temple, which is said to represent paradise on Earth, through the fountain pen.

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