Kiei Urushi - Camellia Japonica Blue

TESTIMONIALS

Note: Due to the unexpected changes of nature, the designs of the Kiei Nuri Series may change every season and every year.

The concept of 季映 Kiei

"季映...四季の移り変わり、生命の美を映し出す.”

"When the season changes, you can see how nature blooms. That is the beauty of life."

The Kieinuri technique was a new lacquer Urushi art technique, originally invented and developed by our artisans at Wancher. It has taken us three years to complete the technique.

Inspired by the beauty of nature in Japan through four seasons, our artists depict the scenes of nature with the combination of Japanese natural leaves and natural Urushi (Shizen Urusen 自然漆). Hence the name of the technique 季映塗り、with 季 (“ki”) means seasons, 映 (“ei”) means reflection, and 塗り (“nuri”) means lacquering.

The concept of Kieinuri Urushi technique is enclosed with the message of the beauty of nature and the brightness of life.

We look at various trees while seasons change. The leaves change from pale color to green, then reddish-brown of autumn leaves and falling leaves.

Looking at the transition of each leaf during four seasons, we feel the breath of our life with strength and powerfulness.

Each leaf blooms and grows on the tree, as we need to live our life to the fullest.

With Kieinuri technique, after the lifetime of each leaf ends, its strength will not disappear, but will continue to live in the art and deliver a meaningful message to the receiver of the art.

With the help of nature, Wancher is proud to present to you Kieinuri – Season Reflection technique.

季映塗り Kieinuri Technique

The whole process is done by hand. Each pen and each piece of leaf is carefully selected and treated one by one by our artisans, as each leaf has its own character, and some are not qualified for the Kieinuri technique.

First, each leaf is completely steamed until it is completely dried. The artisan must check the leaves one by one during the steaming process, because the leaf may get too dried and become easy to break later.

Then, it is pounded one by one to achieve the best thickness.

In the meantime, we apply on the pen body with multiple layers of Urushi lacquer to reflect the scene of nature on the pen body.

Next, each leaf is dyed with Gold powder to have the Gold color, then attached to the body of each pen with transparent Urushi.

Finally, other multiple layers of Matt Urushi are applied. In order to honor the purest beauty of Japanese nature which has both smoothness and roughness, our artists keep the arts as natural as they are by applying Matt Urushi with Nuripanashi technique (the technique which does not require polishing step). The Matt Urushi also has the job of protecting the leaf as well. When you touch the body of each pen, you will feel the leaf as well as a naturally rough surface of Japanese Matt Urushi with some uneven dots.

*Please do not mistake this artistic purpose with defects.*

Specifications

Material & art: Ebonite, Urushi

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

Nib: #6 Jowo stainless steel, Wancher 18K gold

Feed: Plastic, ebonite black, ebonite red

Compact air-tight cap: Preven dried-out ink problem

Size & Shape

Packaging

Traditional Japanese Wooden Box + Pen Kimono + Instructional Materials + Authenticity Certificate + Converter + Cartridge