Kiei Urushi - Yozakura - Akatame

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TESTIMONIALS

Due to the unexpected changes of nature, the designs of the Kiei Nuri Series may change every season and every year. You may not see the same designs in the next season or even in the same season next year.

Hand-crafted by artist: 朝比奈　礼 (Asahina Aya)

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 Kiei nuri technique is 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, flowers, and natural Urushi (Shizen Urushi 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 Kiei nuri Urushi technique is enclosed with the message towards the beauty of nature and the brightness of life. While seasons change, the leaves change from pale color to green, then reddish-brown of autumn leaves and falling leaves. Looking at this transition, we feel the breath of our life with strength and freshness. Each tree grows and blooms at its peak, as we need to live our life to the fullest. 

With Kiei nuri technique, after the lifetime of each tree 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 Kiei nuri – Season Reflection technique.

季映塗り Kieinuri Technique

The whole process is done by hand. Each pen and each piece of leaf or flower petal is carefully selected and treated one by one by our artisans, only the qualified ones will be chosen for the Kiei nuri.

The process of Kiei nuri consists of 4 steps which are base Urushi coating, leaf/flower applying, gold powder sprinkling and Matt Urushi coating.
However, depending on the elements that are used for the design, this process might be a little different each time.

In the case of Kiei nuri with natural leaves: each leaf is steamed one by one until it is completely dried. Then, it is pounded carefully to achieve the final leaf veins in the best shape.
If it is with flower petals then at first, the well-shaped and brightly-colored petals are selected. These are then left to dry naturally in a strict condition that doesn't make the color of flowers change.

When the leaves and flower petals are ready, they are then dyed with gold powder to prepare for the applying process.

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. 
It is then allowed to dry and after that, the leaf and flower petal will be applied on 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 Nurippanashi technique (the technique which does not require polishing step). The Matt Urushi also has the job of protecting the leaf and flower as well. When you touch the body of each pen, you will feel the leaf, flower as well as a naturally rough surface of Japanese Matt Urushi with some uneven dots.

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

「夜桜」季映 - Yozakura Kiei

"A dazzling Yozakura scenery on Dream Pen."

This edition is inspired by the beautiful scenery of Sakura at night, in Japanese it is called 夜桜 (Yozakura) or night cherry blossom. Under the illumination, Sakura just spackles like magic and if you are amazed by the Sakura scenery during the daytime, the Yozakura is something even more spectacular than that. With Yozakura Kiei Nuri, a combination of Urushi lacquer, gold power, and real Sakura petals is used to illustrate the festive atmosphere delivered by the dazzling Yozakura event. 

Materials

Dream Pen Kiei fountain pen is handmade on the base of Japanese ebonite. On top of that, there are natural urushi, matt urushi, natural sakura petals, and gold powder used to complete this artwork. All materials are carefully made or sourced in Japan.

Writing

Filling mechanism: Converter or Cartridge (European International Standard)

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

Feed: Plastic, ebonite black, ebonite red

Size & Shape

Packaging

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