1930s Japanese Webster Maki-e Fountain Pen---------NICE

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1930's Webster Maki-e "Words are but air; the pen leaves a mark. "-Ancient Japanese Proverb Kamakura Pens, Proud Member of the Pen Collectors of America, Tokyo Pen Association, and the Wajima maki-e guild. Over 10,000 pens sold 500+ frequent repeat customers. Bid with confidence. Kamakura pens is located in Kamakura, Japan with a branch in Okinawa Detailed Description Up for auction is a very rare Webster matsuba-nuri maki-e fountain pen. This is a seldom seen maki-e technique, but one of my faorites. An artist started with an ebonite pen and coated it with a rich black base layer of urushi lacquer. After that layer was dry, he began painting the pine needle design. What makes this technique stand out is the multiple layers. Then several layers of clear lacquer was applied. You do not look at these artworks, you look through them. Many of my regular buyers claim that these pens feel like alive when they hold them.The Webster Pen company was owned by the Miura family in Yokohama, which opened up for business during Japan's golden years for pens, the 1920's.The Miura's owned a small book store /stationary shop in the well to do neighborhood of Hodogaya.. Mr. Miura loved fountain pens and was proud to be one of the first stationary shops in his area to have their own line of pens. The family spent a lot of time trying to find a good name for their pens. English names were in vogue then, so several nights the family studied an English dictionary together, trying to find a good name, but none of the family could agree. In frustration Mr. Miura slammed the book closed on the table. The family sat around the table, simply staring at the closed dictionary. Then they all hit on the same idea at the same time. They named their pens after their dictionary "Webster's"The Miuras ordered pen parts from the Arabian Ford company of Tokyo (The same place that Platinum and Sailor bought many of their parts) and the family assembled the pens in their apartment upstairs at night. This was the best part of the day for the Miura's. The family would laugh and tell each other stories about their day. A great family bonding experience. The kids would bring all the pens down and display them in the shop before running off to school in the morning. Then they would race home to see which pens their father was able to sell that day.The small company prospered until the late 1940's when Mr. Miura died in a boiler explosion at a neighbor's shop. Two of the sons tried to continue the business, but their hearts were not in it anymore. It was their father's love for pens that had kept the magic for them, so they folded up in the mid 1950's.I recently acquired a large box of their pens and parts from one of Mr. Miura's grandsons. This is everything that was left of their pen inventory when the shop closed. It was this grandson who provided all the information above. I asked him why he wanted to sell them, after all these were a big part of the family herritage. He smiled and said everyone kept a few of the pens, but the others were not doing any good setting in the basement. If anyone could use the pens, that would have pleased their grandfather. Nib: 14K yellow gold Filling System Japanese eyedropper Faults: Nothing at all that stands out. This is a beautiful pen. Payment I prefer Paypal Shipping Regular Airmail : $8 to anyw in the world. Takes 7 to 14 Days. Unless the Customs people decide to inspect the item, and then it can take as long as three weeks. Express Mail $20 to anyw in the world. This includes a barcode on the package and a tracking number. If the item is delayed, we can find w it is. Takes 3 to 5 days. Note If you have any questions at all, please send me an email at Stay WellDr. Ron Dutcher Kamakura Pens Also keep in mind that you only need to pay shipping once for an order. If you win one item and intend t... read more

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