Pelikan Maki-e Four Seasons Lucky Charm
Pelikan Maki-e Four Seasons Lucky Charm
Maki-e is the ancient art of Japanese lacquer painting, famous for its extraordinary beauty and the craftsmanship required in its realisation. The Pelikan Maki-e "Four Seasons Lucky Charm" fountain pen is the result of a collaboration between the renowned Pelikan tradition and master craftsman Ishikura Mitsuhiro of Kaga Höshukai, transforming the Souverän M1000 into a true object of art.
The design of the pen is inspired by the traditional deck of playing cards, reinterpreting the four suits according to Japanese aesthetic and symbolic sensibilities. Clubs represent spring and happiness, diamonds summer and health, hearts autumn and love, while spades, traditionally considered the strongest suit, symbolise winter, courage and resilience.
The reference to the four seasons represents the natural flow of time and the harmony of the cycle of life. The number of cards also contains a refined symbolic meaning: the total value of the 52 cards is 364 and, with the addition of the joker, reaches 365, recalling the days of the year and suggesting the idea of a perpetual and harmonious cycle.
The barrel of the fountain pen is embellished with refined decorative motifs that evoke the different seasons: cherry blossoms represent the ephemeral beauty of spring, moving water recalls the vital energy of summer, autumn leaves symbolise transformation and maturity, while snowy landscapes express the quiet strength of winter. The traditional Sayagata and Asanoha motifs complete the decoration, symbols of continuity, growth and lasting happiness.
The fountain pen is made with the sophisticated Kaga Togidashi-Takamaki-e technique, which combines relief lacquering with polished lacquer on a deep black urushi base. Layer after layer, the lacquer and precious metal powders are applied with extreme precision and then polished by hand, creating an extraordinary depth and brightness of the details. The alternation of red and black tones gives the pen a refined and timeless elegance.
Adorned with a hand-finished 18-carat gold nib and 24-carat gold-plated trim, the Four Seasons Lucky Charm is a stunning expression of Japanese craftsmanship and culture.
The Pelikan Maki-e "Four Seasons Lucky Charm" fountain pen is limited to an edition of 123 pieces worldwide and is enclosed in a traditional Japanese paulownia wood case.
