AGJ Original Maki-e Fountain pen #47 "Hinamatsuri (Doll's Festival)" Sparkling Togidashi Taka Maki-e Kyoto Japan Wa

This AGJ original Maki-e Fountain pen is made by famous Kyoto Maki-e Artisan "Mokuren".
This pen is March version of monthly Maki-e series.
This design is an AGJ's original. You can not find anywhere else.
Kyoto Maki-e is the best known Maki-e technique in Japan.
This is original Maki-e fountain pen based on Pilot fountain pen.





What is Hinamatsuri (Doll's Festival) ?

Hinamatsuri is an occasion to pray for young girls' growth and happiness. Hinamatsuri is celebrated each year on March 3. Most families with girls display dolls for the Doll's Festival called Hina-ningyo.
The dolls depict the imperial court.
A set of dolls includes the Emperor(odairi-sama), the Empress(ohina-sama), three court ladies(sannin-kanjo), five court musicians(gonin-bayashi), the minister of the left(sadaijin), the minister of the right(udaijin) and three servants(sannin-jougo).
Today, we eat traditional dishes like Scattered sushi(chirashi-sushi), clam soup, sweet white sake(shirozake), rise cake cubes(hina arare) and diamond-shaped rice cakes(hishimochi) for the Doll's Festival.


Shell: Hira Maki-e
Coat gold powder with color urushi
Coat silver powder with color urushi


Violet: Taka Maki-e, Hira Maki-e
Inside of shell: Silver powder
Leaf vein: Kin-Keshi gold powder
Flowers: Color urushi
Stamen/Pistil: Kin-Keshi gold powder
Gold powder
Willow: Taka Maki-e, Hira Maki-e
Inside of shell: Silver powder
Flowers: Color urushi, Gold powder


Shell: Hira Maki-e
Coat gold powder with color urushi
Coat silver powder with color urushi
Peach blossom: Taka Maki-e, Hira Maki-e
Inside of shell: Silver powder
Leaf vein: Kin-Keshi gold powder
Flowers: Color urushi
Stamen/Pistil: Kin-Keshi gold powder
Gold powder


Letters: Hira Maki-e
Gold powder
Black urushi in background
Peach blossom: Taka Maki-e, Hira Maki-e
Inside of shell: Silver powder
Leaf vein: Kin-Keshi gold powder
Flowers: Color urushi
Stamen/Pistil: Kin-Keshi gold powder
Gold powder


Female doll: Taka Maki-e
Face: Color urushi
Collar: Silver powder
Pines and Wisterias: Color urushi
Kasane Kimono(Kimono over kimono): Color urushi




Male doll: Taka Maki-e, Hira Maki-e
Chin strap: Vermilion urushi
Kimono (Clothes): Coat silver powder with color(light green) urushi
Coat gold powder with vermilion urushi.
Belt: Abalone shell
Hakama 1 (Japanese skirt for a formal ceremony): Coat silver powder with color(Blue) urushi.
Hakama 2: Gold powder for chrysanthemum and ground.
Hat: Taka Maki-e
Gold powder


Male doll: Taka Maki-e, Hira Maki-e
Collar: Silver powder
Belt: Abalone shell
Pines and Wisterias: Color urushi
Hat: Taka Maki-e
Gold powder


Artist name: Gold powder

Hira Maki-e
1. Urushi lacquer
2. Sprinkle Gold powder, Seikin: Alloy of Gold, Silver powder, Hirame and so on
3. Coated by Uwazuri and Black urushi
4. Polish by polishing and grindstone powders

Togidashi Maki-e (Mainly used for finishing evenly the background)
1. Urushi lacquer
2. Sprinkle Gold powder, Seikin: Alloy of Gold, Silver powder, Hirame and so on
3. Coated thickly by Nashiji and Black urushi
4. Burnished the urushi lacquer by charcoal
5. Polish by polishing and grindstone powders

• When coarse gold/silver/Hirame/Seikin powders are sprinkled, put a luster by burnished.
• After togidashi maki-e, Togidashi Hira maki-e is decorated Hira maki-e on togidashi maki-e.
• After togidashi maki-e, Togidashi Taka maki-e is decorated Taka maki-e on togidashi maki-e.
• Burnishing is needed when coarse powders are sprinkled.

Taka Maki-e
1. The design is created using urushi lacquer
2. Sprinkle charcoal/Silver powders to raise the layer
3. Dry
4. Spread urushi twice to make the layer thicker
5. Sprinkle gold/silver/Hirame/Seikin powders
6. Coat by Urushi
7. Burnish
8. Polish

• Charcoal powder: Show a soft feeling
• Silver powder: Feel solid