Pontifex Maximus Shozo KITAOKA, Artist Pen 2025 * Philosophical Instruments

For the first series of artist pens, carte blanche was given to six of the most highly regarded lacquer artists in Japan. Each of these fountain pens is a unique (1/1) work of art and represents the highest level of contemporary urushi art.

Shozo Kitaoka (º1949) was born in Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku, a city renowned for specialising in carved lacquer and the kinma engraving technique. He was trained under Living National Treasure Otomaru Kodo and acquired the position of Holder of Intangible Cultural Property for the Kagawa prefecture in 2001. Shozo also teaches lacquer techniques at the Kagawa Lacquer Ware Institute and is a board member for the Japan Kogei Association.

 Although typically specialising in carved lacquer that stacks up to 150 coats of coloured lacquer on a single artwork, Shozo chose the more straightforward and more painterly technique of kinma to create his fountain pen. Unlike chinkin, which uses shallow scratchings and gold leaf to compose the image, kinma is engraved more deeply and then filled with lacquer of a contrasting colour. Here, a mixture of red and gold powder is used to create a delicate image of plum blossoms in the wind. Everything is finally revealed by Togidashi to reveal the image against the deep black background.

The Pontifex Maximus is the first fountain pen model. In Latin, Pontifex means "bridge-builder". Made in Belgium from Japanese ebonite and featuring a Japanese eyedropper filling system, this oversized fountain pen is a well-balanced writing instrument and offers a generous canvas for urushi and maki-e artwork.