Pontifex Maximus Koken MURATA, 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.

Koken Murata (º1956, Kyoto) gained fame at an early age as both a highly skilled Nihonga-painter and maki-e artist. His work reflects Buddhist spirituality, a life long fascination with nature and the way in which light reflects on flora. He especially enjoys early morning scenes in which dawn scatters beams of light onto budding flowers or lotus leaves, and translates these sparkles into slivers of pearl and gold within his work.

 On his fountain pen "Jewel Drops", Koken uses tiny shards of mijinkai-pearl which meet with togidashi-maki-e on the opposite side of the black lacquered pen. From these surfaces emerge dew drops in pearl and large, solid gold particles of gyobu nashiji which capture that scattering light within drops of dew. Koken describes it as follows : "Drops of light and water pour down from the sky, dancing down upon the surface of the earth. They create sparkles like jewels. This beautiful, fleeting moment embodies the power of life and gives us joy of living. I hope you will take to heart this miracle woven by the blessings of nature!"