Technical Notes 

Maki-E Collection

▼ Technical notes: 
 

At present there are no maki-e on silver pens in the trade. This is due to the fact that the natural molecules of the resin are not able to hold on to the metal surface. This is the reason why it had to be necessary to conduct several tests to invent a treatment which could make it possible. Mr. Kitamura himself was initially sceptical, but was finally convinced by the results. 
 

After creating the base, films of lacquer are deposited one by one with a brush, where the thinner visible line is made of a minimum of three subsequent layers. In order to obtain the neatest effect, the used resin is the one with the highest density available, more difficult to work with, but endowed with boundless creative possibilities for a Master like Mr. Kitamura who dominates the techniques of this art.

Moreover, every single film of lacquer is interspersed with a layer of 24 carats gold powder which, although expensive, allows the designed forms to be much more precise. This is an invisible but fundamental characteristic of Unryuan’s work: within every recognizable colour and every shape, the resin is always and repeatedly alternate with gold powder. 
 

The final result is remarkable on several levels, both at naked eye and by using a magnifying glass: the harmony of the whole and the perfection of the particular, the shades of the colours and the hints of the elegance, the relief of the shapes and the thinness of some traits. 
 

Every visual angle makes Kitamura’s work unique.

Poetry without words.